Soybean oil (Continued from Page D2O) totally by ethanol produced primarily from sugar cane or distressed corn. Ten of these alcohol-powered tractors have been field-tested in Brazil for three years, ac cumulating more than 20,000 hours of operation at Ford and govern ment-run facilities throughout the country. Several units also have been tested in Zimbabwe and in the United States at the University of Nebraska, the University of lowa and Michigan State University. The alcohol-fueled engines have demonstrated excellent reliability, as well as well as thermal and overall efficiencies equal to those in comparable diesel-powered engines. New Engine Design Joe Carter, manager of FTO’s engine design department, ex plains that the major challenge facing Ford in the development of these prototype alcohol-powered tractors was to put together known technologies in the right propor tions to allow the engine to use the alcohol, and to use it most ef ficiently. Materials compatible with alcohol had to be found, as well as a way to optimize ef ficiency in consuming alcohol. Ford 3.3-, 4.2- and 4.4-liter engines were developed for Brazil SMALL GRAIN GROWERS CUSTOM APPLIED WILL MAXIMIZE YOUR YIELDS. SAVE BOTH TIME and BY HAVING AGWAY'S PROFESSIONAL CUSTOM APPLICATION SERVICE DO THE WORK FOR YOU. COCHRANVILLE, PA 215-869-8006 TOLL FREE 800-269-7866 AGWA using Ford’s basic three-cylinder diesel-engine design. Mr. Carter notes that the lower portion of the engine block in all cases if Ford’s standard diesel design except for a larger piston combustion bowl to reduce the compression ratio to 12- to-1. “We retained standard diesel valve timing, ruggedness and manufacturing tolerances,” Mr. Carter says. “The Otto-cycle head is fitted with spark plugs calibrated for the heat range of alcohol, but it is similar to a diesel head otherwise.” Diesel injection equipment is replaced by a governor-controlled updraft carburetor mounted to a water-jacketed manifold. The engine uses an electronic ignition system. Alcohol is supplied to the car buretor from a tin-plated fuel tank by an electric fuel pump. The carburetor and other fuel-system components use material finishes compatible with 180 to 200 proof ethanol. Performance is Excellent The 3.3- and 4.2-liter engines have undergone extensive testing. The 4.4-liter engine was developed especially for use on sugar-cane farms where greater power is needed. According to Mr. Carter, the results have been excellent, sur passing initial expectations. The alcohol units have performed as MARCH IS THE TIME TO APPLY NITROGEN AGWAY NITAN =AGW A Y = FARM CENTERS QUARRYYILLE, PA 717-786-2126 well as their diesel counterparts. As for fuel economy, Mr. Carter points out that although the alcohol engines consume approximately 1.5 times the fuel of diesel engines at the same output because of alcohol’s lower caloric value, they offer slightly higher thermal ef ficiency and significantly more power. Additional testing currently going on at the University of lowa’s College of Engineering is designed to examine not only how well a Ford ethanol tractor per forms a variety of farm tasks, but also its cost effectiveness. According to Paul Peterschmidt, project director of Biomass Research, the Ford test unit successfully completed ten field tasks through harvest using ethanol produced from distressed com. Dr. Peterschmidt reports this is a fairly inexpensive fuel, which, as a co-product of distillers’ grains and solubles, should become even more economical during production. “We continue to test ethanol powered tractors and are very excited about their potential,’’ Howard says. “We also continue to be actively involved in a variety of other alternate-fuel research programs.” NEW HOLLAND, PA 717-354-4526 Cost Effective Too MONEY SALUNGA 717-898-2248 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 17,1984-D2l Wayne cattlemen plan dinner HAWLEY The Wayne County Beef Cattlemen’s Association will hold it’s annual dinner, March 21 at 7:30 p.m., at Lucan’s Farm Resort, Long Ridge Road, Hawley. Guest speaker will be J. Paul Espy, Green Ridge Beef Farms, Tyrone, Huntington County. An owner and operator of a cattle feed lot consisting of five farms totaling 650 acres, Espy finishes 1,000 yearlings each year. A Penn State graduate with B.S. and M.E. degrees, he is past president of the Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association and 1983 Cattleman of the Year. A member of the board of directors of the National Cattlemen’s Association in 1981, he is currently the president of the Pennsylvania Beef Council. A full course dinner will be served at 8 p.m. with cocktails available at 7 p.m. The general public is invited to attend. For reservations on further information please phone directors: Vernon Crum 729-7274, Hayden Bagnick 937-4121; Don Januszewski 689-2158; or Frank Bell 253-1937. Tickets are $12.50 per person in advance or $l5 at the door. Reservations should be made by March 12. GRIMM'S HAY TEDDERS make better hay... faster! REEL BAR TEDDERS Popular 7 ft wide ground driven and pto driven models Also Bft wide pto model covers 2 windrows from haybme SUPER 16 MODEL 4 Rotary Heads flex to float over un even ground 16 ft wide Covers 13 acres/hr at 7 mph Pto driven Forks sweep hay sideways, lift, turn & spread uniformly in back for fast drying SHAKE 'N’ RAKE Model is two machines in one Teds Bft wide Rakes a fluffy windrow with basket down Write or phone for full details and nearest dealer's name Phones; (802] 775-5411 or (802) 773-9519 G.H. GRIMM Co., Inc. P.O. Box 130-HL. Rutland. VT 05701 NITRATES? A Simple Low-Cost Solution Has Been Found Dr. Keith Ault-Ball State University Pro fessor will be at M.M. Weaver and Sons Farm Machinery Sale March 19 at Leola, PA., followed by a meeting with Dr. Ault at Leola Family Restaurant in the evening at 7:30 PM on March 19. For information call 717-656-7374 or 717-354-4095 or write Box 12, Akron, PA 17501
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