Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment
Agricultural Machinery Research Design Centre
Agricultural Machinery Research Design Centre
Optimisation of a machine to break the seedcoat on grain legumes.
"Optimisation of a machine to break the seedcoat on grain legumes" is
a three year project funded by the Department of Employment, Education
and Training, with industry support from Pea and Grain Exporters
Australia Pty Ltd. The broad aim of the project is to develop improved
machinery and methods for the processing of grain legumes, which are
decorticated and split for human consumption.
Current work has identified an improved method of decorticating and
splitting chick peas, on of Pea and Grain's largest lines. Small scale
testing in Pea and Grain's Two Wells plant has shown that the new
process is capable of increasing the overall efficiency from 82% to
around 89%, a substantial cost saving for the company. Large scale
testing of this method is scheduled for 1996.
Work has also been undertaken at a more fundamental level, with finite
element modelling being used to gain an understanding of the processes
used by Pea and Grain to enhance splitting of the grains. The results
from this model will be used to define optimum conditions for splitting.
This information will then be used to develop improved machinery.
