1.

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

In a developing country like the Philippines, the expansion of agriculture in

terms of productivity is a central concern. Thus, this is a significant factor affecting

the income earned by the agricultural sector, the sustainability of our expanding

population, and the generation of foreign exchange that will inherently finance

domestic programs (Maiangwa, 2010). The targeted advancement can be in the form

of having more reliable sources of power in farms, modernized agricultural

operations, and far superior post-production systems, to name a few. Hence, the

mechanization of agriculture has a direct correlation with agricultural productivity by

performing timely farm operations, reducing the cost of agricultural systems,

maximizing the efficiency of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, plant protection

chemicals, water, and machinery, maintaining and improving product quality,

reducing drudgery in farm operations, improving land productivity, and preventing

occupational hazards experienced by farmers from laborious processes (Goyal et al.,

2014).

In the Philippines, agriculture is a critical source of employment. Despite

agriculture merely accounting for 10% of the country's Gross Domestic Product

(GDP), it still employs up to 30% of the local labor force. This indicates that labor

productivity in agriculture is lower relative to the contribution of other sources, and its

structural transformation is relatively slow and weak. Low agricultural productivity is

currently a multi-faceted challenge faced by the country. The cultivation frontier in

the Philippines has ended, meaning that most possible arable lands are already

cultivated. Thus, agricultural production in the country can only be hastened through
productivity improvement. Long-standing challenges in this objective include limited

access to credit and agricultural insurance, low farm mechanization and insufficient

post-harvest facilities, inadequate irrigation and drainage infrastructures, scant support

for research and development, weak extension service, weak implementation of

agrarian reform programs, and aging farmers and fisherfolks. Due to poor compliance

with product standards, there is also a standing issue with farm-to-market connections

and low competitiveness of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (AFF) product (Brown

et al., 2018). The limited diversification in cultivated products, worsening effects of

climate change, and natural resource degradation (i.e., deforestation) are also

immediate concerns.

The road to inclusive development is well-defined and easily undertaken

through effective government laws, policies, and strong political will. Government

must envision a country that is self-sufficient and secure in terms of food through the

empowerment of the agricultural sector (Amongo et al., 2015). Such a vision for

agricultural mechanization is safeguarded by the Agricultural and Fisheries

Mechanization Law (Republic Act No. 10601). The law aims to promote the

development and adoption of appropriate agricultural and fisheries machinery and

equipment that will ultimately contribute to food security and safety and increase the

farmers' income in the country. (Mendoza, 2016)

As established, the shift from manual labor to mechanized labor must be the

country's top priority because this will railroad our way to maximum land

productivity. In the Philippines, water buffalo (carabao) and two-wheel tractors

(walking-type) are used by rice farmers (Fajardo et al., 2014). A walking-type

agricultural tractor called the float-assist tiller (Figure 1-1) is more suitable for water-
logged farming. Sometimes referred to as a 'turtle power tiller,' the float-assist tiller is

equipped with a front-mounted tilling wheel and a flotation device (PAES, 2002).

Figure 1-1. Float-assist tiller and its components. Source: PAES, 2002

Associated with mechanization is the harm and dangers it may cause to its

operators. Using equipment such as power tillers constitutes expelling poisonous

exhaust substances, oil products, and their vapor. Inhalation of these exhaust

substances may cause lung irritation and an allergic reaction causing asthma or

worsening pre-existing asthma conditions. Other symptoms may include

lightheadedness, headache, or nausea (Konur, 2021). Given this, the study aims to

evaluate the current exhaust of a float-assist tiller by exploring the fluid mechanics of

its combustion in the field and the factors affecting it.

1.2 Significance of the Study

Sauvé et al. (2020) claimed thafarmers' increased lung cancer risk could be

linked to their daily operation of diesel-powered tractors; however, only a few studies
have quantified their exposure levels to diesel exhaust during tractor driving. CFD is a

vital tool in bridging this gap and an invaluable resource in analyzing industrial

combustion systems. Simulations made using this method solve various quantities

such as pressure, velocity, and temperature of the entire volume of interest. CFD can

also simulate full-scale equipment, whereas experimental testing only covers

laboratory-scale or pilot-scale (Baukal et al., 2019). Through CFD, the concentration

of major pollutants in exhaust gasses, specifically carbon monoxide (CO), is obtained

and analyzed (Reşitoğlu et al., 2015). The data obtained is then compared to the

standards the NIOSH, ACGIH, OSHA, CDC, and the DOLE-Philippines set. The

analysis will then provide a more accurate depiction of its health risk for end users. A

more suitable configuration, alternative, and adjustments can be applied to future

innovations and studies guided by a finer comprehension of its impacts. The

recommendation will then lessen, if not alleviate, the determined risks of operating

the float-assist tiller and aid in developing a more efficient testing method for the

float-assist tillers.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to assess the operator's exposure to exhaust

emissions from the float-assist tiller using CFD. Specifically, the study aims to:

a. formulate a verified CFD model to evaluate the exposure of the operator to

exhaust emissions;

b. assess the exposure levels of the operator at different forward speeds;

c. assess the exposure levels of the operator to varying angles of attack; and

d. compare the exposure levels during operation to operational standards.

 1.3 Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study focused on characterizing the current exhaust emissions of a float-

assist tiller. The distribution profiles of the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration,

wind velocity, and temperature were analyzed. The objectives include the

determination of distribution profiles with varying forward speeds and wind angles of

attack. The forward speeds used in the study range from 0 m/s to 1.0 m/s, given that

the average speed of a float-assist tiller is 3.06 kph or 0.85 m/s (derived data from

AMTEC). The wind angles of attack range from 0° to 180° with intervals of 30°. The

attack angle range was limited to 0° to 180° since the exhaust system configuration is

basically symmetrical. The tailpipe orientation was not modified throughout the study.

Related literature and available data from different field experiments and records were

used as initial parameter values for this simulation. They were used to verify the

values obtained in the CFD simulation.

1.5 Time and Place of the Study

This study was conducted at Agribiosystems Machinery and Power

Engineering Division (AMPED) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños from

September 2022 to May 2023.