Engineering Commons^™

Biomass Gasifier Combustor, Frederick A. Payne, Ira J. Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Patents

The present invention is directed to a biomass gasifier combustor which operates by gasification and combustion of the biomass to produce a clean effluent gas which can be used directly for grain drying or other applications where thermal energy is required. This biomass gasifier combustor burns crop residue clean enough so that the combustion gases can be used directly for grain drying without the need for a heat exchanger to isolate the combustion gases from the drying air. The biomass gasifier combustor includes a screw feeder tube having a screw feeder disposed therein. The screw feeder forces the biomass into …

Allocation Of Transportation Costs To Users, James E. Black, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The 1980 annual cost responsibility and user-generated revenue were determined for each vehicle class using Kentucky's highways. The incremental-cost method was selected as the procedure for assigning the responsibility for each component of the highway cost to the users. Generally, the method is based on the concept that each highway cost component can be subdivided into increments caused by vehicles of different types, sizes, and weights.

Annual costs for the highway system were based on construction, replacement or current value costs representing capital investment components of the highway. Those components were: 1) preliminary design and engineering, 2) right-of-way, 3) utilities …

Accident Rates By Vehicle Type, Joseph D. Crabtree, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report describes the calculation of accident rates for different vehicle types, using vehicle-miles travelled as the measure of exposure. Rates are reported for passenger cars, single-unit trucks, combination trucks, buses, and motorcycles on various highway types. Highway types are broken down by functional classificaion, administrative classification, number of lanes, and rural or urban location. Generally motorcycles had the highest rates and passenger cars had the lowest, although this varied by highway type.

Analysis Of Saturation Flow At Signalized Intersections, Kenneth R. Agent, Joseph D. Crabtree

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The accuracy of saturation flow values is of prime importance when determining the capacity of signalized intersections. The objective of this study was to collect a large sample of field measurements so that reliable saturation flow values could be obtained and the factors affecting saturation flow could be identified.

The results identified several factors which had significant influence on saturation flow. A formula was recommended for use in estimating an appropriate saturation flow value for a specific lane on an approach to an intersection. Adjustment factors were applied to a "base'' saturation flow value. Adjustments were developed for the following …

Evaluation Of Snowplowable Markers, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to evaluate available snowplowable markers under similar traffic and snowplowing operations. There were five different markers tested which included the following: 1) Stimsonite 96, 2) Dura-Brite, 3) recessed, 4) Kingray, and 5) Prismo Roadstud.

The Stimsonite 96, Dura-Brite, and recessed markers were found to be acceptable snowplowable markers. All three of these markers were found to have adequate reflectivity during both dry and wet nighttime conditions. This reflectivity was maintained over the test period and the markers proved to be durable when subjected to snowplow operations. However, considering all available input, the recessed marker …

Problem Identification For Highway Safety Plan (Fy 1983), Kenneth R. Agent, Joseph D. Crabtree, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

An annual highway safety program is proposed each year for the State of Kentucky in order to comply with Section 402, Title 23 of the United States code. This program includes the identification, programming, budgeting, and evaluation of safety projects. This report is the fourth in a series of annual reports which have been included as the problem identification portion of Kentucky's Annual Highway Safety Plan.

The approach used in this study involved identifying problem areas related to the 18 highway safety program standards with added emphasis placed on selected areas. This resulted in the analysis of 19 problem identification …

Triaxial Compression And Permeability Tests On Dense Graded Aggregate, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Fifty-six dense-graded aggregate samples of crushed limestone were received from the Division of Materials. Triaxial tests and permeability tests were to be performed.

The samples were obtained from seven sources with four gradations (fine, medium, coarse, and gap) from each source and two samples of each gradation. One of the samples of each gradation was to be compacted by standard compactive effort (AASHTO T-99) and the other at modified compactive effort (AASHTO T-180). The seven sources and their identification codes are as follows:

1. Martin - Marietta (59)
2. Hopkinsville Stone (150)
3. Nally - Hayden (112)
4. Harrod - Carter (51)
5. Reed Crushed …

Energy In Agriculture: Requirements For Farm Use Of Solar Energy In Kentucky, Richard S. Hiatt

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

There is increasing interest in utilizing solar energy to supplement heating and grain drying energy needs on the farm, Many Kentucky farmers realize that their demands for heat and the orientation of certain buildings on their farms suggest solar heating potential. But most farmers are not familiar with the requirements and limitations of solar heating.

This publication discusses those factors a farmer must consider when evaluating the solar potential of agricultural structures on the farm. Solar requirements are divided into two main areas: (1) site requirements associated with the building and its surroundings and (2) load requirements associated with the …

Correlation Of Road Rater And Benkelman Beam Deflections, Robert C. Deen, Gary W. Sharpe, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Benkelman beam is commonly used to measure surace deflections of highway and airfield pavements. The Benkelman beam is based on a simple lever-arm principal and uses dial guages to measure surface deflections under an applied axleload. The Road Rater is an electro-hydraulic testing device that applies a sinusoidal force to the pavement at a fixed amplitude and frequency: surface wave velocities are measured and electronically integrated to obtain surface deflections. Road Rater and Benkelman beam deflections have been successfully simulated using elastic theory and the Chevron N-layer computer program. The analyses presented in this paper illustrate relationships between Road …

Effect Of Herbicides On Performance Of Aerobic Dairy Lagoons, John D. Bottom, Joseph L. Taraba

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The herbicides glyphosate, bromacil, and dalapon were assessed for their affect on the oxygen uptake of microorganisms from an aerated dairy lagoon at 20 °C. The maximum recommended addition of herbicide active ingerdient to a lagoon is: glyphosate (isopropyl amino salt)—0.42 mg/L; bromacil—3.70 mg/L; and dalapon (85.8 percent Na salt and 14.2 percent Mg salt)—1.95 mg/L. In addition, microorganism isolates from the aerobic dairy lagoon were incubated under aerobic and anerobic conditions at room temperature to assess the effects of the herbicides. Under aerobic incubation, it was found that neither herbicide type nor herbicide concentration affected isolate growth. Under anaerobic …

Vertical Wall Loads In A Model Grain Bin, S. A. Thompson, I. J. Ross, John N. Walker, Larry G. Wells

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Fire Escape Planning Guide - A Blueprint To Save Your Life, Larry R. Piercy

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

First Step - Basic Floor Layout:

1. Make a separate outline of the entire floor area for each level in the home, dimensions and details need not be exact.
2. Now add rooms and label them.
3. Locate windows, doors and stairway. If upper floor, shade in any rooftops that could be used as a fire escape.

Salt Buildup In Flush Recycle Systems, Joseph L. Taraba

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

A major operating problem that has occurred in recycle flush lagoon systems is the buildup of a crystalline solid in the recycle pipelines, pump, flush devices, and concrete gutters. The major crystalline solid has been identified as magnesium ammonium phosphate -- Mg(NH₄)PO₄. There have been a couple of reports of other types of phosphate salts of calcium and magnesium. All the cases of salt buildup in the recycle lines of swine flushing systems that have been investigated in Kentucky were found to be magnesium ammonium phosphate.

Effects Of Manure Handling Systems On Swine Health, Joseph L. Taraba

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

Modern swine production confinement systems have brought about significant improvements in the quantity and quality of meat products for human consumption. This has been achieved because of the ability to maintain good environmental conditions and to apply sound management techniques, therefore, allowing the animals to achieve maximum performance. These intensive production systems have animals in close proximity to each which results in the large quantities of manure that must be handled. Thus the manure system becomes an integral part of the total production system. If the manure is not handled in a sanitary manner, if the gases and odors from …

Summary Of Farming And Energy In The 80'S, Richard S. Hiatt

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

This report is intended to summarize the results of a survey taken in the fall of 1981 entitled "Farming and Energy in the '80s". The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the use of energy conservation measures and alternate energy sources by Kentucky agricultural land owners. Specifically, the objectives were to determine:

1. the size and type of farming operations of those surveyed,
2. the type of energy conservation techniques being implemented
3. the use or interest in alternate agricultural energy sources,
4. the type of media and information sources used to obtain energy conservation information, and
5. miscellaneous background information on attitude, income, …

Residential Solar Heating In Kentucky, Richard S. Hiatt

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

No abstract provided.

Safety Precautions With Liquid Manure Storage Systems: Warning--Manure Gases Can Be Dangerous, Larry R. Piercy, Joseph L. Taraba

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

A liquid manure system produces 4 gases which are potentially hazardous to workers and animals. The decomposing manure slowly releases these gases into the liquid and the surrounding atmosphere. During agitation of the manure large quantities of gas are released into the air. Tragic human deaths and animal losses have occurred during agitation or from humans entering the pit areas.

Aggregate Shape And Skid Resistance, James H. Havens, Donald C. Newberry Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Natural sands and sands manufactured by crushing larger parent materials are characterized and service tested. Singular attributes are usually confounded with other variables in service tests. Dry-bulking tests and photomicrography are used to established qualities. High-stability porous mixtures are achieved in laboratory tests. Crushing some materials to coarse chip sizes leaves many smooth facets on particles that then tend to become oriented horizontally in the pavement surface. Open-graded friction courses and sprinkle treatments are included. Damage by winter freezing of porous courses is illustrated.

Pavement Testing -- Before And After An Overlay, Herbert F. Southgate, Gary W. Sharpe, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A pavement scheduled for an overlay of 76 mm (3 inches) of asphaltic concrete on one half the project and 178 mm (7 inches) on the other half was tested and evaluated at two sites for each thickness of overlay. Precise elevations were obtained on 0.305-m (1-foot) intervals across the pavement. The Road Rater and Benkelman beam were used to determine the in-place behavior of the pavement before and after construction of the overlay. Prior to placement of the overlay, the pavements were cured to determine actual layer thicknesses, and in-place CBR tests were performed to determine actual subgrade conditions. …

Implementation Of Road Rater Deflection Testing For Pavement Evaluation And Overlay Design, Gary W. Sharpe, Herbert F. Southgate, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Road Rater deflection data were used to estimate the in-place subgrade strength and the in-place structural capacity of existing pavements. Pavement behavior can be expressed in terms of a reduced thickness of "reference" quality paving materials or as a reduced modulus of elasticity for the constructed thickness of asphaltic concrete. Mathematical relationships were developed making it possible to "program" the evaluation procedure (in modular form) for use with small hand calculators or minicomputers.

The pavement evaluation method has been successfully implemented in making recommendations for overlay designs for several pavement sections. Road Rater deflection data were used to estimate the …

Temperature And Humidity Prediction In A Burley Curing Facility, Thomas C. Bridges, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells, I. J. Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Simulation Of Burley Tobacco Harvesting-Housing Systems, Ronald L. Bingner, Larry G. Wells, Thomas C. Bridges, George A. Duncan

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A computer model has been developed using systems analysis techniques to simulate the labor and equipment aspects of harvesting burley tobacco. By varying the parameters of the model the user can determine a harvesting and housing strategy based on labor and equipment availability.

Energy In Agriculture: Energy Resource Series For Youth And Adult Energy Programs: 11. Geothermal, George M. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

Geothermal energy or earth heat has the potential of becoming the foremost source of energy during the next few decades just as the fossil fuels have been for the past 75 years. This source is so great that it is limitless, unlike the fossil or nuclear fission fuels. Yet there are formidable problems in the application of geothermal energy for useful work.

Energy In Agriculture: Energy Resource Series For Youth And Adult Energy Programs: 12. Alcohol, George M. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

Today we often hear discussed the potential energy content and ability of alcohol to lessen our dependence on gasoline as a motor fuel. The alcohol in question is ethyl alcohol, a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid that is derived from growing plants, or the parts of growing plants, that are relatively high in carbohydrate content.

Energy In Agriculture: Energy Resource Series For Youth And Adult Energy Programs: 1. Energy Overview, George M. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

Since the development of the internal combustion engine and its rapid adoption as a power source, the people of the United States and several other developed countries have enjoyed the benefits of relatively cheap energy. This has had a direct bearing on the standard of living we have today.

Energy In Agriculture: Energy Resource Series For Youth And Adult Energy Programs: 2. Definitions, George M. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

The words described in this publication are used in the other publications in this energy resource series without further defining.

In most cases the first sentence, paragraph or formula describes a word or term sufficiently to use it . The added explanation is an attempt to give the reader a firm foundation for using the word confidently in energy programs.

Energy In Agriculture: Energy Resource Series For Youth And Adult Energy Programs: 3. Oil And Gas, George M. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

The oil and gas in the earth today were formed many millions of years ago, long before humans appeared on the scene. Therefore, man can only theorize about the origin of these fossil fuels.

The most widely accepted theory is that the oil and gas found in the earth today had their beginnings in decomposed animals and plants. The decomposition was caused by bacteria and chemicals called enzymes which digested the plant and animal bodies.

Energy In Agriculture: Energy Resource Series For Youth And Adult Energy Programs: 5. Solar, George M. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

Since 1973, when the public became aware that shortages of gasoline for automobiles could drastically affect their personal lives, there has been much interest in solar energy. Many articles have appeared in the popular press about the potential of solar energy, and the federal government has allocated large sums of money for research in this area of energy. Most science textbooks now contain a chapter or two on solar energy utilization. Most engineering colleges offer courses specifically related to energy, and many of these place emphasis on the solar aspect. There is little doubt that the public, in all sectors, …

Energy In Agriculture: Energy Resource Series For Youth And Adult Energy Programs: 6. Wind, George M. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

There is a tremendous amount of energy at work in the atmosphere at all times in the form of wind. Man has recognized this for ages and has used it to a limited extent by constructing devices, such as windmills.

Today, the rapidly diminishing supply of fossil fuels has prompted us to take a new look at wind as a source of energy. This publication will study some of the ways engineers have devised to harness wind.

Energy In Agriculture: Energy Resource Series For Youth And Adult Energy Programs: 8. Nuclear Fusion, George M. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

The subject of nuclear energy can be divided into two parts, fission and fusion. The purpose of this publication is to describe the process of nuclear fusion.

Fusion of atomic nuclei offers tremendous possibility of energy. Since all forecasts point toward a need for more energy in this country, this method of energy production can provide a significant share.

At the present time we do not know for certain that energy from the fusion process will be scientifically and economically successful. It is certain that much research will continue to take place; if fusion can be achieved, the promise of …