VOLUME 18 NUMBER 1 (January to June 2025)

Performance of a locally developed automated screw-type charcoal briquetting machine

The study aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of an automated screw-type charcoal briquetting machine using four (4) different auger speeds and to conduct a simple cost analysis of the machine. All of the gathered data was analyzed using a single factorial experiment arranged in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and replicated three (3) times. Based on the result, the performance of the machine and the quality of the produced briquette were significantly affected by the auger speed. Furthermore, the machine obtained the highest output capacity, lowest energy consumption rate, and fastest kindling time when the auger speed was 188 - 194 rpm with a treatment means of 91.53 kg/h, 0.50 kWh, and 2.58 mins, respectively, while at 113 – 116 rpm, the machine attained the optimum briquetting efficiency and produced high-density briquettes, highest moisture resistance, highest shattering resistance and most prolonged time of burning with a treatment means of 94.70%, 0.94 g/cc, 95.43%, 99.79% and 2.38 h, respectively. The machine’s total cost was P33,993.75, with an annual net income of P44,773.45 with a payback period of 8.18 months. In addition, the machine's benefit-cost ratio and return on investment were 1.01 and 128.77 %, respectively.