Potato Review

MACHINERY A new dimension SINCE 2016, the current generation of Dewulf ’s four-row Kwatro Xtreme has been known for, among other things, its constriction-free sieving path and having the largest bunker in its market segment. e harvester, available for growers who plant in four x 90 cm, four x 34 inch, four x 36 inch rows or 180cm beds, has, until now, been produced with a straight hedgehog unit, immediately followed by a single Flexyclean cleaning unit. is is now changing, as market demand for alternative cleaning options has proved to be high. Dewulf decided to add an extra dimension to the Kwatro Xtreme. More speci cally, the focus of this development was the product ow inside the machine, which no longer has a hedgehog unit yet still o ers su cient cleaning options. e two sieving conveyors and a third, short sieving conveyor are immediately followed by the cleaning module. Because there is no integrated hedgehog unit, there is no change in direction of the potato ow. us, Dewulf designed two additional variants under the name Kwatro Xtreme Flow, in which the straight hedgehog unit has been replaced with a new module. e redesigned, double Easyclean module consists of seven ( four plus three) active smooth cleaning rollers alternated with nine Easyclean rollers. To perform its work as precisely and delicately as possible, the Easyclean module is divided into two groups of linked, active smooth cleaning rollers, the rst having four and the second three. is allows users to control the speed, height, opening and direction of rotation of both groups of drive rollers separately. Moreover, the speed of the Easyclean rollers can also be easily controlled from the cabin. In addition, the degree of cleaning can be precisely set by adjusting the inclination of the module between zero and 12 degrees. is solution is tailor-made for dry conditions with clods, for example. Combination of axial and Easyclean modules e second variant consists of a combination of 36 axial rollers and an Easyclean unit. e speed of the axial rollers is adjustable and, together with the inclination of the Easyclean unit, adjustable between 0 and 12 degrees. In turn, the Easyclean module is tted with two active smooth-cleaning rollers alternated with three Easyclean rollers. Analogous to the rst innovative module, here too the speed, height, opening and direction of rotation of the drive rollers, as well as the speed of the Easyclean rollers, can be adjusted from the cabin to accommodate the conditions. is solution is suitable for customers who harvest in relatively wet conditions. e celebrated aspects of the Kwatro and Kwatro Xtreme have not been changed. e familiar front harvesting ensures that potato ridges remain undamaged. It harvests at four x 90cm with no constrictions in the sieving path, according to the manufacturer. It has 11-tonne bunker capacity. To perform well in wet conditions, Dewulf relies on the Claas 900 mm wide crawler track system combined with a single rear wheel. is steered wheel also provides unprecedented manoeuvrability and low maximum ground pressure of 1.4 kg/cm . As the traction can be adjusted per track/wheel, it is almost always possible to harvest, even in the worst conditions and types of weather, Dewulf states. New steam peeler for test centre TOMRA Food has installed a Babcock Wanson VAP600RR Coil Type Steam Boiler into its test centre in Dublin, Ireland, where it is being used to carry out tests and demonstrations for peeling applications. e VAP600RR is being used at high pressure - 29 bar – to produce steam which is used to peel potatoes and other vegetables. e TOMRA Food facility in Ireland is home to the company’s research and development team for steam peeling. From this base, the team of experts host online steam peeling demonstrations, which enable food processors from around the world to be part of the demonstration. Previously, TOMRA Food used a di erent type of steam boiler to produce steam for the peeling process, but as its needs evolved, it found the Babcock Wanson VAP600RR Coil Type Steam Boiler, featuring three full gas passes plus an in-built combustion air pre- heater for high operating e ciency, more e ective. Steam is available from a cold start in as little as three minutes and uses a low volume of water under pressure. It has no requirement for a large pressure vessel, making it t into the relatively small con nes of the test centre and enabling it to be installed locally to the steam user. Babcock Wanson has supplied the VAP600RR with a full set of ancillaries, including water treatment, feed tank, blowdown vessel and separator. www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 53