Testing and Evaluation of Rice Milling Machine Based on Thai Industrial Standard

Abstract

Testing and evaluation of rice milling machine based on Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) was aimed to study the system components of a rice mill, test the performance and efficiency of rice milling machines, analyze the economics cost and suggest for the improvement of rice mill operation. Eight rice mills were selected namely 1. Banthongkuem Rice Mill 2. Bangbungtake Community Enterprise Rice Mill 3. Jedeehak Community Center Rice Mill 4. Bansrichula Community Rice Mill 5. Bungkasam Rice Mill 6. Bankomailai Community Center Rice Mill 7. Phromchaiphatthana Community Rice Mill and 8. Banyoihai Community Rice Mill. The study parameters were the milling rice recovery, the head rice recovery, the percentage of polishing, the percentage of whole grains; and the milling capacity. The research study was conducted based on Thai Industrial Standards 888-2532. According to the testing and evaluation of rice milling machines, the milling capacity varied between 0.08-0.5 tons of paddy per hour. The milling rice recovery and the head rice recovery ranged between 65-93 percent and 50-71 percent, respectively. These parameters were higher than Thai Industrial Standards. The economics cost analysis showed that the breakeven points of the eight rice mills were 145, 168, 72, 187, 140, 30, 64 and 28 tons of paddy per year, respectively. Considering the contract rate of 200 baht per hour, the payback periods were 5.4, 4.3, 2.8, 5.3, 2.8, 2.4, 3.3 and 1.2 year, respectively.