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Development of a Low-cost Ice Crusher for Raw Fish Storage

Muhammad Ashik-E-Rabbani
Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Kaniz Tamanna
Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abu Kawsar Ahmed
Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Sazzad Mahmud Rifat
Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Md. Samiul Basir
Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

A. K. M. Sadiqul Alam
Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

A. N. M. Arifur Rahman
Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The fisheries sector in Bangladesh undergoes various post-harvest problems: the high post-harvest loss of fish. As fish is highly perishable, it needs proper handling, processing, and distribution in time. Ice is the major and primary material that is used in Bangladesh for fish preservation. Different methods are used for crushing ice. In the traditional method, ice is crushed with a heavy load by hand. This method is very laborious and most often does not provide a uniform shape. So, an attempt was taken to develop a low-cost ice crusher machine in the Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Based on the design and drawing, the machine was manufactured. Necessary materials to construct the machine were collected from the local market. The machine throughput capacity of the developed ice crusher was found 854.85 kg/hr. with an overall loss of 10.5%. Based on the test parameters, the machine performance was found satisfactory. The machine construction cost was estimated as Tk 11048. The operating cost for ice crushing was calculated, and it was found to be Tk 0.07/kg. This machine was simple at construction and the cost is also low, which indicates that the machine is suitable input for ice crushing to the marginal user. Where electricity is not available and large commercial heavy ice crushers are not available, this machine can be very suitable

Keywords: Low cost, Raw fish-storage, Ice-crusher, Machine capacity

Location: Department of Farm Power and Machinery workshop, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Farm machineries

Objectives:

To develop a low-cost ice block crusher and to test the ice block crusher performance.

Methodology:

The machine has two (Human power and electric motor) optional sources of power. In case of availability of electricity, an electric motor can operate the machine. On the other hand, the arrangement of the handle can be made by manual power. Its function is to feed the ice block and then carry the ice block to the crushing chamber. The inclined inert flat plate of this unit helps to slide down the ice block easily. This unit's function is to crush the ice block with spikes attached to the rotating cylinder. The beating force of these spikes depends on the power being supplied. This unit holds a simple arrangement to let the crushed ice be passed out from the crushing unit directly to the bucket or any other collecting device. The idea of crusher speed to crush the ice block was generated by observing the crusher speed of the available ice crusher found locally. The rated speed was found on an average of 472 rpm. Based on this output, the desired crusher speed was considered, and the power transmission system was arranged based on this speed. The machine was constructed at the Department of Farm Power and Machinery workshop, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The whole machine can be divided into five fundamental parts to explain the construction as follows. This unit consists of a 6mm thick MS sheet formed in a rectangular shape of 22 ' ×16.5 '. The outer sides of the sheet were joined with a 1.5 angle bar to support the ice while feeding is done. The whole feeding unit is 45° inclined with the horizontal surface to allow the ice's sliding effect to fall due to its weight while feeding is done. At the lower end of the unit, there is a 16.5 ' long MS Rod of 6mm thickness which will help the feed ice hold until it has been fully crushed. At first, four holes were made on each MS plate with the help of a gas cutter. Then with the help of a lathe machine, 28 no’s of individual bush pipe of 1? length and 1.25” diameter were made. Then the main shaft was attached to the plates with the help of a welding machine. An equal distance of 7.5 ? was maintained from each plate to another plate. Then the bush pipe holding shafts were joined to each hole of the three plates. To attach the spikes, welding was done individually. Totally two series of spikes holding by the shaft were made. Finally, two pieces of the tin sheet were attached to the whole arrangement forming a cylindrical shape of 17“diameters. This final arrangement provided a movable cylinder having 1” spikes in working condition while beating the ice block. The developed machine was tested at the FPM workshop, BAU, Mymensingh. At first, the machine was placed on a flat concrete surface. A bamboo basket covered with a plastic sheet was then placed just under the bottom of the machine outlet. The weight of a single ice block was measured. With the help of human power, the handle connected with the crushing unit was moved, and the ice block was fed into the feeding unit. Right at that time, both the feeding and crushing time were measured using the stopwatch. When the crushing was completed, the weight of the crushed ice including the basket was measured. The size of different-sized ice was measured with a slide caliper to identify the crushed ice size. During this process, plastic gloves were put on the hands to minimize the melting process of ice. The step-by-step attempts of testing the crusher are shown in the figures below.

Source of Information: J. Sci. Technol. Environ. Inform. 11(01): 727-735, 2021

Article Link (Online Journal): http://dx.doi.org/10.18801/jstei.110121.73

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

As it was a first-time attempt to develop an ice crusher machine for fish storage purposes, the research outcome was quite suitable with a new experience. The two purposes were fulfilled quite satisfactorily and the whole research approached the following findings just after the completion of the research work. A low-cost ice crusher machine was developed, having a very simple and easy operation system. The developed ice crusher machine provided the advantage of being easily portable. The developed crusher provided a great cost-saving opportunity rather than paying the bill for electricity. The machine capacity of the developed machine was 854.85 kg/hr. The crushing time for a single ice block was found at 38 sec and the feeding time was almost 34.5sec. The machine provided three different sized pieces of ice as 1.02 cm, 3.55 cm, and 5.72 cm for small, medium, and large sizes. Another noticeable outcome of the developed ice crusher was the crushed ice duration, which was 69hr. The cost analysis provided the cost of crushing as 0.07tk/kg for the developed crusher.

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