MODIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF JACK FRUIT SEED PEELER

Abstract

A study was conducted at KCAET, Tavanur to develop jackfruit seed peeler with the objectives - a) To study the engineering properties of jackfruit seed, b) To modify the existing power operated seed coat remover for jackfruit seed and c) To study the performance of the modified machine in terms of peeling efficiency, seed damage, material loss etc. Based on the preliminary studies, jackfruit seed peeler machine was conceptualized, designed and fabricated. The major components of the machine are inner perforated cylinder, outer cylinder with rotating disc which doing peeling operation, power transmission unit and frame assembly. Working principle of this machine is abrasion and impact force. Jackfruit seeds were cleaned and dried in the sun for 1 to 2 hours before peeling. After removing the inner perforated cylinder, it was cleaned thoroughly along with the rotating disc with the perforated sheet. The jackfruit seeds were fed into the cylinder at desired height and the lid was closed. The machine was operated by a motor and VFD through a belt and pulley system. The rotational speed was controlled using the VFD. The operations were done at various speeds, time and bed thicknes. Seed coat was removed due to the impact and abrasion forces of the seed on the perforated inner cylinder and the perforated sheet welded on the rotating disc. The peeled jackfruit seed was collected through the door provided on the outer cylinder after detaching the inner perforated cylinder from the jackfruit seed peeler. The rubber wiper provided below the rotating disc also helps in the cleaning process with or without water. The performance evaluation of the machine was done at three different rotational speeds at frequencies of 30 Hz, 40 Hz and 50 Hz and three different times (0.5 minutes, 1 minute, 1.5 minutes) using Design Expert version 12. Using Central Composite Design method of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) optimization is done. The peeling efficiency, material loss and seed damage of optimum design was found as 97.7852%, 0.6095% and 2.2448% respectively at an optimized speed of 40 Hz and time 1 minute. The cost of the developed machine was Rs. 43250/-. The operational cost of machine was Rs.44.63/h. The benefit-cost ratio of machine was calculated as 1.84.:1.00.

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