Some theoretical and experimental aspects of a new electrodynamic separator

A power operated (0.5 hp electric motor) grain flour separator was designed and developed for separation of grain (wheat, corn, chickpea and soybean) flour it no various fractions based on the size of the particles of the product. The separator is made of mild steel and consists of a hopper, power driven agitating mechanism, feed control , cylindrical separator unit and an eccentric mechanism. The machine was tested for wheat (variety : Subjata) flour separation into four fraction, viz : semolina ; Gr-I and II, flour (coarse) and white (fine) flour. Wheat samples (6.8% m.c., db) were first pearled by CIAE pearler for 15.8% bran removal . The product and machine characteristics were determined at different capacities varying from 24 kg/h to 143 kg/h. It was found that 76 kg/h capacity gave reasonably best results in terms of purity and recovery of semolina vis-a-vis the market product. The energy requirement of the machine at no-load was found to be 230 w and at load conditio s, it varied between 36.3-6.4kj per kg of feed separation. The machine could be used by small flour millers, small/medium size traders and retailers and other processors for making available various flour products of different particle size in the market for ready use fo the consumers.