Functional Testing of Sorghum Grading Machine

Abstract

Sorghum seeds form some varieties are range from 2 to 4 mm in size and containing the outer skin/husk about 30 percent. Parallel with tampering of cortex/husk sorghum seeds, also needs exfoliation process. In order of husk exfoliation process can be done equally, it’s required grading/sorting of sorghum seeds and tampering process be spread evenly. Tampering purposes to remove sorghum’s pericarp and tesla coating that contains tannin on endosperm section. This section able to reduce protein digestibility inside the human body and causes constipation. Center for Agricultural Engineering Research and Development (BBP Mektan) developed Sorghum grading machine with pneumatic type with work capacity 400 kg/hour. The aims of this study were : (i) to sorting sorghum seeds evenly (ii) to produce clean sorghum seeds. The testing of grading machine performance, includes: preparation, fabrication and modification, functional and performance test, and reporting. Sorting/grading machine use diesel motor driving force 6.5 HP and the dimension of the machine are 1610 x 1280 x 1820 mm. The capacity of sorting/grading machine able to achieve 400 kg/hour with the efficiency of sorghum’s seed uniformity around 86.25%.