Computer simulation of combine harvesting and handling of sugar cane in Barbados

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5148978

Harvey, W O

The broad objective of this study was to improve the efficiency of combine harvesting of sugar cane in Barbados. The harvesting process was broken down into two subsystems: a field subsystem and a factory yard subsystem. Two computer simulation models structured in GASP IV simulation language, were developed to model the operations involved in these systems. Model FIELDOP simulated the activities involved in the harvesting and loading of cane in the field, and in its transportation to the factory for processing. Model FACYARD simulated the weighing and unloading activities performed on cane transport units at the factory. Output from the models included utilization factors for the various component machines, daily cane delivery from the field system, and daily amounts of cane handled by the factory yard system. This output was fed into a cost program which calculated unit harvesting costs and total annual cane delivery for the equipment combinations simulated. Results indicated that a second scale at the factory can reduce the factory residence time of transport units by 88%, increase combine harvester utilization efficiency by 50-60%, increase daily cane receipts at the factory by more than 30%, and eliminate milling lost time due to lack of cane. The economic analysis demonstrated that harvesting cost per tonne can be significantly reduced.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5148978
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
09 BIOMASS FUELS
HARVESTING
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
SUGAR CANE
BARBADOS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
VALIDATION
ECONOMICS
GRASS
ISLANDS
LESSER ANTILLES
PLANTS
SIMULATION
TESTING
WEST INDIES
553000* - Agriculture & Food Technology
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