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SELECTION OF ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR POST HARVEST PROCESSING OF

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

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 VEF Journal of Agriculture, Rural and Community Development, Vol.1, No. 2, 2014

SELECTION OF ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR POST HARVEST PROCESSING OF

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

*1OLANREWAJU, T. O., 2JEREMIAH, I.M., 3SHEHU, A.U., 4SULE, T. K. AND

5
SULEIMAN, R.

1,2,3
Agricultural Engineering and Irrigation Department, National Agricultural Extension and
Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
4
Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin
5
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
Kaduna State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author’s email: taofiqolanrewaju13@yahoo.com,
Mobile No: +2348181079742

Abstract
Medium and large scale processing of agricultural products are mostly carried out using
modern technology i.e. processing machines which operate using electric motor. The
significance of background information about electric motor required to satisfactorily operate
agricultural processing machines was considered with peculiar emphasis on power
requirements, motor types, motor characteristics and motor performance. The methods adopted
in providing information required for electric motor selection were from literatures consulted.
Electric motor selection was found to be significant and have to be incorporated in the design
and fabrication of agricultural processing equipment or machines, to avoid damage of the
agricultural products, the equipment and of the processing house through power – equipment
mismatch. Proper selection of electric motor will go a long way in transforming the nation
through numerous processing machines that use electric motor.
Key words: Electric motor, processing, machines, technology, agricultural products.

Introduction
Agricultural products, especially crops are harvested, when mature but are not mostly consumed
in the form they are harvested, hence, they require post-harvest processing. Processing of food is
the set of techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or food into other forms for
consumption by human or animal either in the home or by the food processing industry. It can be
any activity that maintains or raises the quality or alters the physical or chemical characteristics
of a „material or object, or adds to it in any way whatsoever. Processing can be as simple and
quick as washing vegetables or it can be as long and complicated as making cheese or wine.
Processing could be primary processing which is the conversion of crops into intermediate
products for either direct consumption or agro based industrial raw materials; or secondary crop
processing which is the conversion of agricultural products to another form of products different
from its original form (Olanrewaju, et al., 2009; Jaiyeoba and Ayobami, 2010). Processing of
agricultural products is essential and could be any or combination of the following as reported by
Onipede (2010); Cleaning/washing, sorting, grading, peeling, size reduction, dehusking,
cracking, fruit extraction, grinding, shelling/threshing, winnowing, decorticating, material
handling etc.

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 VEF Journal of Agriculture, Rural and Community Development, Vol.1, No. 2, 2014

Some common techniques required for food processing as mentioned above include:
i. Removal of unwanted outer layers, such as potato peeling or the skinning of peaches
ii. Mass production of food is much cheaper than individual production of meals from raw
ingredients therefore a large profit potential exist for the manufacturers and suppliers of
processed food product.
iii. Modern food processing also improves the life quality of people with allergies: diabetics
and others who cannot consume some common food elements; it also adds extra nutrients
like vitamins, minerals etc.
iv. Processed foods are often less susceptible to early spoilage than fresh foods and are better
suited for long distance transportation from the source to the consumer.
v. Food processing also includes toxin removal, preservation, marketing and distribution
tasks, and increasing food consistency. In addition, it increases seasonal availability of
many foods, enabling transportation of delicate perishable foods across long distance, and
make food safe to eat by de-activating spoilage and pathogenic micro-organism.
These consequently results to the following;
i. improvment in the quality of agricultural products
ii. reduction in products size for improved storage
iii. reduction in the quantity of farm wastage
iv. attraction to the buyers/consumers
Medium and large scale processing of agricultural products are mostly done using modern
technology i.e. processing machines, most of these machines operate using electric motor to
drive them. Driving agricultural processing machines with electric motor requires some
information(s) like speed, capacity, power rating of the machines to be driven and the electric
motor to be selected. Electric motor can be defined as a device designed to power equipment
individually or collectively using electricity as its major power and rotors in alternating current
(a.c motors), so that the current produces magnetic field like an electromagnet i.e. mechanical
energy is given to the armature or rotor of the motor, thus, the motor has converted the electrical
energy supplied into mechanical energy of the rotating armature or rotor coupled to processing
machine for agricultural products.
Objectives
The objective of this paper is to provide
i. background information(s) about electric motor required to drive agricultural
processing machines
ii. avoid machine – motor mismatch, damage of agricultural machines and the products
through voltage high or excessive energy.

Methodology
Literatures like text books, journals, proceedings, pamphlets were consulted to provide
information on electric motor required to drive agricultural processing equipment without
causing damage to the machine, product or the processing house at large.
Power for driving most agricultural machines and equipment are through an electric motor.

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 VEF Journal of Agriculture, Rural and Community Development, Vol.1, No. 2, 2014

A drive as defined by Jones (2013) is a device used with an electric motor to reduce the overall
system power consumption by varying motor speeds in applications that do not need to operate
constantly at full speed.
Electric motors can be classified in to three according to Bhattacharya and Alan (1980) which
are: Induction motor, Synchronous motor and Synchronous induction motor.
a) Induction Motor: Induction motors take about 6 – 8 times its rated full load current at the
time of starting i.e. it requires more current to start. This heavy current although may not be
dangerous for the motor because of the short duration of time during such a large current
flows through the motor windings, will cause a large drop in the line – voltage supplying the
motor. Induction motor could be cage motor or wound rotor. The cage induction motor
generally has a small starting torque and must be started light. Also, at start the motor acts
like a transformer with a short – circuited secondary, so that the starting current may be
anything up to five times normal full – loaded current. The difficulties are overcome with
wound – rotor machine by the ability to add resistance externally to the rotor circuit.
An induction motor as a nearly constant speed motor has hardly any competitor. Other types
of motors are considered only when a variable speed drive is needed. Application of three –
phase induction motors of size varying from half a kilowatt to thousands of kilowatts are
numerous. Induction motors are found everywhere from a small workshop to a large
manufacturing industry e.g. feed mills.
b) Synchronous Motor: A synchronous motor is not self – starting, therefore provision must be
made to turn the machine up to synchronous speed and then switch the supply by the starting
procedure known as synchronizing. The use of synchronous motor is severely limited by the
fact that it is not self-starting. It is generally used where starting is infrequent and where the
load is removed or is very much reduced at start. Such a motor is usually operated over a
considerable period of time without being stopped. Its main advantages are that it runs at
constant speed and also has the ability to operate at a leading power factor. Its main uses are
for driving ventilation in storage/preservation house and pumping machinery for field
irrigation where continuous running is required.
c) Synchronous Induction Motor: The synchronous induction motor combines the features of
both the synchronous motor and the induction motor. It has been seen that the wound
induction motor has a three phase distributed winding on the rotor which is brought out to
slip – rings and that the motor has the ability to start on load but what owing slip it runs at a
little less than synchronous speed and also at a lagging power factor.
Apart from the three classifications of electric motors stated by Bhattacharya and Alan (1980),
Jones (2013) reported that common type of electric motors are found in industrial motor systems, they
are squirrel cage induction motors. These motors are mostly referred to as “general-purpose motors.” The
squirrel cage name is derived from the shape of the motor‟s rotor, which is shaped like a cylinder
constructed from bars and rings, which resembles a hamster‟s cage. To optimize system efficiency, it is
very important to select the appropriate motor to meet the needs of the application i.e. processing
agricultural products.

Choice of Electric Motor

It is necessary to look at the general conditions that may limit the choice of electric motor.
i. Supply Availability: Most industrial supplies today are three phase alternating current
(a.c.), the voltage, frequency, and number of phases of the motor must suit the supply. If
direct current (d.c.) is required, it may be necessary to install costly rectifying and control

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 VEF Journal of Agriculture, Rural and Community Development, Vol.1, No. 2, 2014

equipment. Variation of voltage may be caused by long cable runs.This could affect the
speed and torque of some motors.
ii. Starting and Control: The type of motor or the type of starter may depend upon a limit
set to the starting current; the frequency of starting will influence the type of starter.
When a motor is continually being started and stopped, or where there is a long
acceleration time during starting, the equipment may have to have a continuous rating. If
speed control is required, the choice of motor will be limited to a special costly type of
alternating current (a.c.) motor or direct current (d.c.) machines with electronic control.
iii. Enclosure: The enclosure will depend upon the atmosphere in which the motor is
working. Clean air, moist atmosphere, dust, chemical vapours or exposure to gas or a
variety of other conditions will determine the type of motor enclosure provided.
iv. Rating: Most motors have a continuous rating. This is the load they can drive
continuously without overheating. If the ambient temperature is high, this load may have
to be reduced to avoid overheating. If a motor is run intermittently with enough standing
time for cooling it can be short – time rated.
v. Motor Mountings: The type of motor bearings will be determined by the position of the
motor. It may drive the load with its shaft horizontal or vertical, or excessive thrust may
occur due to the type of drive or coupling. Motors must not be placed in such a position
that surrounding structures obstruct the flow of ventilating air.
vi. Special conditions: There may be other conditions to consider, such as noise. Motors
specially designed for quiet running are often required in hospitals, hotels, for lifts, air
conditioning, office machines etc.
Characteristics of Motors
Motors at all efficiency levels can vary widely in speed, starting current, and starting torque
(Jones, 2013). A review of the characteristics of different types of motor generally used is given
below:
 Speed Characteristics
 Speed Control
 Starting Method
 Starting Torque
 Application and Remarks
When selecting the proper electric motor speed, McCoy et al., (1996) stated that one should
consider the original equipment cost and the requirements of the driven system. Generally, large
high-speed standard or energy efficient motors have improved efficiency and power factor
characteristics. Load, torque, and horsepower requirements determine the type and size of motor
required for a particular application. The physical size of an electric motor is proportional to its
torque capability, high-torque electric motors are larger and cost more.

Motors for Industrial Drives

When motors for machine drives are installed, the layout of the factory must be considered,
together with the availability of circuits, the position of control equipment, the standardization of
equipment etc.
There are two types of drives for electric motor:
a) Group drive

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 VEF Journal of Agriculture, Rural and Community Development, Vol.1, No. 2, 2014

b) Individual drive

Group drive: One large motor drives all the machines on the workshop floor, generally through
overheat shafting. Each machine is belt – driven and starting and stopping is by a fast-and-loose
pulley system on the line shaft.

Individual drive: Each machine is coupled direct to its own electric motor. There are provision
for separate circuits and control equipment for each machine and the initial costs are greater than
that of a group drive. Maintenance costs also are somewhat higher. However, the greater
flexibility of this type of drive makes it preferable to group drive in almost every case. The
running costs are less, as each motor is stopped when the machine it is driving is not in use, and
this leads to more efficient running and smaller losses.A motor normally runs at its highest
efficiency at about full load. Thus, motors should be matched to the machines they are driving.
However, there are certain preferred sizes which help both manufacturers and users to
standardize their equipment. It is to the user‟s advantage to specify a manufacturer‟s standard-
size motor.The performance of an electric motor is better enhanced when one or a combination
of any of the following are implemented:
i. Proper aligning of the electric motor
ii. Providing proper leveling and foundation for the electric motor and
iii. When there is a proper motor location and control apparatus
Conclusion
Specifying an appropriate motor for a given application is previously possible, it is necessary to
know the load characteristics; which include details like horse power (hp) requirement, staring
torque, speed variation, duty cycle, environmental condition etc. This will ensure maximal
performance of agricultural equipment, discourage equipment-motor mismatch and avoid
wastage/damage of agricultural products. This will as well encourage processors of agricultural
products in delving into conversion of their products, hence, creating abundance of food and
ultimately transforming the nation towards the practice of agriculture.

Reference
Alan, S. (1980). Electrical Power Equipment and Measurements: with Heavy Current Electrical
Applications. McGraw Hill Book Company. London.
Bhattacharya, S. K. (1980). Electrical Machines. McGraw Hills Publishing Company Limited,
New Delhi. Pp. 28 – 80.
Jaiyeoba, K. F. and Ayobami, S. J. (2010). Post-Harvest Technology and Nigeria Food Security.
A Paper Presented at the 3rd I.O.T National Conference, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
Pg. 199.
Jones, T. (2013). Motor Efficiency, Selection, and Management. A Guide book for Industrial Efficiency
Programs. Consortium for Energy Efficiency. Boston. Pp. 8 – 16.
McCoy, G.A. and Douglass, J.G. (1996). Energy Efficient Electric Motor Selection Handbook. U.S.
Department of Energy‟s Motor Challenge Program. Pp. 53 – 57.
Olanrewaju, T. O., Olawepo-Olayiwole, O. S. and Balogun, A. L. (2009). The Role of Post -
Harvest Technology towards Resolving Youth Unemployment in Nigerian Society. A
Paper Presented at the 2nd I.O.T National Conference, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
Pg. 211.

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 VEF Journal of Agriculture, Rural and Community Development, Vol.1, No. 2, 2014

Onipede, E. A. (2010). Agro-Processing and Storage of Agricultural Products. Mubo Press,

Ilorin. Pp. 11 – 14.

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