Abstract

The modified palm nut-fibre separator machine comprises of a feed hopper, a separating chamber with an upper shaft carrying beaters which act as both conveyor and cake breaker and a lower shaft with sharp edged spiral worm and four fixed blades, a pair of adjustable blades, a prime mover (a 7.5 Hp electric motor of 1900 rpm, or its equivalent IC engine) and inlet and outlet funnels for nuts and fibres respectively. The performance test analysis indicates that the separation capacity is about 500 kg/h with an efficiency of 92.5% and an optimum radial blade clearance of 2 mm. It is energy saving and affordable for small scale palm nut fruit processing mill operators.

Key words: Modification, palm nut - fibre, separator, palm oil.