| Author | Abbas, Akhtar |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AE-91-14 |
| Subject(s) | Tractors--Design and construction
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Master of Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | A low cost safety tractor cab with external s ide shades and wet pad
evaporative cooling system was designed and developed to improve the working
efficiency and lengthen the effective working time of farmers who can not afford
to buy an expensive air conditioned cab. The cab is cooled by passing air
through a wet evaporative surf ace, made up of 40 mm thick layer of wood shred
packed between two layers of coconut fibre (15 mm thick each layer). The
evaporative surface is kept continuously wet with recirculation of water by a low
capacity submersible water pump installed at bottom of a water tank. The air
cooled by evaporation of water from the evaporative surface is sucked into the
cab through a duct by a fan located at center of cab roof. The motors of pump
and fan are energized by 12-volt D.C. battery. To protect glass portion of the
cab from direct solar radiation, external side shades of white painted plywood are
installed on all s ides of the cab.
Dry bulb temperature inside the cab was lowered to 30-31°C under worst
climatic condition (outside dry bulb temperature of 40.5°C). Though relative
humidity inside the cab was increased to 70-75 %, its humid effect was
counteracted by low temperature and high air velocity (3 m/sec) produced by the
fan. The thermal sensation inside the cab remained within comfortable zone at
worst climatic conditions in Bangkok. Noise level at the operator's ear was
reduced to 84-86 decibels which is less than permissible limit (90 decibels). |
| Year | 1991 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Gupta, C.P.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Nielsen, J.M.;Salokhe, Vilas M.;Bohez, Erik L.J.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of United Kingdom; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1991 |