EFFECTS OF CUTTERHEAD DIAMETER AND LOG INFEED POSITION ON ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF A CHIPPER-CANTER

Authors

  • Svetka Kuljich
  • Roger E. Hernández Centre de recherche sur les mate´riaux renouvelables Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec
  • Carl Blais Département de génie des mines, de la métallurgie et des matériaux Faculté des sciences et de génie Université Laval Québec

Abstract

Effects of chipper-canter cutterhead diameter and log infeed position on maximum power and energy consumption during processing of black spruce logs were evaluated. Two cutterhead diameters (661.5 and 448.7 mm) combined with three infeed positions or vertical distance from the cutterhead axis center to the bedplate on which the log was supported were studied. A mean angle of attack of the chipping edge was calculated for each infeed position. Linear cutting speed was fixed at 23.5 m/s. Rotation speed and feed speed were adjusted to obtain a nominal chip length of 25.4 mm. Fourteen logs for each cutting condition were transformed in frozen and unfrozen wood temperatures. The results showed a significant effect of cutterhead diameter and wood temperature on maximum power and energy consumption. Power and energy consumption were lower when processing with the 661.5-mm compared with the
448.7-mm cutterhead diameter. These parameters were also greater when cutting frozen logs compared with unfrozen logs. Although cutting action of the chipping edge was the principal contributor to energy consumption when processing with a chipper-canter, its angle of attack had a negligible effect on this consumption. This happened because of an opposite effect of the knife path length (arc formed by engagement of the knife into the log). These results gave useful information for estimating changes in power and energy consumption within the studied range of infeed positions (or angles of attack of the chipping edge) and cutterhead diameters.

Author Biographies

Svetka Kuljich

PhD Candidate

Roger E. Hernández, Centre de recherche sur les mate´riaux renouvelables Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec

Professor

Carl Blais, Département de génie des mines, de la métallurgie et des matériaux Faculté des sciences et de génie Université Laval Québec

Professor

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Published

2015-10-19

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 4 (2015)

Section

Research Contributions

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