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