Advancing the Engineering Approach to Improving the Quality Cracking Efficiency of Palm Nut Crackiing Machine

Abstract

A Palm Nut cracking machine with an improved beater configuration was developed to effectively crack Palm Nuts of various species and sizes. This research aim at improving the quality of the Palm kernel recovered at relatively low cost during Palm kernel oil production. Durable materials were acquired locally to fabricate the machine for ease of usage and maintenance, also to make it affordable for small and large scale processors. Basic features of the machine are; hopper, electric motor (prime mower), cracking chamber, cracking beater and discharge outlet. The design of the cracking drum and beater configuration was based on the impact force required to crack the Palm Nut which is a function of Palm Nut shear strength. A 5 hp electric motor was selected based on the power required to effectively operate the machine. The machine was tested with “Tenera” varieties, three nut sizes (14.5, 22.15 and 29.43mm) and five speeds (970, 1200, 1450, 1750 and 2430rpm). Result shows that the change in machine speed significantly (P<0.05) affects all the machine performance irrespective of the Palm Nut size and variety, which agrees with the report of several other researchers. The obtained optimum machine performance values are 14,874 nuts/h, 89.5%, 98% for the machine capacity, quality performance efficiency and cracking efficiency for Tenera variety. The best crop and machine parameter for the optimum performance of the Palm Nutcracker are 29.43 mm and 970 rpm, nut size and machine speed. It was concluded that the overall performance of this developed Palm Nut cracking beater was effective because it fell within the range of 80 to 98% efficiency.