Performance Evaluation of an Electromechanical Groundnut Roasting Machine Akintade A.M, Olukunle O. J. and Isa J.

The performance evaluation of an electromechanical groundnut roasting machine was conducted with the aim of achieving efficient roasting conditions and eliminating the drudgery associated with roasting groundnut. The machine was tested in the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria using fresh groundnuts purchased at a local market. A total of one hundred and eighty-nine experimental tests were carried out. Temperature, mass of the groundnut, moisture content of the groundnut and speed of the machine were considered and varied for the purpose of this research while 3×3×3×7ǃ randomized complete block design was used. The machine was tested using seven different temperature levels of 70⁰C, 100⁰C, 150⁰C, 200⁰C, 250⁰C, 3000C and 350⁰C for three different masses of groundnut while the machine speed was varied. The results showed that changes in machine operating parameters especially roasting temperature, moisture content and machine speed affected significantly the roasting efficiency, conveyance efficiency, quality efficiency and mechanical damage. The maximum values of roasting efficiency of 94.58%, conveyance efficiency of 99.56%, quality efficiency of 99.40% and mechanical damage of 32.35% were obtained at various roasting temperature of 700C, 1000C, 1500C and 2000C, while a minimum value of roasting efficiency of 60.07%, conveyance efficiency of 56%, quality efficiency of 35.99% and mechanical damage of 0.50% were obtained respectively. The optimum performance of the machine was obtained under a temperature range of 150 - 2000C, machine speed of 12.8 rpm and moisture content of 15.8%. The machine roasting capacity was found to be 36.91 kg/hr. Keywords: Groundnut seeds, Roasting chamber, Conveyor, Optimum Performance, Roasting time