Modified Commercial Burr Mill for Production of Turmeric Powder

Commercial burr mill traditionally used for making grain (wheat, Bengal gram etc.) flour was modified and evaluated for the production of turmeric powder. Powder was produced by grinding turmeric rhizomes in three successive passes in the mill. Two spiral splines made of 6 x 8 x 45 mm M.S rod with 180° phase difference welded to the existing shaft near feeding section has increased the capacity for size reduction of turmeric rhizomes in first pass from 15 to 70 kg/h. Value of fineness modulus decreased from 6.76 to 5.58 for size reduction in the first pass. Total energy consumption also reduced from 10.33 x 10³ kJ to 9.90 x 10³ kJ. Economic analysis, based on the data collected showed that about 50% reduction in production cost, i.e., from Re. 0.60/kg to Re. 0.30/kg. of power was achieved by using the modified mill.