Development of a machine to control the level of washing in panca chili seeds

Abstract

The washing of Panca chili seeds requires innovative solutions that allow controlling this process. It is necessary to handle variables (conductivity, pH, colorimetry) in the face of the challenge of working with small seeds. At present, there are no machines that are dedicated to the washing of this type of seeds, since in many companies this work is done manually, which is not the one indicated because this technique cannot guarantee homogeneity in the seed washing. In addition, direct handling of this type of seeds can cause irritation to the eyes and skin of the person who maintains contact with the seeds. That is why, it is proposed to make a machine to scale by means of a motorized rotary agitator inside a tank, in order to guarantee the homogeneity of the mixture when washing seeds. The present work will allow to determine, among two different types of agitators (axial and radial), which type of agitator is the most efficient in the washing of seeds of Panca chili, to achieve this objective the measurement of pH and electrical conductivity to the water will be carried after the mixture, after stirring. Finally, the analysis of the tests performed on the mixture obtained and washed by each type of agitator allowed to identify the turbine-type radial agitator, like the one that obtained greater efficiency in the washing of seeds, with respect to the helical agitator and pallets, designed for development of this work, in turn, could also confirm that this type of palette with the conductivity control allows to guarantee the homogeneity of the mixture during washing. © 2021, The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.