Study of Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Separation Machines for the Strength of Fibers

Using natural fibers helps reduce the use of fibers separated from environmentally harmful materials. Also, natural fibers reduce agricultural waste and add uniqueness to the fibers. Therefore, the objective of this research was to develop the fiber separation machine and test the efficiency of hemp fiber separation as a tool for peeling hemp fiber. The fiber separation machine consists of a beating blade assembly, a feed chute, a power transmission unit, and a waste discharge chute for the leftover material after fiber extraction. Test factors are as follows: preparation of hemp stalks (mashed stem and no mashed stem), water absorption (6, 12 hr), blade angle (0°, 15°), a set of feeds (1, 2, 3 stems), and speeds of blade (300, 400, 500 rpm). The developed hemp fiber separator effectively separates fibers from hemp stalks. Optimal performance was achieved by pre-crushing the stalks, soaking them for 6 hours, and using a blade angle of 0° at 400 rpm. With a feed rate of two stems, the machine achieved a capacity of 5.52 kg/hr, a separation efficiency of 98.20%, a post-separation loss of 0.98%, and a fiber strength of 3008.83 cN. In the operation of the machine, it consumes 0.40 kW/hr. The payback period for the hemp fiber separator is approximately 1.5 months. The fibers obtained are standardized and can provide more options for textile products, allowing communities to achieve sustainable self-reliance.