A HARVESTER-MOUNTED TRASH SHREDDER AND COLLECTION SYSTEM

As part of its development of co-generation opportunities, NSW Sugar Milling Cooperative Limited proposed that trash should be shredded and collected in the field for use as a supplementary fuel in the mill boilers. The economics of the proposal depended on being able to shred trash on the harvester and transport it in bulk to the mill. Previously proposed methods such as baling and subsequent hammer milling were not considered economically viable because of the additional handling steps involved. It was suggested that shredding on the harvester would eliminate two handling steps, while finely shredded trash would pack to a higher bulk density for transport, and feed readily into the boilers. The National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture undertook the task of developing a suitable shredder and the means for delivering it to an infield bin. At the completion of the project, a field-tested system was developed. This incorporated a counter-rotating two-stage shredder fan that fits into the primary extractor hood, and is driven by a robust drive located above the hood. It delivers trash by way of a rigid chute to a bin operating in the next row parallel to the standard cane haulout bin.