Mathematical Modelling of Stingless Bee Honey Dewatering using Low-Temperature Vacuum Drying with Induced Nucleation Bubbling

ow-temperature vacuum drying with induced nucleation boiling (LTVD-NB) was developed to dewater heat-sensitive materials such as stingless bee honey (SBH). However, its performance can be further optimised to achieve an efficient LTVD-NB operation. The objective of this paper is to investigate the most fitting drying model for dewatering SBH and to develop a suitable mathematical drying model that can be used to predict and optimise dewatering SBH using LTVD-NB. Established experimental data was used to develop the mathematical model. The data result showed that the logarithmic model had the best fit for drying SBH using LTVD-NB as compared to other models based on the highest value of R 2 and the lowest Root mean square, RMSE and reduced chi-square, χ 2 values which are 0.999988, 7.87E-05, and 1.41E-08, respectively. The model was further regressed to obtain an optimised mathematical model to better predict an LTVD-NB operation to dewater SBH. In conclusion, an optimised drying model to describe the dewatering process of SBH using the LTVD-NB method was able to be developed based on the multiple regression analysis of the obtained experimental data. Therefore, the drying model can predict the efficiency of this process just by giving the temperature and surface roughness values as input information

Evaluation and comparison of the ergonomics, performance and economics of battery-powered and engine-powered palm oil harvesting tools:cantas elektro

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has introduced an engine-powered palm oil harvesting tool called CANTAS that can double the conventional harvesting output. However, there are several issues that are affecting the endurance and comfort of the harvesters. This paper discusses the comparison in the context of ergonomics, performance, and ecconomics of a battery-powered CANTAS called CANTAS Elektro, which could overcome the issues of the engine-powered CANTAS. The prototype was tested in the laboratory and the field to investigate its ergonomic factors. Test results revealed that CANTAS Elektro was more ergonomic than CANTAS as the deflection, configuration, temperature, noise, and vibration levels of the former were 38%, 42%, 59.8%, 12.7%, and 45.8–65.2% less than those of the latter, respectively. The harvesting productivity increased by 26.5% from 5.63 to 7.04 t/day, with an estimated saving of operational cost of RM1013/machine/yr. The take-home pay of workers was increased by 29% from RM81 to RM107/man-day, apart from other fringe benefits. It was proven that the battery-powered machine was more cost-effective than the engine-powered machine, in addition to other advantages such as being carbon emission-free, clean, easy to maintain, less complicated and easy to handle

The Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Resistance of 7075 Aluminum Alloy in Aggressive Alkaline Solution

Aluminum has attractive properties in which when properly engineered can be used in wider areas of applications. Due to its reactive abilities and strong affinity for oxygen, aluminum can resist rough environments and overall durable to various chemical agents. This work highlighted the behaviour of 7075 aluminum alloy in an aggressive alkaline environment. Two tempers of T6 and T73 were produced through solution heat treatment procedure; the T6 temper was subjected to solution heat treatment at 470°C for 60 min, quenched for 60 sec and followed by precipitation heat treatment or artificial ageing at 138°C for 960 min whereas the T73 was subjected to solution heat treatment at 470°C for 60 min quenched for 60 sec and followed by two precipitation heat treatment processes at 113°C for 480 min and 182°C for 720 min respectively.  The as received and the tempered materials are immersed in an aggressive alkaline medium consisting sodium chloride and hydrogen peroxide. The samples obtained were characterized by assessing weight loss and subjected to surface morphology analysis using scanning electron microscope. The morphology of the heat treated samples shows the type of localized form of corrosion present is pitting form of corrosion, and the weight analysis shows significant weight loss when the samples are exposed to the aggressive alkaline environment. The weight loss for the as received sample was observed to be more than the T73 and the T6 samples

Mathematical modelling of stingless bee honey dewatering using lowtemperature vacuum drying with induced nucleation bubbling

Low-temperature vacuum drying with induced nucleation boiling (LTVD-NB) was developed to dewater heat-sensitive materials such as stingless bee honey (SBH). However, its performance can be further optimised to achieve an efficient LTVD-NB operation. The objective of this paper is to investigate the most fitting drying model for dewatering SBH and to develop a suitable mathematical drying model that can be used to predict and optimise dewatering SBH using LTVD-NB. Established experimental data was used to develop the mathematical model. The data result showed that the logarithmic model had the best fit for drying SBH using LTVD-NB as compared to other models based on the highest value of R 2 and the lowest Root mean square, RMSE and reduced chi-square, χ 2 values which are 0.999988, 7.87E-05, and 1.41E-08, respectively. The model was further regressed to obtain an optimised mathematical model to better predict an LTVD-NB operation to dewater SBH. In conclusion, an optimised drying model to describe the dewatering process of SBH using the LTVD-NB method was able to be developed based on the multiple regression analysis of the obtained experimental data. Therefore, the drying model can predict the efficiency of this process just by giving the temperature and surface roughness values as input information

Feasibility study of oil palm harvesting using pulse fibre laser system with different lenses

Malaysia is currently experiencing a labour shortage in oil palm plantations, estimated to account for 46% of the total industrial workforce. The industry is striving to increase worker productivity by adopting new technologies using a variety of work methods. Increment of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production in oil palm plantations has created a demand for improved harvesting technique. Some of the technologies that have been developed are practical, yet they impose several technical issues that must be solved. The potential of oil palm frond cutting using pulse fibre laser was explored. The optimisation of the laser cutting system was made using a 250 mm and 63 mm focus lens. A better cutting rate was achieved using 63 mm focus lens due to its shorter focal length (compared to the 250 mm focus lens) and capability to retain stability at a higher pulse laser frequency. The same lens was able to perform complete cuts on oil palm fronds with power and speed of 50 Watt at 500 kHz and 1 mm/s, respectively. Good consistency was also exhibited with an average cutting rate of 0.1024 mm/s. Perhaps with further investigation and optimisation, such technique can be a viable alternative to the FFB harvesting methods that the industry is practicing today

Malaysian oil palm plantation sector: exploiting renewable energy toward sustainability production

The Malaysian palm oil industry spans the entire value chain from upstream processes to downstream activities. This paper aims to review the progress of the palm oil industry and the current issues in the plantation sector, such as labor shortage, sustainable production, and greenhouse gas emission from the cultivation process. Palm oil cultivation is known for its labor-intensive process. Foreign laborers are usually employed in Malaysian palm oil plantations for harvesting, fruit collecting, and general maintenance works. Some issues have affected the supply of workers to Malaysian palm oil plantations. Farm mechanization, which has always been recommended as a tool to reduce dependency on foreign workers, is expected to solve the issues. However, certain considerations should be investigated, such as fuel consumption, to reduce its impacts on the environment. The currently available farm machineries that are frequently used contribute to almost 211 million kg of CO2-eq per year, as diesel consumption stands at 290 million L per year. Therefore, this paper also examines the potential renewable energy resources for the palm oil cultivation process. Exploiting renewable energy technologies in plantation operations, such as battery-powered electric vehicles charged using a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, can reduce up to 750 tonnes of CO2-eq per year. Therefore, this initiative will increase the sustainability of the Malaysian palm oil industry in general