Development of a motorized mixer for a water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes. Martius and Solms) briquetting process Mark John B. Viclar... [et.al].

Thesis (Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering) -- University of Rizal System-Morong.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Motorized Mixer for a Water Hyacinth Briquetting Process was developed to increase the efficiency of producing briquette by means of decreasing the production cost and shortening the length of the process. The developed machine was composed of a mixer tub and blade made from locally available materials, side grinder developed from an existing corn mill, and motor-pulley connection. Descriptive, Developmental, and Experimental Methods of Research was used by the researchers in this study to complete the output. The researchers utilized an adopted questionnaire checklist to determine the acceptability of the briquetting machine in terms of accuracy, applicability, workability, safety and maintenance, and usefulness. The researchers also use the Likert 5-point scale to analyze and interpret the results. After the output was completed the machine was tested for evaluation. The summary of design result sh0ows that the produced briquettes has lower ash content, lower heating capacity, admirable ignition time and longevity compares to the other briquette samples as well as to common charcoal. The result also shows that the developed also shows that the developed motorized mixer of 30-36 Kg/hr. the researchers also observed that the side grinder has a capacity of 36-42 Kg/hr. The machine level of acceptability in terms of its accuracy, applicability, safety and maintenance, user-friendliness and workability was rated as Extremely Accepted after evaluation through the adapted questionnaire checklist. Based on the summary of design results, the researchers concluded that the developed motorized mixer for a water hyacinth briquetting process is performing accordingly and purposively as tested. The developed motorized mixer can also be used in other briquetting process which uses other raw materials such as coconut husk, sawdust and other low density materials; the developed motorized mixer is extremely accepted by the respondents due to its efficient way of usage; the produced briquette has an acceptable performance as tested and observed by the researchers; the produced briquette has shown good potentials for commercial use when it comes to comparison with the gathered briquette samples as well as with common charcoal; and the developed motorized has a larger capacity per hour and a cheaper price compared to the exiting motorized mixer therefore, it can also be used to increase the profit of an existing briquette manufacturer. The researchers came up with the following recommendations, briquette manufacturer may consider using the machine; the future researchers may consider changing the materials used on the machine, modify the pulley system, and enlarging the dimension of the mixer tub; the future researchers may conduct further improvement in the design of the mixer blade; the future researchers may conduct added cost analysis for the other processes incorporated with the briquette production to show a more elaborated return of investment. The future researchers may conduct a study about considering the smoke coming from, the drum kiln to reduce smoke emission and to further improve briquetting process; the future researchers may conduct a study about enhancing the efficiency of the briquetting machine to improve the briquetting process; the future researchers may conduct a study about enhancing the side grinder developed by the grinder, they may also include design computations; the researchers may conduct a study about producing a useful product from the ash residue of the briquette.