Transport Efficiency of Straw for Energy Utilization

Abstract

Nowadays, straw is increasingly used in the world, not only within animal production but also as a source of energy. The technology of straw collection by baling into big bales has many advantages, the use of which is, however, restricted by an ineffective handling when transporting from fields.

Currently used balers enable collecting of all types of stalky materials. Picked-up mass is cut and pressed in the baler as necessary. Balers are able to increase the baling pressure by more than 25 %. It follows that bales are reaching higher weights, i.e. the specific weight of bales and energy contained in them is increasing, too.

Baling and transport of straw bales significantly influences the economic efficiency of heat generation from this product. Therefore, in transport and handling of bales, it is suitable to better use the capacity of transport machines (lower transport costs expressed per one tone of transported mass). The objective of this paper was to evaluate the processes of collection, baling, transport and stacking of straw bales. The result was the evaluation of individual components of time, machinery performance, and labor input.