DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A LOW-COST CENTRIFUGAL HONEY EXTRACTOR

I. A. Ola; G. A. Oladepo; A. A. Wahab; O. D. Awotedu; A. F. Adisa; O. O. Aremu; O. U. Dairo; S. O. Ismaila; E.O. A. Oluwalana; S. A. Oluwalana; A. A. Aderinlewo; E.S. A. Ajisegiri

I. A. Ola Department of Agricultural Engineering, COLENG. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
G. A. Oladepo Department of Agricultural Engineering, COLENG. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
A. A. Wahab Department of Agricultural Engineering, COLENG. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
O. D. Awotedu Department of Agricultural Engineering, COLENG. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
A. F. Adisa Department of Agricultural Engineering, COLENG. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
O. O. Aremu Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos, Nigeria.
O. U. Dairo Department of Agricultural Engineering, COLENG. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
S. O. Ismaila Department of Mechanical Engineering, COLENG. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
E.O. A. Oluwalana Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta
S. A. Oluwalana Deparment of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta
A. A. Aderinlewo Department of Agricultural Engineering, COLENG. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
E.S. A. Ajisegiri Department of Agricultural Engineering, COLENG. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Keywords: Centrifugal, Honey-extractor, Extracts, Speed

Abstract

The traditional and screw press techniques were adopted and utilized extensively by Nigerian honey producers and these have led to the absence of a good quality and timely produced honey devoid of foreign materials and marketable by international standard. Ample information from literature survey showed that the Langstroth hive which is beyond the reach of common Nigerian bee farmer due to its high cost. A 750 W indigenous centrifugal honey extractor was developed using locally sourced materials.. The machine was tested at extraction speed levels of 272, 287, 351, 1445, 1730, 2300 and 2575 rpm. Quantifiable extractions were obtained at all speed levels except at a speed of 2575 rpm where a vicious crushed extract of honey and comb was observed. High speed extraction was not favorable as it resulted in the destruction of the honey comb. Honey extracted at the two lower speeds of 272 and 287 rpm were found to be purer with less foreign materials and of high quality. This indigenous centrifugal honey extractor is also favorable for extraction of honey from other types of hives apart from the Langstroth hive and is marketable.