IMROVING PRODUCTIVITY IN HOLLOW IMPELLER PALM NUT CRACKING MACHINE MANUFACTURING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The fast growing Agro & allied processing and manufacturing industries would survive if there is constant supply of raw materials for their production. Product manufacturers need to consider manufacturing two products: the physical products that they have always produced and the virtual product that is the information about the physical product. This virtual product can provide manufacturers with a new source of value. An improved cracker is needed for the cracking of palm kernel in large scale to satisfy this yearning. An improvement is kept in line to aid easy and quick separation by varying angle of projection using the projectile motion of the kernels and the shells. The concept is such that the machine cracks with high speed and the nature of impeller set up fan mechanism where the cracked kernel nut, shells and dust particles are blown through a projected duct at an angle (?) and separated by density or weight with aerodynamics and the angle (?) of projection. The centrifugal machine cracks with a rotor speed of 450rad/sec, work with a power transmission efficiency of 88.87° and cracks 2.8tones per hour, separation is maximum at angle between 10°-15°with appreciable cracking efficiency. The process of palm kernel oil needs a nut shell cracking which is the most critical and delicate aspect which is labour intensive if done manually. The individual involved in the manual cracking endanger himself of inadvertently hitting his fingers with the impact stone. After thoroughly researching, designing and experimenting with software’s final machine was developed optimizing the process, the product time was successfully reduced from several hours to 5 minute. All other engineering and customer design requirement were met, through the success of the design. In the cracking operation, it is necessary to Preserving the nuts embedded in the kernel from breaking to pieces. The spongy portion of the palm kernel makes some not to be cracked if they hit the impactor or they re-bounce, which may not subject them to secondary impact It is therefore paramount to design an improved a nut cracker with an acceptable cracking efficiency using: An optimum speed at a given rotor radius for required to deform or break a palm kernel without damaging the nut at the minimum impact force required to cause the cracking. Manufacturing is the means by which the technical and industrial capability of a nation is harnessed to transform designs into well-made products that meet customer needs. This activity occurs through the action of an integrated network that links many different participants with the goals of developing, making, and selling useful things. Manufacturing is the conversion of raw materials into desired end products. The word derives from two Latin roots meaning hand and make. Manufacturing, in the broad sense, begins during the design phase when judgments are made concerning part geometry, tolerances, material choices, and so on. Manufacturing operations start with manufacturing planning activities and with the acquisition of required resources, such as process equipment and raw materials Keywords: Design, palm kernel Cracker, Sustainability Optimization .Management, and Manufacturing