Modification and Evaluation of Motorized Enset Corm Grinding Machine

Year 2025, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 15 - 31, 30.06.2025

Amanuel Erchafo

https://doi.org/10.46592/turkager.1542019

Abstract

This study was executed to redesign and evaluate a motorized enset corm grinding machine. The collected data for tests were analyzed utilizing the Statistix 8 software. The result of the design calculation indicated that the volume of the feeding hopper, the volume of a grinding unit, the length of the belt, the speed ratio, lap angle, shaft diameter, belt tension, torque, the power needed to grind, as well as the force required to grind were obtained as 0.1114 m3, 0.0796 m3, 1.18 m, 1.3, 2.95 rad, 40 mm, 1958.6 N, 21.41 Nm, 7 hp, and 298.7 N, correspondingly. The results of the ANOVA tests revealed that the efficiency and percentage loss of the machine were affected by operating speed and feed rate, except for the combined effects, which were due to both factors. The findings revealed that the highest grinding capacity of 894.8 kg h-1 was obtained at 2200 rpm operating speed as well as 10 kg min-1 feed rate while the lowest grinding capacity of 785 kg h-1 was obtained at 2000 rpm operating speed and 15 kg min-1 feed rate. The test’s results revealed that the maximum grinding efficiency was obtained as 97.9% at 2200 rpm operating speed and 15 kg min-1 feed rate, and the minimum grinding efficiency was obtained as 94.3% at 2000 rpm and 10 kg min-1 feed rate. The test’s result implied that the minimum loss percentage was noted as 4.1% on the operating speed at 2200 rpm and feed rate at 15 kg min-1 when operating at 2000 rpm and feed rate at 10 kg min-1, the maximum loss was noted as 7.7%. This redesigned machine was cost-effective because it was fabricated from local source materials. The test results suggested that this redesigned machine was recommendable for growers of enset for grinding the enset corm.

Keywords

Enset corm , Grinder , Grinding capacity , Efficiency , Percentage loss.

Ethical Statement

This article does not require any Ethical Committee Decision.

References

• Ajema MF (2022). Importance, biology, epidemiology, and management of Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum [Ensete ventricosum (Cheesman)] in Ethiopia. 10(October), 72-89. https://doi.org/10.30918/NJAS.104.22.022
• Blomme G, Kearsley E, Buta S, Chala A, Kebede R, Addis T and Yemataw Z (2023). Enset production system diversity across the Southern Ethiopian highlands. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(9): 1-19. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097066
• Borrell JS, Goodwin M, Blomme G, Jacobsen K, Wendawek AM, Gashu D, Lulekal E, Asfaw Z, Demissew S and Wilkin P (2020). Enset-based agricultural systems in Ethiopia: A systematic review of production trends, agronomy, processing and the wider food security applications of a neglected banana relative. Plants People Planet, 2(3): 212-228. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10084
• Degefa I and Dawit E (2018). Indigenous knowledge on cultivation and consumption of enset (Enset ventricosum) in Kercha District; West Guji Zone, Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Journal of Plant Breeding and Genetics, 6(3): 87-94. https://doi.org/10.33687/pbg.006.03.2584
• Egizabiher YG, Kebede F, Kassahun Mengistu D, Tadesse H, Mahari M. and Welday Y (2020). Indigenous knowledge and socio-economic significance of enset (Ensete ventricosum (welw.) cheeseman) cultivation and food processing in sidama, southern Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 19. https://doi.org/10.32859/era.19.01.1-17
• Gizaw B (2015). Community indigenous knowledge on traditional fermented enset. 5(3).
• Haile A, Megerssa B and Negash R (2020). Enset (ensete Ventricosoum) value chain in Dawuro zone, Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology, 6(1): 126-150.
• Khurmi RS and Gupta JK (2005). A textbook of machine design. S. Chand publishing.
• Kibi G (2018). Development and evaluation of engine driven corm grinding machine. 16–21.
• Senbeta AF, Sime G and Struik P (2022). Enset farming system–a resilient, climate-robust production system in South and South-Western Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 8(1): 2074626.
• Sogaard HT and Sorensen CG (2004). A model for optimal selection of machinery sizes within the farm machinery system. Biosystems Engineering, 89(1): 13-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2004.05.004
• Teshome M (2023). On-farm diversity of enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw) cheesman) landraces, use, management practice and associated indigenous.
• Tiruneh AZ (2020). Assessment of performance and adoption of improved enset processing technologies: A case study in Enemorena Ener District, Guragie Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 25(2): 1-20. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-2502070120
• Yemata G (2020). Ensete ventricosum: A multipurpose crop against hunger in Ethiopia. Scientific World Journal, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6431849