Effect of Sugarcane Stalks’ Cutting Orientation on Required Energy for Biomass Products

Abstract

The mechanical cutting properties of sugarcane stalks were studied using a linear blade cutting and size reduction device to determine of the
effect of sample orientation with respect to the cutting element and quantify the possible cutting energy reduction. Also the effect of the dimensional
parameters on mechanical cutting properties were studied on internodes and nodes for cutting force, energy, ultimate stress, and specific energy of
sugarcane stalks. The device was used along with a universal test machine that quantified shearing stress and energy characteristics for applying
force on sugarcane stalks through a blade device. Mean specific cutting energies of cane stalks at 0° ,45° and 90° orientation for internodes were
4.368, 6.978 and 10.021 kN/m and for nodes at 0° and 90° were 6.458 and 15.812 kN/m, respectively. Also other parameters of mechanical
cutting such as ultimate stress, energy and peak force were presented and the results showed a significant difference between orientation, nodes
and internode in mechanical cutting properties. The parallel orientation (along sample) compared to perpendicular (across sample) produced a
significant reduction in the cutting stress and the specific energy by about one-fifth for internodes and nodes.