Technology developed and adapted for wet chilli seed extraction

Abstract

A wet red chilli seed extractor was developed to overcome human drudgery by manual seed extraction process. The fabrication and development of machine was carried out at All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The major components of the machine includes main frame, feed hopper seed extraction unit and power transmission system. The machine was powered by three hp three-phase electric motor. The performance of the machine was evaluated at five feed rates (100, 159, 300, 441 and 500 kgh-1) and five drum speeds (600, 688, 900, 1112 and 1200 rpm), respectively. The response parameters investigated were extraction efficiency, seed loss and germination per cent. The results of the machine showed that a maximum extraction efficiency of 97.51%, minimum seed loss of 0.24% and maximum germination of 94.77% were found optimum at 300 kgh-1 feed rate and 850 rpm drum speed.