Definition Of Terms

Agricultural Power and Energy Sources –It is a study

that deals with the basic principles of energy
sources and power conversion and its utilization in
agriculture for field and farmstead operation.
 Power –It is the rate at which the energy is used. It
is the energy divided by time.
 Energy –It consists of a mass of molecules that
produces power either heat, mechanical, electrical,
chemical, and their combinations. Simply, it is the
capacity of a physical system to perform work.
 Different Energy Sources
Conventional:
 These are the commonly and widely used sources of energy, eg.
fossil fuel, hydroelectricity, thermal power (from coal, mineral
oil, natural gas), nuclear, and, human and draft animals.
 They are expensive and require established technologies to
produce energy around the clock.
 Conventional sources of energy have limited supply because
eventually the nuclear elements and fossil fuels will be used up.
 In addition, burning fossil fuels release significant amount of
greenhouse gases and contribute to acid rain.
 Conventional and Non-Conventional
Energy Sources
Non-Conventional :
 These are the new sources of energy, hence they are still
not in common use such as Solar energy, Geothermal
power, Bio-fuel/Biomass, Hydro power, Ocean (tidal,
wave, thermal) and Wind power.
 Their contribution to the national power is nominal.
 They are also known as renewable energy sources.
 Nonconventional energy sources have a much smaller
environmental footprint and they are still expensive and
are often limited to producing energy only under certain
circumstances.
 In other words, they are location specific
 Renewable and Non-Renewable
Energy Sources
 Renewable energy- is energy that comes from natural
resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and
geothermal heat.
 •They are considered renewable because they are naturally
replenished at a constant rate.
 •Non-renewable resource- is a natural resource which
cannot be reproduced, grown, generated, or used on a scale
which can sustain its consumption rate.
 •Once depleted there will be no more available for future
use.
 SOURCES OF ENERGY
 Fuel Oil –Gasoline, Diesel, Kerosene etc
 Coal
 Solar –Solar Thermal and
Photovoltaic
 Biomass –Direct Combustion,
Gasification, Pyrolysis, and Biofuel
 Wind –Windmill, Wind pump,
Wind Turbine
 Hydro
 Geothermal
 Wave and Tidal
 Ocean Thermal
CLASSIFICATIONS OF ENERGY SOURCES
 SOURCES OF POWER IN THE FARM
 Sources of power in the farm includes
 human power, animal power, mechanical power,
electrical power, water power, wind power,
biomass, and tractor power.
 1. Human Power
 Human power has been utilized as source of power since time
immemorial.
 Before the mechanization, human power is utilized in various
farm works such as land preparation, seeding and planting,
harvesting and other processing operations.
 At present human power is utilized in several regions where
labor is sufficient and mechanization is not fully emphasized.
Human Power Consumption for Various
Farming Activities ,
 Some Field Operation Rates by Farmers
Using Hand-Tools
.
 , Man-Hour Requirement per Hectare of
Various Agricultural Operations
 .
 1. Human Power Formula: ,

Power
Pg = 0.35 – 0.092 log t
where:
 Pg = Generated Power, Hp

 T = time, min

Rest Period
 Tr = 60 ( 1 –250 / P )

where:
 Tr = required rest period, min/hr

 P = actual rate of energy consumption, watts

 1. Human Power:
1. Human Power:
.
Human Power Formula:
 Number of Persons Needed
 No. of Persons = Man-hour per ha x No. of Hectares (ha) /
Operating time (hr)
 Time to Finish Work
 Time (hr) = [Man-hour per ha

x No. of hectares (ha)] / No. of Persons

 Area Covered

 No. of Hectares (ha) = (No. of Persons / [Man-hour per ha)

x Operating Time (hr)]
 HUMAN POWER Formula Application:
 A ten-hectare farm is to be planted with mongo by broadcasting. The
owner of the farm wishes that the planting be finished within one day (8
hrs per day). How many people would be required to do the job?
 Given:
Area of the farm-10 hectares
Operating Time-one day @ 8 hours
 Required:
No. of persons to employ
 Solution:
 No. of person = 3.3 person-hr/ha x 10 ha / 8 hr
 = 4.1 persons, ; employ 5 persons
 SOURCES OF POWER IN THE FARM
 2. Animal Power
➢Animal Power has been largely used as source of power for
various farming operations in many countries.
➢It is accounted for about 20% of Agricultural mechanization in
developing countries.
➢In Asia, about 80 million draft animals are used to sustain power
about 40 million horsepower. Worldwide, there are still around
400 billion heads of draft animals providing power for various
tasks.
➢Draft animals (bullock) in India continue to be the major power
source for field operations. The country is blessed with over 73
million draft animals equivalent to 18 million kW.
➢The average force of bullock exerts is nearly equal to 1/10th of
their body weight.
➢Medium sized bullock can develop power between 0.50 to 0.75
 Draft Animals Power
 DRAFT POWER MECHANICS:
 Pulling agricultural machines such as field implements for land
preparation (plowing and harrowing), seeding and planting,
cultivation, and others.
 A draft animal supplies useful power by exerting a pull at a
certain speed.
 The magnitude of pull exerted by the animal depends on the
load and the method of attaching the hitch of animals to the
load.
 The maximum pulling capacity of an animal depends on several
factors such as the breed, sex, age, health, nutrition, training,
ground condition, etc.
 Draft Animals Power:
 DRAFT POWER: Drawbar Horsepower, DHP
 DHP= F x V / 76.2
 where:
 DHP = draft horsepower, hp
 F = draft, kg
 V - velocity of travel, m/s
 SAMPLE PROBLEM:
 Compute the draft power developed by an 800-kg buffalo in pulling 80-kg
load on a plow and traveling at a speed of 0.9 m/sec.
Required: Draft horsepower
Solution:
DHP= F x V
= 80 kg x 0.9 m/s
= 72 kg-m/76.2 sec
or ____hp
 Draft Animals

 Table on Draft and Horsepower:

Draft Animals

 The following are possible controls to maximize the

animal’s 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)
 Characteristics Affecting the
Performance of Animals:
• Breed and Species
Breed and type- indigenous animals are more hardy than
exotic.
• Weight
The heavier the animal, more sturdy and can perform
heavier task. A draft animal can pull 10-20 percentage of its
body for 6-8 hours.
• Sex
Male animals tends to perform better than females
• Age
Mature animals produce more power output than young
animal
 Characteristics Affecting the Performance of
Animals:
• Health
Healthy draught animal has higher work output than a sick
animal.
• Training
Better trained animals have better work output.
• Quality of Feed
A quality diet makes working animals perform to optimum
and
longer services it can provide.
• Harnessed
Harnessing of the animal- well harnessed animal is more
efficient at work than poorly harnessed work.
 Characteristics Affecting the
Performance of Animals:
• Temperature - The ambient temperature; cool
temperatures lead to higher work output with a draught
animal than poorly maintained animals.
• Condition of Working Equipment - A well maintained
equipment have higher work output with draught animal
than poorly maintained ones.
Temperament – These are animals’ “individual differences
in behavior, disposition and reactions that are biologically
based.”
• How They are Tamed – refers to the Domesticated
animals are animals that have been selectively bred and
genetically adapted over generations to live alongside
humans.
 Improving Welfare of Draft Animals
a. Appropriate and sufficient feed to ensure health and growth, as well as
energy for work.
b. Adequate health care and prompt provision of veterinary services in case of

injuries and sickness, and to aid resistance to disease
c. Appropriate well-fitting equipment for working, prevention of injury while
working, etc.
d. Prevention of overstraining, allowing animals to rest from work while sick of
injured, and avoiding putting animals to work in adverse ambient conditions
e. Ensuring observance of laws to prevent the misuse and abuse of draught
animals.
f. Use of modern equipment and methods for surgical treatments and slaughter
g. Allowing animals, the freedom to satisfy natural instincts
h. Adoption of human methods for nose-roping, shoeing, branding, dehorning,
etc.
i. Development of publicity and education programs by animal welfare
organizations.
 2. Draft Animal Technology
 Draft or work animals are large domesticated four-
footed animal that can develop an output of 0.7-1.3 hp.
 Table 1 below shows the horsepower develop by
Philippine Draft Animals.
 OTHER SOURCES OF FARM POWER
 Biomass Energy
 Biomass refers to all organic materials that originate from living
organisms such as wood, agricultural residues, animal wastes
and others. Large proportion of biomass, mainly fuelwood, is
being used in developing countries.
 Biomass conversion processes
 Thermochemical conversion
Gasification (downdraft gasifiers, updraft, and fluidized bed)
Pyrolysis and carbonization
Combustion (cook stoves)
 Biochemical conversion
Ethanol production
Biogas production (anaerobic digestion)
Energy Conversion Systems
 Biomass Power Generation System
 In this energy conversion system, biomass is used as fuel to
produce heat that converts water into steam inside a boiler.
 The pressure of the steam drives the steam turbine at a
certain speed and propels the generator that produces
electricity.
 Biomass like wood waste and agri-waste are commonly used
as fuel.

BIOMASS ENERGY THERMAL ENERGY ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Energy Conversion Systems
 Biomass Power Generation System

BIOMASS ENERGY THERMAL ENERGY ELECTRICAL ENERGY

 ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS
 Biogas System
 In this conversion system,
animal wastes are allowed to
undergo decomposition process
Inside a digester for a certain
period to produce a combustible
gas, which is a mixture of methane
and carbon dioxide.
Gas containing higher percentage
of methane can be used to
provide heat as well as to generate mechanical power.
 Energy Conversion Systems
 Biogas System

ANIMAL WASTE ENERGY CHEMICAL ENERGY THERMAL ENERGY

Energy Conversion Systems
 Electrical Power
 Contributes directly to agricultural production by
supplying heat, light and power for lighting
buildings and heating water and operating farm
equipment like water pumps, refrigeration
systems. Electric motors provide stationary
power for various agricultural operations. It
converts electrical energy to mechanical power
by producing rotational motion and torque.

CHEMICAL ENERGY ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Energy Conversion Systems
 Electrical Battery System
 In this system, the chemical
used (commonly acid) generates
electricity as it reacts with the
plates of the battery, which are
commonly made of lead.
The battery provides direct
current that provides light
and energizes small
home appliances.

CHEMICAL ENERGY ELECTRICAL ENERGY

 Energy Conversion Systems
 Electrical Generator System
In this conversion system,
mechanical power is provided
by an engine that drives a
generator to produce electricity.

Diesel fuel is used for a large-

scale power generating unit
while gasoline is used for small
units. The generator used for
this purpose is usually 3-phase or single-phase.
Energy Conversion Systems
 MECHANICAL OR HEAT ENGINE POWER
 A heat engine is a machine for converting the heat
developed by a burning fuel into useful torque at
crankshaft. It was classified into two; the external
combustion engine and the internal combustion engine.
 External combustion engine (ECE) uses the heat in the form
of steam, which is generated in a boiler entirely separate
from the engine cylinder where the heat is converted into
power.
 Internal combustion engine (ICE) uses the expansive forces
of gases resulting from the heat produced by burning a fuel
within a cylinder; heat converted into useful power by a
piston constrained within the cylinder that rotates a
crankshaft.
CHEMICAL ENERGY HEAT ENERGY MECHANICAL ENERGY
Energy Conversion Systems
Internal Combustion Engine System
In this energy conversion system,
fuel oil is used to provide
mechanical power through
combustion.
The piston that causes the
movement after explosion
of fuel rotates the crankshaft
at a certain speed and torque.

CHEMICAL ENERGY HEAT ENERGY MECHANICAL ENERGY

 Energy Conversion Systems
Heat Engine System Comparison
 Advantage of ICE over ECE
 More efficient - greater percentage of the heat and energy
value of the fuel is converted into useful power (15-30%).
 ECE is often as low as 3 and seldom exceeds 10%
 Weighs less per horsepower
 More compact
 Original cost less per horsepower
 Less time and work necessary preliminary to starting
 Less time and attention required while in operation
 Can be made in a greater variety of sizes and types and adapted
to many special uses (greater range of adaptability)

CHEMICAL ENERGY HEAT ENERGY MECHANICAL ENERGY

 Energy Conversion Systems
WIND ENERGY
Wind was another early source of power used to multiple the
productive capacity of the human muscle. On the seas, it has
been used to propel ships and on land, it has served a variety
of purposes like pumping water, grinding grains and
generating electricity.
Common applications of wind energy include wind pump and
wind turbine.
Windpump is a machine that convert the kinetic energy of
the wind to mechanical power for pumping water. Without a
complicated guiding device, wind pump can only extract
about 59% of the wind kinetic energy. Actual values ranged
from 10 to 50% depending of the aerodynamic quality of the
rotor.
 Energy Conversion Systems
WIND ENERGY
Wind turbine is a machine that converts the wind
kinetic energy into electrical energy using a fast
rotating rotor.
Wind turbine systems usually are propeller type
having a diameter of 6 to 12 feet and generates
electrical power from 200 to 1500 watts or even
higher.
 Energy Conversion Systems
 Wind Turbine System
 In this conversion system, the
kinetic energy of the wind is used
to drive the rotor of the wind
turbine which produces
mechanical power that drives a
generator to produce electricity.
 When the diameter of the
rotor is increased , the power
is doubled. When the velocity is
doubled, moreover, the power is increased by eight times.
WIND ENERGY ELECTRICAL ENERGY
 Energy Conversion Systems
 Solar Energy
 Solar energy has been in use throughout the
world mainly for drying and heating.
 The energy received from sun, per unit of time,
on a normal surface at the average distance
between the sun and earth outside the earth’s
atmosphere is equal to 1,353 w/m2.
 The radiation absorbed by the earth is about
690 w/m2.
 Energy Conversion Systems
 Solar Photovoltaic System
In this system, the solar energy
in the form of light is captured in a
cell made of crystalline material that
converts light energy into electricity.
The system is usually used for lighting
facility using LED, for providing power
for communication, and for charging
battery for other applications. It is
also used for water pumping or
irrigating high-value crops.
 Energy Conversion Systems
 Solar Thermal System
 In this system, the heat from
the sun is captured using a disc
which converges the sun heat
obtaining a high temperature for
heating water or for cooking food.
Low-temperature solar collectors
made of black flat plate are used
for drying as well as for
space heating applications.
 Energy Conversion Systems
 Water Power
 The movement of masses of water is a form of kinetic
energy which can be converted into mechanical
energy through the use of water wheels or water
turbines.
 In general, two types of water masses movement can
be used:
(a) the falling/flowing of streams of water
through the force of gravity, and
(b) the rise and fall of tides through lunar (and
solar) gravity.
 Energy Conversion Systems
 Hydro Power System
In this system, the kinetic energy
of flowing water is used to drive
the wheel that provides power for
grinding, lifting water, or for
providing power to drive a generator
(if provided with gear box).
Turbine, which is other design of the
wheel, provides faster speed and
higher mechanical power solely
for electric generation.
 Energy Conversion Systems
 Hydro Power System
 Power developed depends on two factors: Volume of
water flowing per unit time
Head or vertical distance of water drops at a point where
power installation is located.
• Actual power is 60-80% less than the theoretical power due
to:
a) overall efficiencies hydraulic losses in conduits &
turbines
b) mechanical losses in bearings & transmission
systems.
c) electrical losses in generators, station use &
transmissions.
 Energy and Power
Tractor Power System
 Tractors deliver power in several ways.
 Pulled or towed implements are powered through the
traction of drive wheels and the pull or draft from the
drawbar.
 Rotary power is obtained from the power-take-off (PTO)
shaft of from a belt pulley.
 Both linear and rotary power can be produced by a
tractor’s hydraulic system.
 Some implements require electric power from tractors.
 Energy Conversion Equipment/Devices
 Hydro Power System
Energy Conversion Equipment/Devices