Development of a Machine for Gathering and Packing Poultry Litter

This research manufactures a self-propelled machine for scraping poultry litter off the concrete floor and packing it mechanically into sacks by a screw elevating system to reduce hygienic problems by preventing atmospheric emissions, such as hydrogen, sulfide, and ammonia. This system saves feedlot operators and increases profit for poultry litter contractors who sell it as fertilizer. Also, it aims to study the factors affecting the packing of poultry litter. The machine is provided with a dust protection divider to keep dust away and protect operators from rising dust. The study includes three experimental variables: four screw speed levels of 2.10, 2.62, 3.14, and 3.84 m/sec (733.3, 600, 500, and 400 rpm) with three screw pitch levels of 6, 8, and 10 cm, and three poultry litter moisture contents of 31.8%, 46.5% and 60.7%. The measurements include gathering efficiency, actual volumetric capacity, volumetric efficiency, machine productivity, machine efficiency, rising dust, and operating costs. The gathering efficiency, conveyor screw volumetric efficiency, machine productivity, and machine efficiency maximum values were 94.67%, 95.33%, 1.47 ton/h, and 92.33% at a screw speed of 3.84 m/sec, screw pitch of 10 cm, and poultry litter moisture content of 30.8%. The minimum amount of rising dust was 0.57 mg/m3 at a screw speed of 2.1 m/sec, screw pitch of 6 cm, and poultry litter moisture content of 60.7%. The manufactured machine can decrease the operating cost by 76.27%. Therefore, it is recommended to use the self-propelled machine for cleaning poultry houses. © 2023, The Institution of Engineers (India).