Res. Agr. Eng., 2011, 57(3):110-115 | DOI: 10.17221/38/2010-RAE
A mathematical model for predicting the cracking efficiency of vertical-shaft centrifugal palm nut cracker
- 1 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia, Nigeria
- 2 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
A mathematical model for predicting the cracking efficiency of vertical-shaft palm nut cracker was presented using dimensional analysis based on the Buckingham's π theorem. A high coefficient of determination of 94.3% between the predicted and measured values showed that the method is good. The model was validated with data from existing palm nut cracker and there was no significant difference between the experimental cracking efficiency with the predicted values at 5% level of significance.
Keywords: cracking efficiency; prediction equation; feed rate; throughput capacity; shaft speed; dimensional analysis
Published: September 30, 2011 Show citation
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