Journal of Researches in Mechanics of Agricultural Machinery

Journal of Researches in Mechanics of Agricultural Machinery

Optimum performance characteristics of the onion sorting machine in order to increase efficiency and reduce mechanical damage

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
sadegh seiiedlou
habibeh nalbandi
babak abaszsdeh
farid bejaei
Department of Biosystems Engineering , Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz. Tabriz .Iran
10.22034/jrmam.2024.14749.706
Abstract
Onion is one of the most important crops in the world and also in Iran. In spite of its high quantity produced in Iran, it sent to the domestic and foreign markets in inappropriate conditions, and at a low price due to the lack of sorting process and appropriate packaging. The aim of this study was to test and evaluate the onion sorting machine, study the effect of performance characteristics of the machine on the sorting quality indexes and determine the probable mechanical damage to the product during the sorting in order to achieve the optimum performance characteristics of the machine. This machine was designed and constructed with two reciprocating sieves with a length and width of 2*1 m, using a wobble shaft. Onion was sorted at 3 degrees based on their diameter according to the international standards code (D<50 mm, 50mm70mm). The sorting performance indexes consist of the degree of pollution and the degree of purity were measured and calculated during sorting of 200 kg of onion. Also, based on the obtained indexes in all test conditions, the amount of optimum performance characteristics of the machine was determined such as effective capacity, slope and frequency of sieves and their effect on the onion mechanical damage during the sorting process. The highest degree of purity equal to 95.60% was obtained at a frequency of 3.33 s-1 and a slope of 10 degrees for the sieves at a capacity of 1 to 1.2 t/h. Also, the overall sorting efficiency of the machine was 92.34% and no mechanical damage was observed to the onion.
Keywords
Onion
Test and Evaluation
Sorting Machine
Contamination &‌‌‌‌ Purity Index
Functional characteristics
Subjects
Abd El-Rahman, M. M. (2011). Development and Performance Evaluation of a Simple Grading Machine Suitable for Onion Sets. Journal of Soil Science and Agriculture Engineering, 2: 213-226.
 
Alizadeh, B. (2018). Design and Construction Method of Mechanical Sorting Machine for Onion. MS.c. Thesis, Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Tabriz (In Persian).
 
Anonymous. (2019). ITC calculations based on UN COMTRADE and ITC statistics. International Trade Center. pp. 1-7
 
Anonymous. (2022). Agricultural Statistics. Publications of the General Directorate of Statistics and Information of the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture (In Persian).
 
Bahnasawy A. H., & Mostafa, H. M. (2009). Development of affordable machine for sizing Egyptian onion. Agricultural Engineering International CIGR. Vol: XI.
 
Beranki, S. (2015). Optimization of design, fabrication and evaluation of apple mechanical sorting machine. MS.c. Thesis, Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Tabriz (In Persian).
 
Gayathri, G., Harshanjali, K. V., Rupavathi, K., Vijay Kumar, D., Senthil Kumaran, G., Carlin Rathin Kumari, A., & Ramana, M. V. (2016). Design, development and evaluation of a manually operated onion grader for Rose onion. International Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 9: 121-129.
 
Gunathilake, D.M.C.C., Wasala, W.M.C.B., & Palipane, K.B. (2016). Design, development and evaluation of a size grading machine for onion. Procedia Food Science, 6: 103-107.
 
Jarimpos, B., Toomsaengtong, S., & Inparasit, C. (2007). Design and testing of a mangosteen fruit sizing machine. Journal of Food Engineering, 79(3): 745-751.
 
Kermani, A. M., & Kouravand, Sh. (2016).  Design, construction and evaluation of a sizing machine for hazelnuts. Iranian Journal of Biosystems Engineering, 47(2): 375-381 (In Persian).
 
Lotfi, S. (2010). Investigating the performance of the onion chain in East Azarbaijan province. MS.c. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics, Payam Noor University. (In Persian).
 
 Nalbandi, H., Seiiedlou S., Beranki, S., Farzand Ahmadi, V. )2020(. Evaluation of Sorting Machine of Horticultural Products from the View Point of Machine Performance and Mechanical Damage of Fruit. Journal of Machination Agriculture, 5 (1): 43-53. (In Persian).
 
Nazer, A. (2012). Design and fabrication of Apple mechanical sorting machine. MS.c. Thesis, Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Tabriz (In Persian).
 
Saravacos, G., & Kostaropoulos, E. (2016). Handbook of Food Processing Equipment, Second Edition. pp: 233-247.
 
Seiiedlou, S. (2012). Engineering of agricultural equipment processing equipment. Course notes. University of Tabriz (In Persian).
 
Tabatabae Kloor, R. & Hashemi, J. (2008). Development and evaluation of citrus sorting machine with rotary semi-conical disc. Journal of Agriculture Machinery Science, 4(4): 371-374.
 
Vijay Anand, U., Balakrishnan, A., & Ranjan Mishra, M. (2009). Design and Development of Onion Sorting Machine. Book of Abstracts, 10:355-359.