Authors :
Gunarathna R.A.M.M.; Meragalge M.L.R.
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 8 - August
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3TmGbDi
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/xn33jpku
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8337217
Abstract :
Sri Lanka has the fourth largest coconut
export market in the world. Desiccated coconut, brown
fiber, virgin coconut oil, and coconut water are some
popular exports among number of export products.
Coconut testa should be peeled off in most of the coconut
product manufacturing processes. Although testa peeling
is common for a many coconut products, manual peeling
method is still used in Sri Lankan manufacturing
industry. Freezing, boiling, baking, and specialized
machines are different methods that can be used except
manual peeling. In this research the best mechanism for
testa peeling to replace manual peeling is identified and
the identified process is optimized by conducting number
of experimental runs. Automation the manual peeling
mechanism has been identified the well suited solution
for the current requirements in the Sri Lankan coconut
manufacturing industry. A Prototype was fabricated and
experiments were conducted to identify the best
parameter settings for coconut testa peeling. The effect
of Grater thickness, Contact angle and Grater rotational
speed were considered and the thickness of the peeled
testa were observed as the output parameter. Full
Factorial Design of Experiment (DOE) was conducted by
changing parameters in different levels. Grater thickness
and Contact angle show significant impact on the
thickness of testa while grater rotational speed does not
show a significant impact at 5 % significance level.
Thickness of the testa can be optimized by setting
Contact angle in high level and Grater thickness in the
lower level.
Keywords :
Coconut Manufacturing Industry; Testa peeling; Design of Experiments
Sri Lanka has the fourth largest coconut
export market in the world. Desiccated coconut, brown
fiber, virgin coconut oil, and coconut water are some
popular exports among number of export products.
Coconut testa should be peeled off in most of the coconut
product manufacturing processes. Although testa peeling
is common for a many coconut products, manual peeling
method is still used in Sri Lankan manufacturing
industry. Freezing, boiling, baking, and specialized
machines are different methods that can be used except
manual peeling. In this research the best mechanism for
testa peeling to replace manual peeling is identified and
the identified process is optimized by conducting number
of experimental runs. Automation the manual peeling
mechanism has been identified the well suited solution
for the current requirements in the Sri Lankan coconut
manufacturing industry. A Prototype was fabricated and
experiments were conducted to identify the best
parameter settings for coconut testa peeling. The effect
of Grater thickness, Contact angle and Grater rotational
speed were considered and the thickness of the peeled
testa were observed as the output parameter. Full
Factorial Design of Experiment (DOE) was conducted by
changing parameters in different levels. Grater thickness
and Contact angle show significant impact on the
thickness of testa while grater rotational speed does not
show a significant impact at 5 % significance level.
Thickness of the testa can be optimized by setting
Contact angle in high level and Grater thickness in the
lower level.
Keywords :
Coconut Manufacturing Industry; Testa peeling; Design of Experiments
