Estimation of Mass Indexes (B-Values) for Use in Predicting the Minimum Energy and Power Requirements for Mass-Size Reduction Operations of Some Cereals

Abstract

In an attempt to predict easily the minimum energy and power requirements necessary to achieve the expected size reduction of materials using the recently developed Orua Antia’s energy and power equations; it is essential that constant(s) in the equation should be readily available for usage. Therefore in this study, the evaluation of a constant termed mass index (B- Value) for mass-size reduction operations was carried out on cereals such as corn, wheat, sorghum, and millet that find various applications in food industries. Equations 17 and 18b were employed to evaluate mass indexes using the principles of static impact force. Relative errors (RE) of mass indexes obtained from these two equations were assessed. Results revealed that Equation 17 or 18b could be used to evaluate the mass indexes. More so, for each selected cereal the mass index was observed to vary slightly with moisture content %wb. Hence, the average mass index per cereal type per moisture content range may be used in Orua Antia’s energy Equations 5 to 9 to predict the minimum energy and power requirements of the selected cereal when subjected to mass-size reduction operations. The average mass-indexes obtained were 20.9915± 0.4198; 27.6679± 0.6506; 24.9379±20.5454 and 24.523±3.7571Kg(1⁄2) m2s-2for corn, wheat, sorghum, and millet respectively.