Performance Analysis of a Mechanical System To Break and Separate Palm Nut-Fibre Cake

Prince Yaw Andoh Andoh (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)
Kofi Owura Amoabeng (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)
Charles Kofi Kafui Sekyere (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)
D E K Dzebre (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology)

Journal of Applied Engineering and Technological Science (JAETS)
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2022): Journal of Applied Engineering and Technological Science (JAETS)

This research seeks to test the performance of a palm nut-fibre cake breaker and separator machine to alleviate the problem of hand separation by local oil producers. It takes into consideration the standard cylindrical shape of a palm nut-fibre cake. The machine operated on an electric motor of 2.2 kW at 1420 rpm. The average throughput capacity of the machine was 107.72 kg/hr with the capacity weight of 120 kg. Test results indicated a separation efficiency of 92%. Also, cost estimation indicated that the annual savings in using the machine with less labour than manual labour entirely was $466. The study outcome is relevant to small-scale producers on the need to utilize a cost-effective machine to facilitate a high separation yield of nuts and fibres from the cake obtained from processing palm oil and improve the production output of palm kernel oil processed from the nuts.