A new approach for substrate feeding in biogas installations - Self-propelled feed mixer SelfLine System 1000+ 23 with high-performance transfer auger for the use in large biogas installations

Biogas installations have shown some clear tendencies in the last few years: the limited possibilities to grow silage maize have lead to increased use of alternative substrates such as grass or whole-plant silage in many places. The operators of the installations are facing new challenges as far as fer-mentation biology and “mechanical“ handling of substrates are concerned.

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At the same time, the distances between the bunker silo and the metering station of the fermenter are get-ting bigger, especially in large and growing biogas installations. This results in increased expenditure of time and loss of material. Conventional filling via a wheel loader quickly reaches its limits, especially in the case of big distances between the bunker silo and the installation. Subsequent warming at the silage clamp due to big cutting edges and the losses involved are another important aspect.

The biogas experts of the company have developed an optional high-performance transfer auger for the SILOKING SelfLine System 1000+ 23 which will be available at the start of AGRITECHNICA 2013 in Novem-ber.
“Self-propelled feed mixers are the best possible response to the current requirements of large biogas instal-lations in terms of efficiency and profitability,“ SILOKING Managing Director, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Georg Mayer said. “This is particularly true for combined farms with dairy cattle and biogas installations.“

The octagonal transfer auger is mounted to the rear and has a diameter of 500 mm. All important compo-nents are made of the known wear-resistant and acid-resistant SILONOX. This special steel best fulfils the requirements of the high throughput performances and of the substrate mix.

The auger reaches a transfer height of 3.90 m in working position. Swinging in after the transfer process is carried out comfortably by pushing a button. There is a variety of other options for feed discharge in the barn for the combined use on dairy cattle farms.

Innovative technology for optimal substrate feeding
With 210 kW (286 HP) power of the 6-cylinder engine, the SILOKING milling head achieves a particularly high collecting performance. As it has the only function to transport the substrates to the loading conveyor belt, there is comparatively no need for increased speed on the milling head drum.

Together with the milling head knives that are coated as a standard, this leads to increased durability. The milling head produces a clean and firm cutting edge and therefore reduces the potential for subsequent warming. The mixing unit ensures that the different substrates are perfectly homogeneous and loose when being transferred to the metering station of the fermenter.

Thanks to the 3-axle chassis of the new self-propelled, transport of the substrate load is safe and comfortable even in the public sales room.