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Development of a dual powered palm fruit stripper
Abstract
A palm fruit stripper that is dual powered was designed, fabricated and tested. When manually powered, the machine has a throughput capacity of 0.612 tonne/hr, stripping efficiency of 68.9% and quality performance efficiency of 47.4% at a sterilization time of 90 minutes. When powered by an electric-motor and tested at three beater speed (250, 350 and 450rpm) with quartered bunches sterilized at 30, 60 and 90 minutes, the machine gave its best work performance at 450rpm and sterilization time of 90 minutes.
The maximum throughput capacity, stripping and quality performance efficiencies were 2.14 tonne/hr, 96.1% and 81.9% respectively. The cost of producing one unit of the palm fruit stripper as at the time of fabrication was estimated to be eighteen thousand, three hundred and fifty naira (N18,350) not including the cost of electric motor and the power required when operated with electric motor was 2.25kw.
The maximum throughput capacity, stripping and quality performance efficiencies were 2.14 tonne/hr, 96.1% and 81.9% respectively. The cost of producing one unit of the palm fruit stripper as at the time of fabrication was estimated to be eighteen thousand, three hundred and fifty naira (N18,350) not including the cost of electric motor and the power required when operated with electric motor was 2.25kw.
