Development of Ammonia (Urea) Treatment Plant for Stacked Baled Straw

Abstract

A plant was developed for ammonia (urea) treatment of 216 bales (4-5 tonnes) placed in 6 layers of 36 bales each in a batch using 'dripping method'. The performance evaluation of the treatment plant was carried out on two stacks of wheat straw and the treated bales were covered with polythene sheets either by keeping the stack upside down separately (method No.1) or on the plant itself (method No.2) to study the effect of manners of stacking on moisture migration pattern. The actual time required for completion of wetting of baled wheat straw upto the recommended average moisture content of 40% (w.b.) with urea solution at the discharge rate of 35.76 g/min/emitter was found to be approximately 42.14 min. The average retaining efficiency of stacks was about 87.38%. Moisture migration pattern during curing in an airtight polythene sheets covered enclosure in method NO.1 revealed that the moisture content of bottom most layer decreased by 8.47% whereas in top most layer it increased by 5.78%. However, in method No.2 the moisture content of both, bottom and top most layers increased by 4.79% and 5.53%. The variation of moisture (50-30%) from top to bottom layers was found in the safe range of treatment.