The study mainly aimed to develop a roasted cacao cracker and nib separator and evaluate its performance in producing cacao nibs in terms of input capacity, output capacity, blower loss, hulling efficiency, cacao nibs' recovery and purity. The machine was subjected to three varying huller adjustments and two different air velocities in suction speed. The data gathered were analyzed using two factorial CRD and comparison among treatment mean were subjected to DMRT at a 5% level of significance.
The analysis showed that suction speed and huller adjustment did not significantly affect the input capacity, hulling efficiency, blower loss, cacao nibs’ recovery and purity. Furthermore, suction speed and huller adjustment significantly affect the output capacity of 27.5Okg/hr. Based on the performance of the machine, the suction speed and huller adjustment were recommended.
Lastly, the economic analysis showed the machine has a unit cost of 27.02 Php/kg. The payback period and return on investment were 1.14 years and 695.49%. respectively

Thesis (Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering - AB Machinery and Power Engineering)

Includes bibliographical references and appendices