Agricultural and Biosystems

Power Engineering
ABE 111
Intended Learning Outcomes
1. Conceptualize the different sources of energy.
2. Determine the various sources that could be helpful in the
different farm activities.
Basic Definitions
• Force
• Work
• Power
• Energy
Basic Definitions
• Force - Any influence that causes an object to undergo a
• Work change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in
shape,
• Power
- A push or pull that can cause an object with mass to
• Energy change its velocity
- A force has both the magnitude and direction, making
it a vector quantity
- An invisible agent which always tries to change the
state of the body. The unit for force in S system is
Newton (N) defined as 1 kg.m/s2, the force which gives
a mass of 1 kilogram an acceleration of 1 meter per
second per second.
Basic Definitions
• Force
- A scalar quantity that can be described as the
• Work product of a force times the distance through
• Power which it acts.
• Energy - Only the component of a force in the direction of
the movement of its point of application does work.
- When a force is applied to the body, it moves in the
direction of the applied force then work is said to
be done. The unit for work is Newton-meters (N-
m).
Basic Definitions
• Force
- Is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or
• Work transformed.
• Power - Is also the rate at which work is done expressed in
• Energy N-m/s or watts
Basic Definitions
• Force
- It is the capacity to do work. The unit of energy is
• Work Joules or Calories or BTU.
• Power
• Energy 1 Joule = 1 kg m2/s2

1 BTU = 1054.35 J
1 cal = 4.184 J
1 kcal = 1 C
1C = 4184 J = 4.184 kJ
Basic Definitions
• Force - Energy sources have always played a very important
role in the development of human society
• Work
- Energy is generally defined as the potential to
• Power do work or produce heat.
• Energy - One of the most wonderful properties of the universe is
that energy can be transformed from one type to
another and transferred from one object to
another.
- In general, it is easy to produce thermal energy by
doing work, for example by any frictional process.
- But to get work from thermal energy is
more difficult. It is closely associated with the concept
of entropy.
Basic Definitions
• Force - Sometimes, mechanical energy is directly available
• Work - Ex. wind power and hydro power.
- But most of our energy comes from the burning of fossil
• Power fuels (coal, oil, and gas) and from nuclear reaction
• Energy - At present, fossil fuel is still the world’s predominant energy
source.
- But the burning of fossil fuels generates only thermal
energy
- These energy sources are so called “primary energy
sources”, that must be converted to secondary energy
source, so called energy carriers (electrical energy etc.).
- To convert thermal energy into another form of energy
a heat engine must be used.
Agricultural Power
• the energy required in the daily Classification of Agricultural
agricultural operations and Operations
activities • Tractive work
• classified into conventional - requires pulling and drawing
source and renewable source of efforts
energy

• Stationary Work
- accomplished be means of belts,
gears and direct drive
 Sources of Power

Conventional/Non- Non-
Renewable Conventional/Renewable

Engine Solar

Motor Wind

Tractor Water

Geothermal

Biomass
Agricultural Mechanization
- is the process of using agricultural machinery to mechanize the
work of agriculture, greatly increasing farm worker productivity
- Is the use of any machine to accomplish a task or operation
involved in agricultural production. It employs a combination of
three main sources of power; human, animal and
mechanical/engine.
- refers to the development, adoption, assembly, manufacture and
application of appropriate, location specific and cost-effective
agricultural and fisheries machinery using human, animal,
mechanical, electrical, renewable and other nonconventional
sources of energy for agricultural production and
postharvest/postproduction operations (RA 10601 - Agricultural
and Fisheries Mechanization Law)
Main Goals of Mechanization
• increase the productivity of land and labor
• increase production
• increase income
• reduce drudgery of farm labor
• generate more gainful employment
• produce better products at reduced prices
Classifications of Level of Mechanization
• Human power technology
- use of human energy in operating tools, implements and
machines

• Animal power technology

- use of animal energy

• Mechanical power technology

- uses mechanical energy in operating agricultural machinery
Human power
Human power
Human power
 Human power
- Work or energy that is produced from
the human body
- It can also refer to the power (rate of work per
time) of a human
- Depending on the person’s activity, weight,
and metabolism, a person’s power can be
slightly higher or lower.
- The average human generates around 100
watts in an average day.
 Human power
- A person can cultivate only 1 ha of land using hand
tools
- Adopts a working mode that incorporates appropriate
rest period
- Makes instantaneous decisions as to how much force
to exert to accomplish a task thereby conserving
energy.
- Chooses the appropriate tools for a given production
unit operation
- Changes from one task to another readily and
rationally, exhibiting a versatility that no other power
source is capable of.
 Human power
- For approximation of power available in a
household
Women= 75% (Men)
Child= 50% (Men)
Human power
 Human power
Human power consumption for various farming activities

Source: FAO. (2000). The energy and agriculture nexus.

Human power
Rest Period
The rest period required can be estimated using the
formula,

Tr=60 (1-250/P)

where:
Tr= required rest period, min/h of work, and
P = actual rate of energy consumption in watts.
Power generated, Pg

Pg = 0.35 -0.092 log t

where:
Pg – power generated, hp
t – time, minutes
Example.
How much power is generated by a farmer if he works for 5
hours during the unweeding activity in his farm?
Solution:
Pg = 0.35 -0.092 log t
= 0.35 – 0.092 log 300
= 0.35 – (0.092)(2.477)
= 0.122 hp
Animal Power
Draft Animal Technology

• Draft animals are harness

for tractive force in
pulling a certain element
or machine.

• Can make a maximum

sustained pull of 10% of
its weight for about 2-3
Source: Shutterstock image hours per day at a normal
speed of 0.6-0.8 m/sec.
Animal Power
Carabao and Cattle
• the oldest source of energy
Performance of Carabao and Cattle Under Varying Pulling Loads

Source: Test data of the National Carabao Research Center, Institute of Animal Science, UPLB 1990
Carabao /Water Buffalo
• In the Philippines, carabao is the major beast of burden
• It can generate 1 hp walking continuously under favorable condtions.
• Carabaos are confined mostly to pulling operation such as plowing,
harrowing, cultivating and transport.
• the role of carabao as a source of draft power remains very
important, particularly in the rain-fed or upland areas.
Carabao /Water Buffalo
• with the advent of mechanization, there is a significant displacement
of carabao by hand tractors, particularly in irrigated, rice-producing
areas in the country.
• the carabao population in the country dwindled due to natural and
man-made causes
• the carabao generally declined in size and weight. From an average
weight of 500 kilograms, it went down to 400 kilograms
• 1981 the “Strengthening of the Philippine Carabao Research and
Development Center” project was implemented
• in 1992 the “Philippine Carabao Act” (RA 7307) was enacted to “conserve,
propagate, and promote the carabao as source of draft power, meat, and
hide for the benefit of smallhold farmers.”
• provided for the establishment of Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)
• The latest Carabao Situation Report by the Philippine Statistics Authority
registered 2.84 million heads of carabao in the country, the majority of
which have been domesticated by small-scale farmers (2011).
• As of 31 March 2022, the country’s carabao inventory was estimated
at 2.78 million heads. About 11.8 percent of the total carabao
population was recorded in Bicol Region, followed by Western Visayas
with 9.8 percent share and Central Luzon with 8.7 percent share.
These three regions accounted for 30.3 percent of the country’s total
carabao inventory.
ADVANTAGES OF USING CARABAOS
(compared to mechanical power sources):
• Low initial cost
• Easy to maintain
• Rarely bogs down in mud
• Can work closer to the levees
• Mobile in most terrain conditions
• If female, is capable of reproduction
• Source of milk, meat, leather and fertilizer
ANIMAL POWER DISADVANTAGES:
• Low work output
 25-50 hours plowing per hectare
 77 km walking per hectare
 limited working hours to avoid intense heat of the sun
• Prone to disability by disease, poisoning, lost by rustling and
death
• Requires daily attention such as feeding and pasturing
• Under poor management practices, causes unsanitary
conditions
 Possible control to Maximize Animal Potential
1. Environmental factors that define the working condition for the
draft animal.
2. Choice of animals (breed, species, sex, temperament)
3. Use of the animals-harnessing system.
4. Livestock management (feeding, training, care, watering)
Reference: Paras Jr., F.O. Advanced Agricultural Energy and Power Engineering Lecture Material.
Horse
• a 1,000 lb. horse can develop 0.67 to 0.83 hp
• a 1,200 lb. horse can develop 0.8 to 1.0 hp
• a 1,600 lb. horse can develop 1.07 to 1.33 hp

1. It is possible for horses to exert a tractive effort of 1/10 to 1/8 of their

own weight and travel 20 miles per day without fatigue.

2. It is possible for horses weighing 1,500 lbs. or over to pull a continuous

load of 1.0 hp or more for periods of a day or more.

For a period of a few seconds or over, a limited distance

of 30 ft. or less, a horse can exert a maximum pull of 60
to 100% of its actual weight.
Thank you!