In cracking palm nuts by application of appropriate impact energy, one of the predominant factors that would enhance the release of either high percentage of whole or split kernels is the percentage level of moisture content in the nuts. The split kernels encourage rancidity of oil since the oily surface of the kernel is exposed to environmental influence. There is therefore need to study the absorption of water in dried palm nuts as a pointer to condition dried nuts to moisture content range that would enhance the production of whole kernels. In this study, dried Dura and Tenera palm nuts varieties were obtained from a palm oil processing mill, classified based on their minor diameter into three size ranges of small, medium and large sizes. These nuts were further dried to bone dry mass followed by immersion of each size range of nuts into different vessels containing water. The rate of water absorption was monitored at 3-hourly intervals. The data generated were analyzed. The result showed that the rate of water absorption per nut unit area had similar curves pattern as the drying curve established for palm nuts. Models for water absorption process involving the dried palm nut was developed based on basic underlying principles and data generated from experimental runs. The models were then validated; and found to be very useful in describing the water absorption process per nut unit area in a given time; and predicting moisture content of bone dry mass of nut soaked in water and kept at room temperature.

In this study, the principles underlying the energy involved during cracking in a vertical centrifugal nut cracker was analyzed. This will help to elucidate the relationship between various parameters that are relevant to the design and operation of the centrifugal nut cracker for the Tenera and Dura varieties. Experimental analysis was then carried out for each of the two varieties. Each variety was classified into size ranges based on their geometric mean diameter (GMD). Technical analysis revealed that the revolution per minute required by the rotor disc of a centrifugal nut for effective nut cracking is influenced by rotor disc radius (r) and nut dimensions (d1, d2, d3).The modeled equation developed could be used for predicting nut translational kinetic energy required to crack dried nut of the Dura and Tenera varieties to release high percentage of whole kernel.

In an attempt to easily determine the desired moisture content at any time (t), of selected freshly harvested roots and tubers (yellow cassava, carrot, cocoyam and yam) of economic importance subjected to drying under unsteady temperature conditions such as sun drying, especially in the rural areas where there is no electricity or funds availability to acquire suitable drying equipment by local farmers; the drying constants based on established model that is anchored on mass of the material at any time t was carried out. In this study, three mass classifications, namely: small, medium and large were prepared for each material and subjected to oven drying at a given temperature till bone dry mass. The experimental values obtained were computed and graphs plotted to obtain the slopes as drying constants of values 0.3114, 0.1092, 0.3736 and 0.3790 for bulk samples of yellow cassava, carrot, cocoyam and yam respectively.

Fish feed pelletizing machine was designed and fabricated with the aim to improve on existing local pelletizers; encourage local technology and local fish farmers who may be faced with no power supply. It mainly consists of the hopper, pelletizing chamber, frame, bolts and nuts, screw conveyor, cutting mechanism, pelletizing die plate and power transmission unit with dual operation mode. Performance evaluations of the improved pelletizing machine as well as existing machine were carried out and the results showed that both machines were able to produce pellets with 8 mm average diameter and 10 mm average length. The overall mean values of pelleting capacity, specific energy consumption and efficiency of improved and the existing pelletizing machines were 1.20 kg/min, 0.010 kWh/kg and 97.09%; 0.89 kg/min, 0.014 kWh/kg and 75%, respectively. These imply that the improved pelletizing machine could produce a ton of feeds for a 14-hour daily operation and consume approximately 10 kWh of energy as compared to the existing pelletizing machine that would consume 14 kWh. The capacity of the improved pelletizing machine is quite better than the existing pelletizing machine. The improved pelletizing machine efficiency obtained is quite impressive as only about 2.91% of the feed mix might be lost as compared to 25% lost by the existing pelletizing machine. Therefore, the improved fish feed pelletizing machine is recommended for use by small-scale fish feed mill as the existing pelletizers have comparable higher losses couple with lower efficiency.

The drying of seafood could ensure increase in life span, minimization of storage space, ease of transportation, etc of the product. It is therefore, necessary to dry and know when to stop drying at an appropriate moisture content that would minimize associated challenges in promoting food security. In this study, selected sea foods, such as prawn and oyster were obtained and then dried to determine their drying mass constants using model equation developed based on basic drying principle. The value of the constants obtained would provide data bank to facilitates prediction of mass of the drying material at given time that would correspond to any desired moisture content, provided the initial moisture content of the material is known. The plots of moisture content against drying time, drying rate against drying time and moisture content versus were carried out. It was observed that increase in size of the drying material increased the drying time. Moreover, the drying rate curve resembles a typical drying curve. Hence, the experimental values obtained are reliable. Technical analysis showed that the drying mass constants for prawn and oyster are 0.2950 ± 0.0119 and 0.2453 ± 0.0476, respectively.