Determination of Optimal Impeller Parameters for Improved Ginger Slicing Efficiency

The inadequacy of mechanization in the production, processing and storage of ginger in Nigeria has caused its market price to be among the lowest in international trade. This study examined the selection of the optimal number of impeller and impeller speed for an improved  ginger slicing machine. This research was conducted in the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering at Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic in Birnin Kebbi during April 2019. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 5 x 4 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted. The machine's performance was measured according to high average Efficiency of Slicing, average high output capacity and low percent scatter. The moisture content of the ginger used for the experiment with 1 hp prime mover was 82.2 and 81.5%. The data collected were analyzed using the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT), with means separated at a P0.05 level. The results showed that the cushion compartment had the best Efficiency of Slicing of 56.8%  at 350 rpm impeller speed, one number of impeller gang, 25.6 g/sec output and 4.2 g percent scatter, respectively.