DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF A HORIZONTAL-SHAFT PALM NUT CRACKING MACHINE
Ologunagba, Francis O.
Department of Agricultural Engineering Technology
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State. Nigeria
Email:francolog2@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
A horizontal-shaft palm nut cracking machine was designed, constructed and evaluated. The basic features of the machine are hopper, cracking chamber, horizontal shaft with beaters, discharge outlet and the prime mover. The machine was evaluated at three different moisture content of palm nuts (9.81, 11.50 and 13.01% db) and four levels of machine speed (1200, 1480, 1850 and 2220 rpm) at an average feed rate of 450kg/hr. Test result showed that the machine gave its best work performance at 1480 rpm machine speed and with palm nuts of 9.81% (db) moisture content. The throughput capacity, percentage kernel breakage and cracking efficiency were 426kg/hr, 4.76% and 75.11% respectively. The cost of producing a unit of the palm nut cracking machine as at the time of fabrication was estimated to be fourteen thousand, nine hundred and fifty naira (N14,950) excluding the cost of the electric motor, and the power required for operating the machine is 2.25kw.
Keywords: Palm nut, cracking, moisture content, speed, efficiency.