Evaluation of Some Power Sources and Performance Parameters of a Continuous-Flow Rotary Cassava Chipper

Abstract

This study investigated the differences in key performance parameters and total cost of using a Nigerian-built continuous flow rotary cassava chipper to chip fresh peeled and unpeeled cassava root tubers when powered by Diesel engine and when powered by an electric motor. The machine was found to be  most efficient and cost effective when powered by an electric motor and used to chip fresh unpeeled cassava tubers.  This was when it exhibited the highest chipping efficiency of  86.67% and the least total cost of (or US$ 4.35 per tonne as opposed to the lowest efficiency of 85.17% and highest total cost of  US$ 9.65/tonne when powered by a Diesel engine and used to chip fresh peeled cassava tubers. With these results, chipping fresh unpeeled cassava tubers with the machine when powered by an electric motor costs almost only 50% of what it costs to chip peeled fresh cassava tubers when powered by a Diesel engine.  The study has clearly shown that the campaign to ensure regular supply of electricity in Nigerian rural communities (where most of the Nation’s resource poor cassava processors, who constitute majority of the Nation’s cassava growers and processors, are based) must be intensified if Nigeria is to be an active participant in the  highly competitive but profitable world cassava market .

KEY WORDS: Cassava Chipper, Chipping Chamber, Chipping Efficiency, Throughput capacity, Fossil fueled engine.