Design and Production of Palm Nut and Fibre Separating Machine
Okolie, Paul Chukwulozie *
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, PMB 5025 Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Oluwadare, Benjamin Segun
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
Ezenwa, Obiora Nnaemeka
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, PMB 5025 Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Azaka, Onyemazuwa Andrew
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, PMB 5025 Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Palm nut and fibre separating machine have been designed, constructed and tested. The essential components of the machine are the feeding chute, separating unit, pulverizing unit, discharge outlets for nut and fibre, and the prime mover. The power required for operation of the machine is 2.86 KW. The machine was tested with both dry and wet samples of the nut and fibre mixtures for three different runs and the average gotten and tabulated. The investigation results revealed that the machine gave its optimum work performed using the dry mixture at the throughput capacity, separating efficiency and quality performance efficiency of 0.155 kg/sec, 89.7 % and 82.3 % respectively. However, the throughput capacity, separating efficiency and quality performance efficiency with the wet mixture gave 0.144 kg/sec, 79.3 % and 80.1 % respectively.
Keywords: Separator, machine, palm nut, motor, auger, equipment