Principles of Mechanical Cleaning Tools for Sugar Beet

Abstract

Sugar beet and soil particles can be found as loose and adhesive compo- nents in a common multi-component pile. The soil content in the pile is reduced by means of removing- and separating processes. During the harvest, mechanical cleaning devices are used for this purpose. Two mo- dels are employed to analyze the function of these tools. A model which analyzes the relevant operating surfaces is used to describe the tool structure and to compare different design types. In a dynamic working model, the two key processes removal and separation are defined. Both processes are based on impacts of the cleaning tool on the sugar beet- soil pile. Interacting adhesion- and cohesion bonds are broken up so that adhesive soil particles are converted into loose ones. The impact flow during separation also causes the pile to be mixed so that loose particles are separated. A detector is used to measure the quantative and qualitative impact flow caused by the cleaning tool. This data is correla- ted with the parameters which describe the quality of sugar beet, such as soil tare and surface damage.