Pengaruh Kecepatan Putar Impeller terhadap Efisiensi Mesin Pencuci Beras Semi Automatis

Abstrak

Rice washing is a critical pre-processing stage in food preparation, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in rice-based products. Manual washing methods are time-consuming and inconsistent, while semi-automatic rice washing machines provide efficiency and uniformity. The impeller speed plays a significant role in determining washing efficiency, water usage, and grain integrity. This study investigates the effect of impeller rotational speed (200 rpm, 300 rpm, and 400 rpm) on the performance of a semi-automatic rice washing machine. Experiments were conducted using 15 kg of rice per trial, repeated three times for each speed variation. Parameters measured included washing time, water consumption, cleaning efficiency, and percentage of broken grains. Results show that higher impeller speed (400 rpm) reduced washing time and improved cleaning efficiency (94%) but increased broken grain percentage (6%). Lower speed (200 rpm) preserved grain integrity (2% broken grains) but required longer washing time and higher water usage. The optimal compromise was achieved at 300 rpm, balancing efficiency (90%) and grain quality (3% broken grains). These findings suggest that impeller speed adjustment is crucial for SMEs to optimize rice washing performance.