Design and Fabrication of an Okra Threshing Machine

A simple Okra threshing machine was designed, fabricated and tested to alleviate the problems associated with Okra processing in Nigeria. It is consists mainly of five units namely, the feeding assembly, the threshing unit, separation unit, power transmission unit. The overall mean threshing and cleaning efficiencies obtained were 93.95 and 99.56% respectively. Drum speed 500rpm combine with 55mm concave clearance gave the highest Threshing efficiency of 99.99%. All speeds, concave clearance combinations gave clearing efficiency above 98%. The machine threshing and cleaning efficiencies increased with increase in drum speed and decrease with increase in concave clearance. The machine is simple to operate and maintain without formal training

Development of a Sunflower Oil Expeller

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 9 (2007): Development of a Sunflower Oil Expeller. Manuscript EE 06 015. Vol. IX. September, 2007

Design and Fabrication of a Convective Fish Dryer.

A simple convective fish dryer was designed and constructed to alleviate the problems associated with fish processing in Nigeria. It is made up of five main parts namely; the base frame which is fabricated from 40 x 40 x 3 mm angle iron bar with dimensions of 865 x 498 x 770 mm.; the drying chamber measuring 808 mm (length), 438 mm (width), and 648 mm (depth).; the drying cage/net measuring 720 x 350 x 36 mm which is constructed with a stainless wire mesh of 2.8mm diameter; the fan housing consisting of 3 fan blades measuring 520 x 100 x 2 mm; and three electric heating elements (3000 w, 6000 w, and 9000 w, respectively). The no–load evaluation (temperature profile) of the dryer showed the highest temperature of 110°C/drying chamber temperature in 30 minutes which is expected to give higher drying rate than the natural sun drying and open–fired drying methods

MODERN CONVENTIONAL WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES AND CHALLENGES FOR OPTIMAL UTILIZATION IN NIGERIA.

The need to ensure adequate provision of potable water over the years to Nigerians in rural, semi-urban and urban communities had been a challenge in spite of the abundance of water resources. It was observed that most water borne diseases or outbreaks that have occurred in the recent year were caused by the inadequate control of treatment facilities, contamination of untreated supplies, storage tanks, distribution system, interrupted treatment and ceasing attention to maintenance and operating details. Nigeria as a signatory to Millennium development Goals(MDGs) of recent therefore embarked on the construction of dams and modern water treatment plants t owards provision for people access to improved sources of drinking water. This paper discusses methods and processes in modern conventional water treatment plants as its being characterised by a degree of mechanization and automation which requires the eng agement of high skill personnel. The paper also highlights the challenges of modern conventional water treatment which lies in the maintenances of electrical/mechanical equipment and other operational facilities, manpower development, power supply, securit y, political will and continuity etc. The paper however concludes that well designed and constructed modern conventional water treatment plant does not guarantee regular provision of potable water and safety but proper and timely maintenance plan, regular power supply, adequate security, adequate political will and continuity, skillful and alert plant operation and attention to the sanitary requirements of the source supply and distribution system among others are equally important. All these depends on the readiness of the stakeholders( Government at all levels, private organisation and the general public) to work towards the realisation of the set goals as far as the provision of safe water for drinking is concerned. Keywords: Automation, Conventional, mechanization, technology, Water, water treatmen

Effects of drying Temperatures on the Quality of Three Tilapia Fish Species

The effects of dryingtemperatur es on the quality of three tilapia fish species were reported. The fresh fish samplesobtained from local markets in Ibadan, Nigeria were dried in a convective fish dryer at 60°C , 90°/ 60°C( 90°C at initial stage and later at 60°C) and 90°C drying temperatures. The average microbial load ( Total viable bacteria,total coliform and total fungal counts) obtained from dried Mackerel, Pilchard and Herring for 8hrsduration ranged from 0.15 x 104 to 2.4 x10 4 Colonies per gram sample (cfug - 1 ). Th e Organoleptic analysis revealed that t he attributes (flavour, texture and colour ) of the three species dried at 90°/ 60°C were more appropriate and acceptable. The shelf – life obtained from the dried samples of Mackerel, Pilchard and Herring were 1, 2 and 2weeks; 2, 3 and 5 weeks and 1, 1 and 2 weeks at 60°C , 90°/ 60°C, 90°C drying tempera tures respectively. The results therefore suggested 90°/ 60°C drying temperature for fish drying

The Performance Evaluation Of a Convective Fish Dryer

The performance evaluation of a convective fish dryer was carried out under Ibadan climate in Nigeria using three different fish species namely: (Mackerel , Pilchard and Herring) that are commonly available in our markets. Samples of Mackerel , Pilchard and Herring were each dried at 60, 90/60( that is, 90°C at initial stage and later at 60°C) and 90°C drying chamber temperatures. Experimental results obtained from 8hrs of continuous drying showed reductions in the initial moisture contents 66.4, 72.0and 67.7 %(Mackerel); 66.8, 70.1,and 61.3% (Pilchard) and 64.6; 64.6 and 70.2%(Herring) to final moisture contents 16.1, 18.1 and 16.7%(Mackerel); 27.0, 23.7 and 15.2%(Pilchard) ; 23.3, 18.2 and 19.2%(Herring) respectively. However, visual observation and sensory inspection demonstrated no sign of dust or intrusion by insects and pests and the samples were of uniform brown colour after each drying experiment. Also, aroma and satisfactory flavour and texture that are known with drying of fish were detected and perceived

Solid and Microbiological Quality Assesment of Gari within Ibadan Metropolis

The processing of cassava tuber to gari and its handling involve different stages. At each stage, there is a level of contamination by solid and microbial pathogen. The solid, micro elements and microbiological quality of gari obtained from three factories, markets and streets within Ibadan metropolis in Nigeria was investigated. Evaluation of solid particle level was carried out by sedimentation method, while micro element and microbial pathogen were determined by using appropriate media. A high level of solid (sand) was observed to range from 0.56 to 1.59%; while micro element such as cadmium 0.01 to 0.14mg/l, lead 0.04 to 0.25mg/l and chromium 0.04 to 0.35mg/l and pathogen like Aspergillius, Fusarium, Staplylococcus and Basillus were present in a range 0.00–26.9 cfu x 10-3. These were found to be above WHO’s guidelines for drinking-water quality (2006). Suggestions were offered for effective processing and handling of gari in the are

Performance Characteristics of a Stationary Impact Decorticator on Jatropha Seed

Jatropha (curcas species) is a major source of bio-fuel, one of the prominent obstacles in its processing is the decorticating of the seed. An identified decorticator was modified and the evaluation was carried out on Jatropha seed using four speeds (650, 800, 950 and 1100 rpm); three masses (200, 400 and 600g) with two replications. The mean decorticating efficiency ranged from 23.5 to 79 % and the overall average mean decorticating efficiency was 56.54 %. The mechanical seed damage ranges from 13 to 51 % with average mean of 27.51 %. The cleaning efficiency was 14.89 to 53.7 %, while the seed loss ranged from 3.5 to 13 % for the four speeds. The maximum obtained decorticating efficiency for the machine was 79 %. Generally, the machine decorticating efficiency, cleaning efficiency, percentage of seed damage increased and percentage of seed loss decreased with increase in drum speed and throughput. Keywords— Jatropha seed; decortications; machine speed ; machine efficiency

Biodiesel production from Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (l) Moench) plant

Several biological plants which substrates can be used in the production of biofuels have been identified in the world. Although most of these plants are used for food which may present a risk of food supply, but will also encourage production and utilization of such plant. Okra is a vegetable plant commonly grown throughout the tropics, especially in West Africa for its tender fruits and sometimes the leaves for soup, thus the necessity for investigating the energy potential of the whole plant (Seed, fruit, leaves, and stem) biomass. Okra is an easily cultivated plant which could yield high return to the farmer if utilize for energy (Biofuel) source. Two replicates of each sample at mass 100, 300 and 500 g, n-hexane volume 500, 750 and 1000 ml and drying time 1,2 and 3 hours were used. Fresh Okra plant was obtained from the field of Institute of Agricultural research and training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria and digested in a laboratory following a standard procedure to obtain ethanol then transesterified to produce biodiesel. The average volumes of diesel obtained from each part of the plant are 18.52, 19.62, 24.07, 28.18 ml for seed, fruit, leave and stem respectively. The overall best percentage of okra plant biodiesel production was 152.6 l / ton (time). Comparing the previously reported values for maize, carrot, cocoyam, cassava, sugarcane and iroko timber to 410, 100, 139, 150, 70 and 130 l / tonnes of biomaterial; shows that okra is also a promising biofuel substrate and future energy plan

Development of a cocoa beans batch dryer

A cocoa beans batch dryer of 25kg wet capacity was designed, constructed and evaluated using wood as fuel material. It consists of four major parts namely; drying platform, drying chamber, heating duct (flue) and air holes. The heated air cocoa batch dryer used in the evaluation was successful in drying 5cm deep thin layer of cocoa beans from initial moisture content of 80.01% (db) to 7.49% (db) in 7 hours of continuous drying at drying temperature between 61.30C and 66.7 0C. The even drying efficiencies ranges between 72.3% to 92.9%. Drying efficiency were observed to increase with increase in batch mass . Hence, adopting the dryer will help in boosting cocoa production for agricultural advancement of the countr