DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF AN IMPROVED STEAM RICE PARBOILER

Abstract

The presence of broken grains and uneven colorations are major problems confronting rice processing in Nigeria. As such an improved paddy rice parboiler that uses steam for the parboiling process was developed and its performance evaluated. The conventional paddy parboilers used by most rice processors in Nigeria usually takes longer time for soaking and steaming processes thereby inducing unwanted coloration in the rice when milled, high rate of broken grains and enormous amount of energy consumed during the parboiling process. Therefore, the development of an improved parboiling system will help reduce the limitations associated with the conventional parboiling methods. The machine developed consists of a cylindrical boiler having vertical pressure pipes for faster heat circulation, chimney, various valves, steam distribution pipes and a rectangular steamer. The output capacity of developed machine was 300 kg/h which is faster and more efficient compared to the other conventional methods.