Mathematical modelling of the performance of an impact snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina. L) seed sheller

A mathematical model for the prediction of shelling efficiency of an impact snake gourd seed decorticator was presented using dimension analysis based on the Buckingham’s pi theorem.  Experimental verification of the models was conducted comparing the theoretical predictions with estimates from the representation of conventional methods.  A high coefficient of determination was found between the predicted and the experimental value (98.45% for effect of moisture content on decortication efficiency; 99.69% for effect of hammer diameter on decortications efficiency and 97.35% for effect of hammer speed on the decortications efficiency) showing that the model is appropriate

Effect of moisture content and loading orientation on some strength properties relevant in the design of snake gourd (trichosanthescucumerina. l) seed handing device

The knowledge of mechanical properties under applied forces is very important to engineers during the design and handling of agricultural products. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of moisture content and loading orientation on some strength properties of snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina. L) seed. The strength properties measured are compressive extension at yield, compressive strain at yield, compressive load at yield, compressive load at break and energy at yield. These properties were evaluated at five moisture levels (6.3, 8.6, 12, 14, and 17% dry basis) under the three loading orientations (length, width and thickness). The results show that loading orientation has great effect on the compressive properties of the seed. At all moisture content of the seed considered, it was found that the width orientation had the highest compressive extension  (32.5mm) and compressive strain at yield (1.3 mm/mm) while the thickness orientation had the highest measurement for compressive load at yield (73 N)  and  load at break (260 N)  at 6.3 % (db) moisture content.  The energy at yield was found to be highest at the length orientation (1.3 J) and lowest at the width orientation (0.16J) at 6.3 % (db) moisture content. The result of this experiment shows that as the moisture content is increasing the value of the compressive forces decreases. The result of this study will be very useful in the design of the seed washer, cleaner and decorticator

Comparative evaluation of the performance of motorized and pole and Knife oil palm fruit bunch harvester

In this study the performance of a motorized palm fruit bunch harvester (MBH) was evaluated in comparison with the bamboo-pole-and-knife harvester (BPK). The MBH was first tested on Nigerian plantations for the palm trees it could reach. The average time taken to harvest a bunch and the time taken per hectare of plantation were determined. The best orientation and the cutting angle for the harvester were also determined. The exact height which the harvester could reach was also determined on the plantations. The harvester was later used in comparison with (BPK) method on palms of moderate height and the average time of harvest per bunch, field capacity, as well as cost of operation was determined for the two methods. Time study (TS) of the two methods was also carried out.The result showed that MBH could harvest between the height of 2.5 m and 4.5 m of palm conveniently. The average time of harvest per tree and speed of harvest for MBH and BPK were 98.86 s and 66 bunches/h; and 166.93 s and 40 bunches/h, respectively. This shows that time of harvest for motorized harvester is over 60% lower, and the speed of harvest is over 50% higher than bamboo pole and knife. The time of harvest per hectare for both MBH and BPK are approximately 4 h/ha and 7 h/ha, respectively. The rate of fuel consumption was estimated to be 1.03 L/h. Moreover, the cost of operation for MBH and BPK was estimated to be ₦ 10,223.46 and ₦ 16,950 per hectare, respectively. The cost of operation using the BPK is over 60 per cent more than that of the MBH. Statistical analysis of the effect of time of harvest on methods indicated that the effect was significant (p < 0.05). The study concluded that motorized oil palm bunch cutter can effectively and efficiently handle palms of moderate height in Nigerian oil palm plantations and performed better than the bamboo pole and knife. The result showed that MBH could harvest between the height of 2.5 m and 4.5 m of palm conveniently. The average time of harvest per tree and speed of harvest for MBH and BPK were 98.86 sec. and 66 bunches/h; and 166.93 sec. and 40 bunches/h, respectively. This shows that time of harvest for motorized harvester is over 60% lower, and the speed of harvest is over 50% higher than bamboo pole and knife. The time of harvest per hectare for both MBH and BPK are approximately 4 h/ha and 7h/ha, respectively. The rate of fuel consumption was estimated to be 1.03 L/h. Moreover, the cost of operation for MBH and BPK was estimated to be ₦ 10,223.46 and ₦ 16,950 per hectare, respectively. The cost of operation using the BPK is over 60 per cent more than that of the MBH. Statistical analysis of the effect of time of harvest on methods indicated that the effect was significant (p < 0.05). The study concluded that motorized oil palm bunch cutter can effectively and efficiently handle palms of moderate height in Nigerian oil palm plantations and performed better than the bamboo pole and knife

Development of a support mechanism for the use of motorized oil palm fruit bunch cutter

In this study a support mechanism (SP) for a palm fruit bunch harvester was designed, fabricated and tested on a plantation. This was with a view to adapting the cutter for harvesting tall oil palm trees in Nigeria. The design concept for the support mechanism was conceived as a mast pyramid which simulates an adjustable ladder pivoted on wheels comprising three segments, namely: the wheels which facilitate easy movement within the plantation; the lower segment, which comprises the stands and the upper segment which comprises the chamber (equipped with a platform) in which the operator (the climber) stands. The support mechanism was tested in comparison with the existing rope-and-knife (RK) method. The harvesting parameters used are time to climb up the palm (TU); time to cut (TC); time to come down from the palm (TD); number of bunches harvested (NB) and total time of harvest (T). A regression analysis was carried out on the data collected using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) package. The result shows that using the support mechanism for the motorized bunch cutter was easier than rope and knife (RK). The average time of harvest T, TU, TD, and TC per tree, for the SP and RK are 190 s and 391 s; 21 s and 152 s; 21 s and 103 s; and 147 s and 134 s, respectively. The total time of harvest for RK is over 100% more than the time of harvest for SP. The time of harvest per hectare for SP and RK are approximately 9 h/ha and 20 h/ha, respectively. The comparison of SP and RK shows that there is a significant difference in TU, TD, NB, T, but there was no difference in TC, (p < 0.05). The study concluded that the support mechanism shows promise in enhancing the use of the motorized bunch cutter for tall palms and hence should be adopted

Fracture Resistance of Kola Nut (Cola nitida)

Fracture Resistance of Kola Nut (Cola nitida) AbstractIn order to design appropriate processing machineries, the knowledge of the force and deformation curve of agricultural materials is very important. In this research, fracture resistance of kolanut (cola nitida) was measured in terms of the rupture force, compressive stress, modulus of elasticity and energy absorbed. Kolanuts were quasi – statically loaded in horizontal and vertical orientations with moisture content at four levels (47.59 -61.41%) and loading rate of 5mm/min. The result showed that the compressive load decreased from 458.95 to 334.41 N and 605.46 to 228.10 N, compressive stress decreased from 0.40 to 0.30 MPa and 0.52 to 0.20 MPa and energy absorbed decreased from 3.46 to 1.81 J and 2.79 to 0.52 J, for vertical and horizontal orientations, respectively. These findings will be useful in the development of processing equipment for kolanut

A case-study approach to profitability assessment in fermented African locust beans (iru) production using break-even analysis

The significance of a break-even point analysis is much important to the small- scale enterprises in determining profit or loss incurred. In this study, a case study approach was used to test this concept on iru production using structured oral interviews and visual observation of a production centre in Nigeria. Data analysis was achieved using production cost, the unit quantity and break-even point analysis. The results show that the monthly average cost of N 32,237.00, the monthly average variable cost of N71,334.00, Contribution Margin Ratio of 47.06 % and break-even sales of N 68,502.00 were obtained using a traditional method of iru production (TIPP). In a mechanized method (MIPP), monthly average fixed cost of N 85,887.00, the monthly average variable cost of N 55,000.00, monthly average sales of N 141,500.00, Contribution Margin Ratio (CMR) of 61.13 % and break-even sales of N 140,499.00 were obtained. High CMR value of MIPP to TIPP signifies a higher level of safety in the enterprise. Also, the graphical method revealed that MIPP is best option to choose by the processor for the large-scale productions since the process took lesser production costs, yields more outputs and gave more profits at any point above BEP compare to TIPP counterpart. Thus, the enterprise earns more profit from iru production at any point above the equilibrium point (break-even point) with the use of a processing machine. The research could serve as a reference point to promote mechanization for improving iru production

Development of a Multipurpose Small Scale Dryer for Agricultural Products

A multipurpose cabinet dryer was designed, constructed and tested using locally available materials. The system comprises a heating chamber, heat exchanger, drying trays, 3-phase blower, three heating elements of 1800 W each, and a control box, which consists of temperature control, contactor, thermocouple, and circuit breaker. The dryer was evaluated based on power consumed, moisture removal, drying rate, and drying efficiency. The result showed that the energy consumed when drying plantain chips, moringa leaves, okra, and locust beans are 346.55, 55.92, 110.63 and 49.64 kJ, respectively. The energy consumed increased with an increase in the moisture removed and drying time. Similarly, the drying rate for plantain chips, moringa leaves, okra, and locust beans was 0.58, 0.09, 0.18, and 0.10 g/min, respectively, which depended on the initial moisture content of the product and the air velocity. The drying efficiency ranged between 62.1 and 65.5%, it reduced with an increase in the amount of moisture removed and the drying temperature. For the products with which the dryer was tested, the drying system promises satisfactory performance for small scale applications

Technological Capability of Local Fabricators in Fabrication of Equipment for Special Palm Oil in Nigeria

This study assessed some fabricators’ technical knowhow in the production or fabrication of machines used for the production of Special Palm Oil (SPO). The study also examined facilities possessed by the fabricators   with the aim to providing intervention that would abridge the widening demand gap between the demand and supply of SPO for domestic and industrial applications. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 98 fabricators as respondents across four geopolitical zones where palm oil is produced in Nigeria.  A well-structured questionnaire and an observant check list were used to collect data relevant to the objectives of the study from the respondents. The collected data were collated with Epidata application and analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics  such as  frequency distribution and mean were used to summarised the data while inferential statistics such as  Chi-Square  and  multiple regression were used to make deductions. Findings of the study showed that   majority  of the respondents were  within the age of  bracket of 40 and 49  and had West African Examination Certificate or its equivalent as major educational qualification./ Average income generated per year based on their primary occupation and other occupation were ₦300,000 and ₦275,,000  respectively. There was a great significant relationship between membership of organization and the information received at p = 0.05 probability level. Majority of the respondents said they learned the art of fabrication informally from someone. They had limited and dysfunction number pieces of equipment for bending, rolling and lathing, which hindered, the fabrication of machines involved in the production of special palm oil (SPO)