Design Of A Screw Conveyor For Transporting And Cooling Plantain Flour In A Process Plant

This paper discusses the design, simulation and functional performance evaluation of an inclined screw conveyor with integrated system for cooling while conveying pulverized pulps from pulverizing unit to packaging unit of a plant that processes unripe plantain into flour. Hygiene, ergonomics, conveyance distance and height, thermal and mechanical properties of the materials selected, ease of fabrication and production cost were carefully considered. Model for the equipment was developed using SolidWorks application software, which was followed by design analysis of its components. Simulation of the developed model was done using ANSYS, SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor application software packages, in order to predict the performance of its components and to ascertain its functionality before fabrication. The simulation results showed that the design of the equipment is adequate and safe for fabrication. The equipment was then fabricated and assembled using appropriate manufacturing techniques. The total fabrication cost is put at One Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty dollars ($1,330) only. Its functional performance was evaluated; the throughput and thermal efficiencies obtained were 96.1% and 85.3% respectively. It can be said that the equipment has the capacity to serve its primary purpose as it was able to convey and cool the material poured into it from 82.20 degrees C to 29.20 degrees C. (C) 2020 Jordan Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. All rights reserved