Desain Konseptual Mesin Penangkap dan Pengangkut Tandan Buah Sawit di dalam Kebun

Abstract

In oil palm harvesting, falling fruit bunches have a considerable potential energy, which can be captured and used to power the wheelbarrow in evacuating the fruit bunches. This study was conducted to measure the coefficient of rolling resistance of a wheel barrow, analyze the potential energy of falling fresh fruit bunch, design a conceptual design of the catchment platform and evacuation machine. Measurement of wheel rolling resistance and soil penetration resistance were conducted at the evacuation track in the field. The energy potential of the falling fruit bunches was measured during harvesting, with variations of the fruit height of approximately 3 m, 8 m, 9 m and 15 m. The results showed that machine mobility in the field was very good. Soil penetration resistance was in the range of 16.44-22.10 kgf/cm2. Average coefficient of rolling resistance of the wheels was 0.159. Potential energy of falling fruit bunches were in the range of 0.44-4.44 kJ. Theoretical traveling distance of the wheel barrow using the captured potential energy was in the range of 2.27 m - 22.98 m. A conceptual design of catchment flatform and evacuation machine was designed.