Book Review: Franz Durst: Fluid Mechanics – An Introduction to the Theory of Fluid Flows

An oil palm fruit digester was designed, fabricated and tested. The materials for fabrication were sourced locally. The machine was tested for throughput capacity (Dc) and efficiency (η). Average throughput capacity of 330.91 kg/h and efficiency of 62.35% were obtained. Rate of digestion increased with the increase in mass of the digesting palm fruits while the efficiency of the oil palm fruit digester decreased with increase in mass of the digesting palm fruit in some cases. The machine is simple to operate and maintain.

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Development and Performance Evaluation of an Oil Palm Fruit Digester

Funding information University of Basrah Abstract The present study explored the hydraulic pressure process as an alternative process to the conventional extraction of date honey. In this regard, response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) were utilized as process optimization tools to achieve the highest yield and efficiency. Independent processing parameters were temperature (50–60!C) and pressure (4–12 bar). Moreover, the effect of optimum conditions on the quality and active compounds of date honey were studied. The results showed that the optimum conditions to give the highest yield (45.83%) and extraction efficiency (87.99%) were a temperature of 60!C and a pressure of 8.83 bar with a come-up time of 6 hr. The pH values of extracted date honey were higher than the conventional method. The change in pH values was described using the first-order kinetic equation. While moisture content and acidity were significantly lower than the conventional method, hydraulic pressure increased the ash, protein, total sugar, reduced sugar, pectin, and total soluble solids. The valorization approach developed in this study provides a platform for producing highquality date honey as a value-added product from an underutilized date. The findings can help with enhancing resource efficiency through agricultural waste valorization.

Pilot-scale hydraulic-pressure extraction of Sukari date honey (Phoenix dactylifera L.) to enhance resource efficiency: Effects of processing parameters on bioactive compounds and physicochemical quality

A model to predict the shearing/crushing force of an existing horizontal mechanical digester used for pulverization/digestion or maceration of date palm fruit was developed in the study. The model accurately predicted the shearing force used in digestion of fruit with model simulation done using Matlab 7.9 (R2009b). The results obtained showed a linear relationship between shearing force and angular velocity of implements/beater arms which are components of the digester that did the shearing of fruit mesocarp. It was also observed from results obtained that the higher the magnitude of angular velocity of shearing implement the higher the magnitude of shearing force of the digester. An angular velocity of 15.71 rads-1 yielded a shear force of 400.00 kN with an angular velocity of 34.56 rads-1 yielding a shear force of 880.00 kN. It was reported by the literary world that high magnitude of shear force is more efficient in pulverization process than shear force of low magnitude.

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Development of a Model to Predict the Shear Force of a Horizontal Mechanical Digester

A two-in-one machine (a pulverizer and screw press) was developed to digest a steam-treated date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera l.) and a screw press specially developed for extraction of juice which could further be processed into date syrup, date jam, binding ingredients for snacks, etc. The prototype design was fabricated at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, Benin City, Edo State - Nigeria. The equipment has a capacity of 250 kg fruit/hr with an extraction efficiency of 95 %. A 2 4 factorial experiment with the following variables: time of sterilization, fruit quantity, water quantity and speed of pulverizer. The effects of these variables on the quantity of juice extracted and their interactions with one another were determined using statistical analysis. Results showed that the effect of each variable was significant (P<0.01). Optimum values for machine speed and time of sterilization were 300 rpm and 90 minutes, respectively. The juice extracted was analyzed for total solids, pH, titratable acidity, mineral contents, total and reducing sugars. Index Terms - development, extractor, date juice, performance

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Development and Evaluation of A Mechanical Extractor for Date Palm Fruit Juic

A model for predicting juice extraction from date palm fruit using an existing mechanical extractor was developed in the study. Model development was based on principle of continuity and momentum transport. Optimum values of factors such as steaming time, diffusion coefficient, digestion time and quantity of water required for optimum juice yield were determined. Effect of steaming time, diffusion coefficient and pressure on experimental and predicted yield were also determined. Results obtained gave optimum values for steaming time, diffusion coefficient, digestion time and quantity of water as 90 minutes, 4.38 x 10-9 m2/s, 15 minutes and 8 litres, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the effects of factors on yield were significant (P<0.01). The overall deviation of experimental yield from theoretical prediction was 2.56%. The results obtained showed that the mechanical extractor been optimized in the study is appropriate to be applied for economic purposes.

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Sunday Reagan Ogblechi

Papers

Development of a Model to Predict the Shear Force of a Horizontal Mechanical Digester

Development and Evaluation of A Mechanical Extractor for Date Palm Fruit Juic

Development of a Model to Predict the Extraction of Juice from Date Palm Fruit