DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A SUGARCANE JUICE EXTRACTOR

Authors

  • F.A. OLA Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
  • K.O. ORIOLA Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
  • T.A. ISHOLA Dept. of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin
  • A. SALEH Dept. of Agricultural & Bio-Resources Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • A.S. ADEDOYIN Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
  • F.B. AKANDE Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso

Keywords:

Extractor, Juice, Mechanical properties, Physical properties, Sugarcane

Abstract

Sugarcane juice is rich in vitamins and minerals and its bagasse is a very good source of energy. Currently, the
consumption of sugarcane by chewing leads to wastage since the juice may not be completely extracted before the
bagasse discarded. Post-harvest losses in sugarcane production are very high due to little or no technology to
immediately process sugarcane after harvest. This study has developed a motorized sugarcane juice extractor for
medium and small-scale processing to reduce or minimize the post-harvest losses in sugarcane production. Materials
used for construction were carefully chosen for material availability, rigidity and its corrosion resistance. The machine
is made up of crushing rollers, hopper, screen, juice collecting tray, reduction gear motor and power transmission
system. The machine was powered by a 5 hp electric motor. A three-level-three factor experimental design requiring
27 experimental runs using Minitab 16.2.1 software (2010 Minitab Inc.) was employed for this study. Performance
tests were carried out at the machine speeds of 145, 200 and 250 rpm, feed rates of 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 kg/min and three
passes of sugarcane and the performance parameters of juice yield and extraction efficiency were determined. Result
obtained shows that the optimum juice yield was 76.70 % and extraction efficiency was 77.6 %. The throughput
capacity of the machine was determined to be 16.96 kg/h, optimum juice yield and extraction efficiency were obtained
at 145 rpm machine operating speed, feed rate of 1.0 kg/min and 3 passes.

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Published

2022-12-22

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Articles