Finite Element Analysis of a Washing and Preheating Unit Designed for Plantain Flour Process Plant

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 4, 117 - 127, 31.12.2019

Emmanuel Olatunji Olutomılola Sesan Peter Ayodejı Michael Kanisuru Adeyerı

Abstract

This paper presents the design and finite element analysis (FEA) of a washing, conveying and preheating unit, intended to help complete the drying of plantain within an hour at a maximum temperature of 70°C in a plant that processes unripe plantain into flour. Model was developed for it, its functionality and structural stability were evaluated using SolidWorks computer aided design application software after selection of suitable materials for and design analysis of its components. Its frame analysis showed a maximum stress of 52.52 MPa, resultant displacement of 0.9215 mm, elastic strain of 1.495×10-4 and a minimum factor of safety (FOS) of 4.7, when a force of 1 kN was applied. FEA of each control-gate-spring showed a maximum stress of 29.05 MPa, resultant displacement of 0.6902 mm, elastic strain of 9.547×10-5 and a minimum of 7.6 FOS, when a tensile force of 0.12 kN was applied. FEA of each roller showed a maximum stress of 50.16 MPa, elastic strain of 1.458×10-4 and a minimum of 3.4 FOS, when a torque of 1.023 kNm was applied. These results imply that the design of the unit is safe/adequate for fabrication, and able to satisfactorily serve its intended purpose, since the yield strengths of the materials selected were not exceeded as evidenced by the FOS values obtained. This unit, when fabricated and incorporated into the process plant, would help to drastically reduce plantain processing time in order to be able to meet the increasing demand for plantain flour.

Keywords

Design, Washing, Preheating, Plantain, Finite Element, Finite Element Analysis, Flour Process Plant, Conveying Preheating, Plantain Washing

References

• T. J. Mendenhall, T. D. Negusse, S. G. Solomon, and R. R. Price, “Design of a vegetable washer for the food service industry. Journal of Food service Systems, 5(1): 43-65, 1988.
• J. A. Moos, D. D. Steele, and D. C. Kirkpatrick, “Small–scale mechanical carrot washer for research sample preparation”, Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Food and Process Engineering Institute, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 18(2): 235–241, 2002.
• Narender, S. Mukesh, V. Rani, A. Kumar, K. Verma, and N. Karwasra, “Performance evaluation of vegetable washer for carrot crop”, International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 7(1): 454-458, January 2018.
• D. C. P. Ambrose, and S. J. K. Annamalai, “Development of a manually operated root crop washer”, African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8(24): 3097-3101, June 2013.
• F. I. Oyeleke, A. M. Olaniyan, M. O. Sunmonu, and S. K. Oyeniyi, “Development of a fruit washing machine”, Journal of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, 22(1): 29-35, March 2014.
• R. N. Kenghe, A. P. Magar, and K. R. Kenghe, “Design, development and testing of small scale mechanical fruit washer”, International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, 2(4): 168-171, July-August 2015.
• K. A. Afolami, S. P. Ayodeji, and B. O. Akinnuli, “Development and performance evaluation of a yam washing machine for poundo yam flour processing plant”, International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research, 36(1): 118-129, 2017.
• S. P. Ayodeji, “Conceptual design of a process plant for the production of plantain flour”, Cogent Engineering, Production and Manufacturing Research Article, 3:1-16, May 2016.
• E. O. Olutomilola, and A. Omoaka, “Theoretical design of a plantain peeling machine”, FUTA Journal of Engineering and Engineering Technology, 12(2): 229-237, 2018.
• J. Seewoodhary, and R. Oozageer, “Coronavirus and diabetes: an update”, Practical Diabetes, John Wiley & Sons, 37(2): 41-42, 2020.
• A. Hussain, B. Bhowmik, and N. C. D. V. Moreira, “COVID-19 and diabetes: knowledge in progress”, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice: Elsevier, 108142; 162: 1-9, April 2020.
• A. Wang, W. Zhao, Z. Xu, and J. Gu, “Timely blood glucose management for the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is urgently needed”, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice: Elsevier, 108118; 162: 1-2, 2020.
• C. O. Eleazu, and P. Okafor, “Use of unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca) in the management of diabetes and hepatic dysfunction in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats”, Interventional Medicine and Applied Science, 7(1): 9-16, 2015.
• L. A. Alonso-Gomez, J. C. Solarte-Toro, L. A. Bello-Perez, and C. A. Cardona-Alzate, “Performance evaluation and economic analysis of the bioethanol and flour production using rejected unripe plantain fruits (Musa paradisiaca L.) as raw material”, Food and Bioproducts Processing, 121: 29-42, January 2020.
• K. N. S. Ananth, V. Rakesh, and P. K. Visweswarao, “Design and selecting proper conveyor-belt”, International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology, 4(2): 43-49, April -June 2013.
• CEMA. Belt conveyors for bulk materials, 5th Ed. USA: Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association, 2002, pp. 1-3, 20, 25-28, 344. https://www.academia.edu/37347123.
• M. F. Macrae, Z. I. Chima, G. U. Garba, M. O. Ademosu, A. O. Kalejaiye, J. B. Channon, and A. M. Smith, Head HC. New general mathematics for senior secondary schools 1, 4th ed. Nigeria, Lagos: Pearson Education Limited, 2014, pp.145, 182-191.
• Dunlop-Enerka, Conveyor belt technique: design and calculation. In Belt Conveyor Design Manual, United Kingdom, 1994, pp. 1.2 – Q.6.
• R. S. Khurmi, and J. K. Gupta, A Textbook of Machine Design, 1st Multicolour ed. India, New Delhi: Eurasia Publishing House (PVT.) Ltd., 2008, pp. 470-557, 677-739, 820-879.
• G. Y. Obeng, “Development of a Mechanized Plantain Slicer”, Journal of Science and Technology, 24(2): 126-133, 2004.
• I. C. Ugwuoke, I. B. Ikechukwu, and Z. O. Muazu, “Design and fabrication of an electrically powered rotary slicer for raw plantain chips production”, American Journal of Engineering Research, 3(4): 38-44, 2014.
• S. O. Obayopo, K. A. Taiwo, O. K. Owolarafe, and S. A. Adio, “Development of a plantain slicing device”, Journal of Food Science Technology, 51(7): 1310-1317, July 2014.
• Fenner Dunlop. Conveyor Handbook. Conveyor Belting Australia, 2009, pp. 1-1–10-8. https://nadau.tistory.com/attachment/[e-mail]
• I. A. Daniyan, A. O. Adeodu, and O. M. Dada, “Design of a Material Handling Equipment: Belt Conveyor System for Crushed Limestone Using 3 roll Idlers”, Journal of Advancement in Engineering and Technology, 1: 1-7, January 2014.
• R. E. Joerres, Springs. In: Shigley J. E., and Mischke C. R., editors. Standard Handbook of Machine Design, 3rd ed. Digital Engineering Library, McGraw-Hill Companies, 2004, pp. 6.3.-6.37. www.digitalengineeringlibrary.com
• P. R. N. Childs, Mechanical Design, 2nd ed. UK, Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, 2004, pp. 154-175.
• R. G. Budynas, and J. K. Nisbett, Shigley’s Mechanical Engineering Design, 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015, pp. 510-542.
• D. S. Miller, Internal Flow Systems, 2nd ed. Cranfield, UK: BHRA (Information Services), the Fluid Engineering Centre, 1990, pp.189-192.
• R. K. Rajput, A Textbook of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines, 6th Revised ed. India, New Delhi: S. Chand and Company Pvt. Ltd, 2013, pp. 259-379.
• Y. A. Cengel, and J. M. Cimbala, Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2014, pp.347-418, 787-862.
• P. K. Farayibi, “Finite Element Analysis of Plastic Recycling Machine Designed for Production of Thin Filament Coil”, Nigerian Journal of Technology, 36(2): 411-420, April 2017.
• E. O. Olutomilola, “Development of a Process Plant for Plantain Flour Production”, A PhD Thesis in Mechanical Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, March 2019.