DESIGN, FABRICATION OF THE MCLB-1 MACHINE FOR COLLECTING AND ROLLING WATER HYACINTHS INTO CYLINDRICAL BALES

Water hyacinth is a fast-growing aquatic plant commonly found in canals and rivers, causing obstruction to waterway traffic and negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Current treatment methods mainly involve manual removal or cutting, which do not fully exploit the potential economic value of this biomass. This study aims to design, fabricate, and evaluate the operational performance of the MCLB-1 device—a semi-automatic mechanical system mounted on a floating platform, capable of collecting and rolling water hyacinths into cylindrical bales. The device consists of three main modules: a feeding module, a rolling module, and a bale release and binding module, operating in an integrated sequence through mechanical mechanisms that automate the feeding, compressing, rolling, and bale removal processes. The design parameters were developed based on the biological characteristics of water hyacinths and the requirements of post-processing applications. Field trials were conducted in Moc Hoa District (Long An Province) to evaluate productivity, fuel consumption, and system stability. Results showed that the device achieved a processing capacity of 40–60 bales per hour, with low fuel consumption, stable operation, and produced uniform bales suitable for storage and transport. These bales can be used in various applications such as organic fertilizer production, soil cover materials, or livestock feed. The MCLB-1 represents a practical solution for mechanizing the treatment of water hyacinths and offers a promising approach to economically valorizing aquatic biomass in riverine regions.