Effect of Cylinder Diameter and Hopper Angle on Performance of Sago Rasping Machine
Darma1, Budi Santoso2, Reniana3 and Moh. Arif Arbianto4

1,3Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering, Papua University, Indonesia.
2Department of Agricultural Product Technology, Papua University, Indonesia
4BPTP Papua Barat, Manokwari, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract
Papua and West Papua Province have the largest sago potential with the total area are about 4.75 million ha and 0.51 million ha respectively. However, unfortunately, the sago starch production and utilization in these areas are very small comparing with its potential. Millions of tons of the starch is not harvested and lost every year. This is because of most farmers in these areas still use traditional method in processing. The most laborious stage in traditional sago processing is pith disintegration which is done by using pounder. However, the use of rasping machine to disintegrate the pith is saving time and energy significantly. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of cylinder diameter and hopper angle on rasping performance of cylinder type sago rasping machine. In the research, two size of cylinder diameter i.e. 15 cm and 20 cm and three levels of hopper angle i.e. 0, 22.5 and 45 degrees were examined. The rasping performance was evaluated by measuring rasping capacity, starch rendement, and starch losses in sago pith waste. The results showed that the combination of cylinder diameter and hopper angle significantly affected rasping capacity and starch rendement, but did not affect significantly on starch losses in sago pith waste. The highest rasping performance was resulted at the combination of cylinder diameter 20 cm with hopper angle 22.5 degree. The rasping performances at the condition were rasping capacity was 1603 kg per hour, starch rendement 43.93 percent and starch losses in sago pith waste was 15 percent.

Keywords: cylinder diameter, hopper angle, rasping capacity, sago rasping machine

Topic: Farm Machinery