Design, Construction And Performance Evaluation Of Motor Driven Enset Decorticator

Abstract

More Than Twenty Percent Of Ethiopia?�?S Population Used Enset For Human Food, Fiber, Animal Forage, Construction Materials, And Medicines. In Ethiopia Enset Are Decorticated Traditionally Using A Locally Made Bamboo Scraper Against A Wooden Plank. This Traditional Method Is Inefficient, Unhygienic, Gender Based, Less Productive And Time Consuming. To Alleviate This Problem, The Way Aimed For Developed Three Horse Power Engine Driven Enset Decorticator. Therefore, This Thesis Work Intended To Design Manufactured And Performance Evaluation Of Suitable Low Horse Power Enset Decorticating Machine. The Physical Properties Of Different Varieties Of Enset Sheaves Were Studied. The Developed Three Horse Power Enset Sheave Decorticating Machine Consists Of Cylindrical Shaped Drum, Blade, Inclined Plate, Clearance Adjuster, Storage Device, Pair Of Rollers And Three Horsepower Diesel Engine. The Developed Diesel Engine Motor Driven Decorticator Was Tested In The Laboratory And Field. In Laboratory Test Machine Checked Its Specification And Operational Test. The Result Indicated That The Machine Was Most Stable, And The Machine Was Easy To Start, Operate And Stop. The Preliminary Test Conducted At Decorticating Gap Of < 2mm, 2 Mm And >2mm With Drum Speed Of 650 Rpm, 850 Rpm And 1050 Rpm Shows Better Decorticating Performance But At 2mm Decorticating Clearance With Drum Speed Of 1050 Rpm Gave Best Operation Result Than Others. When Compared With Traditional Enset Decorticating Technique, The New Developed Machine Was Perform Decorticating Activity More Efficient And Effective, Hygienic, Productive, Save Time, And Gender Specific. In General Motor Driven Enset Decorticator Works Satisfactorily In The Field With Required Feed Rate, With Minimum Damage To Fibre And The Operating Belt Speed Of 5.5 M/S. Therefore, There Was Suitable For Decorticating Without Belt Slip And The Cost Of Operation Was 42.24 Etb/Hr.