Development and Optimization of a Manual Fed Cassava Root Chipper for Household Cassava Processors

Year 2020, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 283 - 295, 31.12.2020

Nnaemeka Nwakuba Macmanus Ndukwu Gabriel Afam

Abstract

A motorized, manual fed cassava root chipping machine was developed, evaluated and optimized. The objective of the research is to investigate the effect of moisture content and speed on the chipping sizes, efficiency, throughput and machine capacities. Obtained results showed that the cassava initial moisture content significantly affected the chipping size, machine capacity, throughput capacity and chipping efficiency within the tested moisture content range of 52 to 68% w.b. The machine speed also affected the chipping size, chipping efficiency, machine and throughput capacity. The average chipping size for the cassava chips at the four ranges of moisture content, speeds and constant feed rate of 89±26.6 kg h-1 ranged from 0.56 to 0.96 cm with optimum thickness 0.618 at 450 rpm and moisture content of 65.27% based on desirability factor. The average chipping efficiency ranged from 60 to 90% with an optimum value of 79.57% at 533 rpm and moisture content of 68 % while the throughput capacities of the machine ranged from 49 to118 kg/h with optimum value of 118 kg/h at a speed of 600 rpm and 68% moisture content.

Keywords

Cassava root, machine design, performance evaluation

References

• Adejumo, A.O., Oradugba, O.B., Ilori T.A., Adenekan, M.O. (2001). Development and evaluation of a cassava chipping machine. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 3, 12 -19. https://www.academia.edu/23763964.
• Adewumi, T.D., Adegbulugbe, T.A. and Balogun, E.A. (2005). Performance evaluation of modified cassava chipping machine, Journal of Raw Materials Research, 2(2): 103 – 117.
• Ajibola, G.A. Mankanjuola, G. and Almazan, A.N. (2007) Effect of processing factors on the quality of gari produced by steam gelatinization technique, Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 36, 97 - 100.
• Akintunde, B.O. and Akintunde, T.Y. (2001). Design and construction of a motorized chipping machine, Proceeding of the International Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE), 23, 10-14.
• Akintunde, T. Y. and Akintunde B. O. (2001): Design and construction of a motorized cassava chipping machine. Proceeding of the 2nd International conference of NIAE. Vol. 23: 41 – 46. Enugu. World Rural Observations. http://www.sciencepub.net/rural 47.
• Anuebunwa, F.O.C., Ezedinma, C., Asomugha G.N., and Nnodu, E.C. (2008). Research Report on the Extent of Adoption of NRCRI Development Technology, Cassava Varieties; NR 8083 and TMS in Anambra and Delta States of Nigeria Submitted to NARP Management Abuja, NRCRI, Umudike.
• Balagopalan, C., Padmaja, G., Nanda, S.K. and Moorthy, S.N. (2008). Cassava in food, feed and industry. CRC Press, 1998.
• FAO 2006. A Cassava Industrial Revolution in Nigeria, FAO Corporate Government Repository, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
• Francisco, D.R.U. (2004). The Determinants of Farms Growth. “An Empirical Examination”. Series Documents of Trabajo, Pp. 3- 5.
• Igboayaka, E.C, Ndukwu. M.C, Ernest, I.C. (2018). A Modelling approach for determining the throughput capacity and energy consumption of a cassava tuber shredder. Journal of the Chinese Advanced Materials Society, 6:4, 801-816, DOI: 10.1080/22243682.2018.1555678.
• IITA (2011). Annual report. pp. 34-38. IITA (2012). An annual report on cassava production. pp. 4-6.
• Ikugbayigbe, O. (2012). Cassava Production in Nigeria: Need for Government Assistance, Sunday Sketch in IITA in the Weeds Jan – June 2012.
• Ndunguru, G.T., Kamuntu, S.P. and Gidamis, A.B. (2009): Effect of deterioration of fresh cassava roots marketed in Morogoro municipal markets on prices. In: Proceedings of the fourth annual research scientific conference of the Faculty of Agriculture, Morogoro Tanzania, 17th-19th November 2009. pp. 272 – 279.
• Ndukwu, M.C., Asoegwu, S.N. and Ahaneku, I.E. (2018). Status of research on agricultural machinery development in Nigeria: A case study of cassava tuber processing machineries. Agricultural mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America, 49(2):150- 155.
• Ndukwu, M.C., Ekop I.E., Etim P.J., Ohakwe C.N., Ezejiofor N.R., Onwude D.I., Abam F.I., Igboayaka E.C., Ohia A. (2019). Response surface optimization of Bambara nut kernel yield as affected by the speed of rotation, and impeller configurations. Scientific African 6 (2019) e00174.
• Silayo, V.C., Balegu, K., Mpagalile, W.R. and Laswai H.S. (2007). Participatory evaluation and improvement of cassava and sweet potato processing machines for the Eastern zone of Tanzania. Proceedings of the 13th ISTRC Symposium, pp. 672 – 681.