Farm Power And Machinery (1+1)

Mechanical power

• Broadly speaking, mechanical power includes stationary oil engines, tractors and power tillers. The internal combustion engine is a good device for converting fuel energy (Chemical energy) into useful work (Mechanical energy). The internal combustion engines are of two types : Diesel engine and Petrol / Kerosene engine. The thermal efficiency of diesel engine varies from 32 to 38 per cent whereas that of petrol engine varies from 25 to 32 per cent.
• In modern days, almost all the tractors and power tillers are operated by diesel engines. A tractor in field operation is shown in Plate 1.3. The diesel engines are used for stationery operations like water lifting, flour mills, oil expellers, vegetable washers, gardeners, mulberry processing equipments, threshers, winnowers, chaff cutter etc.
• The advantages of mechanical power are; their efficiency is high, not affected by weather, can run at a stretch for longer period, require less space and cheaper source of power. The disadvantages of mechanical power are; initial capital investment is very high, fuel is costly and scarce, needs technical knowledge for repairs and maintenance.
  
  Plate : 1.3 Mechanical power – Tractor in operation