Effect of Some Operating Parameters on Wheat Size Reduction Process During the First Break Rollers

Abstract

In this study, the effects of roll speed and roll gap on wheat size reduction process were studied; the physical properties of wheat kernels were also determined for the initial moisture content. Selected roll speed levels were 500 and 525 rpm, while roll gap levels at the nip point were 0.6, 0.7, and 0.8 mm. Size reduction experiments were carried out for Soft White Winter (SWW) wheat. The geometric mean diameter, thickness dimension, thousand kernel mass, bulk density, and NIR hardness index of wheat kernels at the 13.07% d.b. of moisture content were 3.88 mm, 2.81 mm, 43.03 g, 816.20 kg m-3, and 40, respectively. Protein content of wheat kernels was also determined as 9.0% d.b. On the other hand particle size distribution was not generally affected by roll speed statistically, while it was statistically affected by roll gap (p<0.01). © 2017, Centenary University. All rights reserved.