Performance Evaluation of the Helical Blade Type Rotary Ridger in Soil Bin

Abstract

A helical blade-type rotary ridger was developed and its performance evaluated in a mechanized soil bin to assess the influence of key operational parameters—forward speed (1–2 km/h), blade rotational speed (105–135 rpm), and operating depth (50–120 mm)—on torque and power requirements. An optimal custom design was used to conduct twenty-seven experimental runs. The measured torque ranged from 20.64 to 33.2 N·m, and power ranged from 226.90 to 467.852 W across the tested conditions. Analysis of variance indicated that both torque and power models were highly significant (p < 0.01), with F-values of 86.51 and 203.96, respectively, confirming strong model predictability. Second-order polynomial regression models effectively characterized the relationships between operational parameters and performance responses. Results indicated that torque and power demands increased with higher forward speed, rotational speed, and operating depth. Maximum load occurred at the highest levels of each parameter (2 km/h, 120–135 rpm, 120 mm depth), while minimum load was observed at the lowest levels (1 km/h, 105 rpm, 50 mm depth). This study demonstrates that the appropriate selection of operating parameters can significantly reduce energy demand, enhance machine efficiency, and support design optimization for helical blade rotary ridgers.