Development of a Multi-Roller Abrasive Cassava Peeling Machine

Abstract

A simple to operate, maintain and affordable multi-roller abrasive cassava peeling machine comprising a feed section, peeling chamber, abrasive surface, tuber discharge chute and waste peel chute was designed, fabricated and evaluated. The machine development was based on engineering standards and specification while considering crop, machine and operational factors to include the physical and mechanical properties of cassava tubers, abrasive property of peeling surface, material and speed of the machine. The machine was evaluated for performance with commonly used varieties NR 8082, 8083, 8208, 09/0581 and UMUCAS 38 having moisture content of 63.33%, 64.50%, 65.40%, 63.50% and 84.33% respectively. The performance evaluation results at a roller speed of 360rpm showed peeling efficiency of 91%, throughput capacity of 2.17kg/min, and a proportion by weight of peel of 0.9%. The cassava peeling machine fabricated, eliminated the drudgery, loss of time and tuber flesh encountered in manual peeling with better product quality when compared with the existing machines.

Dizajnirana, izrađena i ocenjena kao jednostavna za rukovanje, održavanje i pristupačna brusna mašina sa multi-valjcima za ljuštenje Cassava krtola (Manihot esculenta crantz), koja se sastoji od: prijemnog koša, komora za ljuštenje, abrazivne površine valjka, kanala za ispuštanje krtola i otpada. Razvoj mašine je zasnovan na inženjerskim standardima i specifikacijama uz razmatranje osobina Cassava krtole, mašine i radnih parametara koji uključuju fizička i mehanička svojstva Cassava krtola, abrazivnih osobina površine ljuštenja, materijala i brzine rotora mašine. Mašina ima procenjene performanse za uobičajeno korišćene Cassava varijetete: NR 8082, 8083, 8208, 09/0581 i UMUCAS 38 sa sadržajem vlage od 63,33%, 64,50%, 65,40%, 63,50% i 84,33% retrospektivno. Rezultati analize performansi mašine kod brzine valjka od 360 min-1 pokazali su: efikasnost ljuštenja od 91%, propusni kapacitet od 2,17 kg/min, sa udelom težine kore od 0,9%. Prikazna mašina za ljuštenje krtola kasave, eliminisala je gubitak vremena i mase krtole koji se pojavljuje kod ručnog ljuštenja krtola, sa boljim kvalitetom proizvoda u poređenju sa postojećim mašinama.