Modification and Performance Test of Prototype I Washer Machine

Abstract

The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatara L.) is one of the world’s important tubers with a production of more than 133 million ton. In 2019, the Laboratory of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery designed a Prototype I Washer The machine is not optimal, reaching 67.13%, and it needs to be modified because the skin of the sweet potato is cleaned and exfoliated so that it can reduce the quality of the sweet potato. The method used in this research is engineering, which is a non-routine design activity with new construction of process and product. Base on Matlab program, the result of the modification research and performance tests, is by using the prototipe I washer, the percentage of the level of cleanliness was 80.02%. Where with an increase 67.13% using the performance machine. Based on the evaluation of technical feasibility and engine performance tests, it is found that the propulsion power needs 1 HP and the deflection of the frame is only 13.06 mm. The theoretical capacity of the engine is 231.68 kg.hour-1, the actual capacity is 100 kg.hour-1 with an efficiency of 44.39%, the noise level of 77 dB and the engine vibration of 13.43 m.s-1.