FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF AN INDENTED CYLINDER SEPARATOR

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate some engineering and operational factors affecting the performance of an indented cylinder separator on the basis of grain length for local varieties of two main grain crops in Egypt, wheat (Gimeza 7) and corn (hybrid- 310).The evaluation was identified at various cylinder speeds of 30, 35, 40 and 45 rpm. corresponding to peripheral speeds of 0.94 ,1.10, 1.26 and 1.41 m/s respectively, receiving trough angles of 30° ,40°, 45° and 50° and feed rate of 6, 12, 18, and 24 kg/h at cylinder slope of zero. The obtained results revealed that the separating efficiency decreased by increasing each of the cylinder speed, receiving trough angle and feed rate. Also, the results indicated that the cylinder separator can be operated at rotational speeds ranged from 30 rpm (0.0.94 m/s) to 35 rpm (1.10 m/s) and receiving trough angles from 30º to 40º and feed rate of 6 kg/h to achieve the best values of separating efficiency with minimum percentage of lifted long grains in the trough for wheat and corn. So the combination of 30rpm(0.47 m/s) cylinder speed, 30º trough angle, and 6 kg/h feed rate is recommended for the highest values of separating efficiency of 92.54 and 91.35% for wheat and corn respectively.