What is the common issues when using a machine?
When testing the machine in-house, a few problems might appear:
- Vibration or intense noise in the chamber;
- Overheating of bearings or belt;
- Low production;
- Motor overheated;
- Finished products are too coarse.
Machine operation requires safety use. We provide hands-on training and troubleshooting to local farmers before purchasing.
What is flour Grade 1 and Grade 2 mean in Africa?
In Kenya, people prefer Grade 1 maize flour for ugali meal. Somehow Grade 2 proved to be more healthy and nutritious ( a bit hard to cook and takes longer).
With PSS maize huller and mill, you can process whatever flour yourself.
When connecting a 48V solar system to small-scale agro-food processing machinery, what is the requirement?
We suggest that before connects parts as a complete system, makes good use of a test meter and checks if each part is giving the expected voltage, etc...
On any solar system, connecting the battery circuit first and then the solar panel circuit is always recommended.
Sometimes the solar controller needs to register the voltage from the battery set and then determine the charge rate for the system.
What is the difference between a BLDC motor and an AC motor?
-BLDC refers to a Brushless DC electric motor
A BLDC is much more efficient and energy-efficient than an AC motor with the same load and production requirements.
For example, we fit a 2.2 Kw AC motor to our standard Plate/Hammer mills for processing, say, Maize flour, but the same machine doing the same work we fit off a 1.3Kw BLDC motor and controller.
When this lower power requirement and, very significantly, the reduced in-rush (start-up power) is factored in, we can specify a much smaller solar supply and energy storage system.
How much testing have you conducted on solar-powered mini-grids with your mill?
We have tested these machines for over 20 years and found them practical and robust in many situations.
In East Africa, the normal use of the machine is for maize flour production. Still, in other regions of the world (Pacific, Asia, and America ), we have seen them utilized for many different processes (spices, herbs, cassava, millet, wheat, etc...)
We have supplied PUE machines to promote farm mechanization and electrification in various power configurations: AC 110/240V, DC12V, DC 24V, and DC 48V.
Do we need a separate solar system to run the mill machine？ Or can the mills run directly off a panel as well？
Most of our PUE machines need grid electricity or a solar power system.
Some smaller machines can be configured to run directly from a solar panel array, like water pumping equipment for irrigation, or into a storage tank is a good example of this.
But in most situations where we are using a machine for a work process, it is more efficient and productive to have an energy storage system available.
Is the power required continuously? What’s the peak power of the machines?
For our range of DC machinery, the power requirement is the peak power, and continuous running under load would be the same or under this rating.
For our AC range, the power requirement is the continuous running power under load at startup;
The AC motors will require significant additional power (as much as 10-12 times the running power in some instances), and a supply system needs to be specified to handle this inrush.
What Does AC and DC Mean in Electricity ?
When talking about electrical current, AC stands for “alternating current” and DC stands for “direct current.”
Alternating current is the type of current that comes from a power plant and outlet, in which the current changes directions rapidly. Direct current is the type of current that comes from a battery, where the current is always flowing in the same direction.
Solar panels produce DC electricity because the electrons flow in a single direction, from the panel's negative terminal to its positive terminal.
This DC electricity can be used directly to power DC devices or can be converted into AC (Alternating Current) power using a device called an inverter.
AC power is the standard form of electricity used in most homes and businesses, so inverters are used to convert the DC power generated by solar panels into AC power that can be used to run household appliances and feed back into the electrical grid.
So, while solar energy generation begins with the production of DC power, it can be transformed into AC power for practical use in our homes and businesses.
What is a DOL motor starter?
DOL protects the motor on start-up but cannot significantly reduce the inrush current at start-up.
If your mini-grid supply lines and inverter equipment are robust enough to handle very high inrush, then just a DOL is ok, as is the case with most grid-connected applications (single phase or 3 phase)
We have found that many mini-grids need to be built with the ability to handle heavy inrush for conventional AC motors, and as you suggest, a true soft starter is required.
We can supply DOL and soft starters, but it is always best if your internal engineers are involved in the specification to match your particular system requirements.
We've deployed hundreds of 7 different solar mills created for various staple crops in over 500 villages across countries, and we've learned a lot from it and hope to build on it in the coming years as well.
What do we mean by PURE-Ag?
PURE stands for productive use of renewable energy. This could refer to any source of power created in an environmentally sustainable way: solar, wind, wave, thermal, etc...
Ag(agriculture) focuses on productive equipment to support agriculture and food production
What is small-scale food processing machinery?
Small-scale food processing machinery is equipment and machines designed for smaller production operations.
These machines generate income for small businesses, local producers, or individuals who use food processing on a smaller scale businesses.
Small-scale food processing machinery is essential for local and artisanal food production, allowing producers to transform raw ingredients into finished products more efficiently and consistently.
Here are some common examples of small-scale food processing machinery:
Grinders and Mills: Used for grinding grains, spices, and other ingredients. This includes equipment like grain mills, spice grinders, and coffee grinders.
Oil Presses: Used to extract oil from seeds and nuts. Small-scale oil presses are often employed for producing specialty oils.
Feed pellet machine: Can process a wide range of materials like grains, straw, and agro wastes for animals.
These machines support local and artisanal food production, allowing small businesses to create unique, high-quality fo
What do we offer for our business partners in Kenya?
- Product knowledge and technical training
- Introduction to Productive Solar Solutions (PSS) Kenya and our commitment to sustainable agriculture
- In-depth explanation of each machine's features, applications, and benefits
- Highlighting AC and DC formats, power parameters, and usage versatility
- Practical demonstrations of machine setup, operation, and maintenance
- Emphasis on safety procedures and handling guidelines
- Identifying common issues and solutions
- Demonstrating routine maintenance to ensure longevity and optimal performance
