Development of Solar Based Apple Fruit Juice Extractor

Abstract

The research focuses on the development and testing of a solar-based apple fruit juice extractor. Solar panels provide power to the machine, which has overall dimensions of 393 mm X 220 mm X 581 mm and comprises two main compartments: the screw press compartment and the juice extracting compartment. Other components include feeding hoppers, juice sieve, juice collector, waste outlet, transmission belt, and main frame. In operation, apple fruit is introduced into the machine through the first hopper, sliced, and passed into the extracting compartment via the second hopper. The screw press crushes and squeezes the fruit slices to extract the juice, which is filtered through the sieve into the juice collector, while the residual waste is discharged through the waste outlet. At an optimum machine speed of 2400 rpm and a 6 cm blade length, the developed apple fruit juice extractor achieved a juice recovery of 73.60% with a juice extraction efficiency of 92.08%. This machine attained a capacity of 1.326 liters per hour with an 80-watt solar panel.