Grain Mill - Revision history

Ranisha: /* AC Grain Mills */

2022-06-14T14:27:03Z

AC Grain Mills

Ranisha: /* Further Information */

2022-06-14T14:20:48Z

Further Information

Ranisha at 13:44, 14 June 2022

2022-06-14T13:44:04Z

Ranisha at 18:52, 14 July 2020

2020-07-14T18:52:37Z

Ranisha: /* Further Information */

2020-02-11T11:12:47Z

Further Information

Ranisha: /* DC Grain Mills */

2019-03-11T15:47:19Z

DC Grain Mills

Lisafeldmann at 09:37, 23 August 2016

2016-08-23T09:37:49Z

Ranisha at 10:59, 4 March 2015

2015-03-04T10:59:15Z

Wiki Gardener at 12:08, 17 November 2014

2014-11-17T12:08:02Z

Ranisha at 12:23, 5 November 2014

2014-11-05T12:23:37Z

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 *Relatively high start-up currents require a start-up resistor which may brake easily.
 *The start-up current also means that the load (the mill) cannot be directly connected to the charge controller, but must be connected to the battery. The battery is thus not protected against deep discharge. Users must be trained to switch off the mill as soon as the charge controller indicates a deep discharge.
 Technically, one could solve this problem by including a shunt that is governed by the load contact of the charge controller and that disconnects the mill as soon as the charge controller switches off the load. However, DC shunts are very expensive.
@@ Line 52: / Line 53: @@
 These are grain mills which are operated at 230 V. Basic models can be found with suppliers of agricultural equipment. These grain mills can be operated on the national grid or on minigrids.
-In addition, these grain mills can also be driven with grid electricity or  solar energy. In case of solar, it would require an inverter and batteries.
+In addition, these grain mills can also be driven with solar energy. In case of solar, it would require an inverter and batteries.
 === Diesel-driven Grain Mills ===
@@ Line 58: / Line 59: @@
 These can, for example, be found in multi-functional platforms. In this case, the diesel motor drives the grain mill via a transmission drive.
-<br/>
+=== Retrofitted mills ===
-=== Direct drive Grain Mill (powerered by hydro) ===
+=== Hydro Mills (Direct drive Grain Mill) ===
-Grain mills can also be power by the pure rotational power of a water turbine.
+Grain mills can also be power by the pure rotational power of a water turbine. These mills are very popular in South-Asia.
 = Practical Experiences =

@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
 Grain mills must be adapted to the type of product to be milled. There are several grain mills which can be adapted to different goods, for example, wheat, maize, or sorghum. Be careful when choosing a product and test it before deployment.
-== Improper Sizing  ==
+== System sizing and financing ==
 When designing the system, one should take care of proper sizing of the mill and the associated power system.
@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 *What is the amount of grain that has to be milled on average, and in peak times? Can my (diesel / solar) system power the mill for a sufficient amount of time? Is there any seasonal variations?
 *What is the output of the mill (in kg/day)? Does the output vary in function of the type of grain?
-*What is the "catchment area" of the mill, i.e., from how far will people come to mill their products? Is there another competing mill in the nearby area?
+*What is the "catchment area" of the mill, i.e., from how far will people come to mill their products?
 *What is the texture of the flour needed (i.e, do they need course or finely grained)? Can my mill technology produce this result?
-*For off-grid solar mills, what is the irradiance profile of the area? Is there a need to add batteries to meet the demand?
+*For off-grid solar mills, what is the irradiation profile of the area? Is there a need to add batteries to meet the demand?
 Answering these questions will require technical / engineering knowledge (system design etc.), but also knowledge of people's habits.
-<br/>
+For financing of the system, following key questions need to be considered:
 = Impact =
-Grain milling can greatly ease workload on women, as women are usually in charge of milling by hand with the help of a mortar and pestle.
+Grain milling can greatly ease workload on women, as women are usually in charge of milling by hand with the help of a mortar and pestle. Having a grain mill in the village also reduces the travel travel for both men and women compared to a scenario where they previously had to travel to nearby villages.
 = Further Information =
 *[[Portal:Water and Energy for Food|Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) portal on energypedia]]
-*[[Publication_-_Solar_Milling:_Exploring_Market_Requirements_to_Close_the_Commercial_Viability_Gap|Publication - Solar Milling: Exploring Market Requirements to Close the Commercial Viability Gap]]<br/>
+*[[Publication_-_Solar_Milling:_Exploring_Market_Requirements_to_Close_the_Commercial_Viability_Gap|Publication - Solar Milling: Exploring Market Requirements to Close the Commercial Viability Gap]]
+*[[Milling as a Productive Application in Green Mini-Grid (GMG) Systems]]
-<br/>
+*[[Implementing a Productive Use Grant Scheme in Uganda]]<br />
 = References<br/> =

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= Overview<br/> =
+= Overview =
-To prepare the cereals for further processing, the chaff has to be separated from grain, either manually with a winnowing tray or mechanically by a powered shaker or grinder. Mechanical power is also available for dehusking rice or shelling maize as an alternative to manual work with rice hullers or huskers and maize shellers. The same applies to other cereals and crops for which special machinery has been or is being developed. Bran as a by-product of dehulling cereals is a source of income if sold as poultry feed and other animal feed.<br/>
+To prepare the cereals for further processing, the chaff has to be separated from grain, either manually with a winnowing tray or mechanically by a powered shaker or grinder. Mechanical power is also available for dehusking rice or shelling maize as an alternative to manual work with rice hullers or huskers and maize shellers. The same applies to other cereals and crops for which special machinery has been or is being developed. Bran as a by-product of dehulling cereals is a source of income if sold as poultry feed and other animal feed. Milling transforms grain into flour for food preparation. The main crops that are milled are maize, rice, sorghum, teff and millet, using hammer or plate mills. Although demand may be highest during the harvest season, grain milling is required throughout the year as many households keep a stock of grain.
-<br/>Milling transforms grain into flour for food preparation. The main crops that are milled are maize, rice, sorghum, teff and millet, using hammer or plate mills. A hammer mill crushes aggregate material into smaller pieces with hammers (beaters) made from hardened alloy steel which are rectangular for efficient grinding. Hammer mills are also used to pulverise by-products of coconuts (copra), palm kernels & other oil seeds (press cake). Wheat is milled with roller mills but these are too expensive for small-scale operations. Although demand may be highest during the harvest season, grain milling is required throughout the year as many households keep a stock of grain<br/>
+Mills can be powered directly by transforming energy from sources such as wind or water or by electricity generated from a combination of fossil fuel-fired generators with wind or hydro power. Without electricity, grain mills are often driven by diesel motors, for example, in the so-called multi-functional platforms.
 = Technologies =
@@ Line 16: / Line 12: @@
 *concerning the way the motor is driven
-<br/>
+== Mill Technologies based on the product milled ==
-== Mill Technologies<br/> ==
+'''Plate mills''': In a plate mill, the grain is passed between plates which rotate to ground the flour and the fineness of the flour can be controlled in this type of mills. Normally, these mills produce coarser flour as compared to hammer mills. <ref>International Labour Organization and World Employment Programme, “Plate, Hammer and Stone Mills.”</ref>
-Hammer mills etc.
+'''Stone mills''': Two milestones are aligned one top of another, such that there is a hole in the center to add the grain. The milestone are then rotated to ground the flour and the flour travels to the periphery of the stones. <ref>International Labour Organization and World Employment Programme, “Plate, Hammer and Stone Mills.”</ref>
-<br/>
+== Drive Technologies ==
-== Drive Technologies<br/> ==
+[[File:Milling.png]]
-=== DC Grain Mills<br/> ===
+=== DC Grain Mills ===
 These are the so-called «&nbsp;solar&nbsp;» grain mills. For the sake of this article, a solar grain mill is a grain mill that is driven by direct current. The grain mill is used in a solar system that consists of the basic components (PV panels, batteries, charge controller, load). Common voltage levels are 12 V and 24 V.
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
-=== AC Grain Mills<br/> ===
 These are grain mills which are operated at 230 V. Basic models can be found with suppliers of agricultural equipment. These grain mills can be operated on the national grid or on minigrids.
-In addition, these grain mills can also be driven with solar energy. This use case would require an inverter and batteries.
+In addition, these grain mills can also be driven with grid electricity or  solar energy. In case of solar, it would require an inverter and batteries.
-<br/>
+=== Diesel-driven Grain Mills ===
 These can, for example, be found in multi-functional platforms. In this case, the diesel motor drives the grain mill via a transmission drive.
@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 <br/>
-=== Direct drive Grain Mill<br/> ===
+=== Direct drive Grain Mill (powerered by hydro) ===
 Grain mills can also be power by the pure rotational power of a water turbine.
 = Practical Experiences =
@@ Line 79: / Line 77: @@
 ► [[Senegal Energy Situation|Senegal Energy Situation]]
 = Pitfalls =
 == Product Alteration<br/> ==
+[[File:Millet before and after milling.JPG|thumb|right|124px|Millet before and after milling]]
 *Grain mills may alter characteristics of the good that is milled.
 *The size of the resulting powder may be different from the size people are used to from other milling techniques. This can result in changes in the way the product can be used for food preparation and / or changes in taste.
 *In addition, grain may become hot in the grain mill and thus change its taste.
-<br/>
+== Types of Grain that can be Milled ==
 Grain mills must be adapted to the type of product to be milled. There are several grain mills which can be adapted to different goods, for example, wheat, maize, or sorghum. Be careful when choosing a product and test it before deployment.
-== Improper Sizing<br/> ==
+== Improper Sizing  ==
 When designing the system, one should take care of proper sizing of the mill and the associated power system.
@@ Line 110: / Line 95: @@
 <u>Key questions to be considered include:</u>
-*What is the amount of grain that has to be milled on average, and in peak times? Can my (diesel / solar) system power the mill for a sufficient amount of time?
+*What is the amount of grain that has to be milled on average, and in peak times? Can my (diesel / solar) system power the mill for a sufficient amount of time? Is there any seasonal variations?
 *What is the output of the mill (in kg/day)? Does the output vary in function of the type of grain?
-*What is the "catchment area" of the mill, i.e., from how far will people come to mill their products?
+*What is the "catchment area" of the mill, i.e., from how far will people come to mill their products? Is there another competing mill in the nearby area?
 Answering these questions will require technical / engineering knowledge (system design etc.), but also knowledge of people's habits.
@@ Line 120: / Line 107: @@
 = Impact =
 Grain milling can greatly ease workload on women, as women are usually in charge of milling by hand with the help of a mortar and pestle.
 = Further Information =

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 = Overview<br/> =
@@ Line 128: / Line 127: @@
 = Further Information =
-*[[Portal:Powering Agriculture|Powering Agriculture Portal on energypedia]]
+*[[Portal:Water and Energy for Food|Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) portal on energypedia]]
 *[[Publication_-_Solar_Milling:_Exploring_Market_Requirements_to_Close_the_Commercial_Viability_Gap|Publication - Solar Milling: Exploring Market Requirements to Close the Commercial Viability Gap]]<br/>
@@ Line 138: / Line 137: @@
 <references />
 [[Category:Lessons_Learned]]

@@ Line 124: / Line 124: @@
 <br/>
 = Further Information =
 *[[Portal:Powering Agriculture|Powering Agriculture Portal on energypedia]]
 <br/>
 = References<br/> =

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 *Requires battery maintenance.
-<br/>
+{{#widget:YouTube|id=xWgevfqIvdU|height=400|width=800}}
 === AC Grain Mills<br/> ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 = Overview<br/> =
@@ Line 71: / Line 72: @@
 One of the first conclusion of the project was to not underestimate the amount of work necessary in the beginning to make the productive use work.
--> Please see a presentation [[:File:GIZ_Im_Abseits_der_Netze_012011_Senegal_Peracod_PU_Wegener.pdf| here]] on some issues with solar grain mills in Senegal.
+► Please see a presentation [[:File:GIZ Im Abseits der Netze 012011 Senegal Peracod PU Wegener.pdf|here]] on some issues with solar grain mills in Senegal.
--> [[Senegal_Energy_Situation|Senegal Energy Situation]]
+► [[Senegal Energy Situation|Senegal Energy Situation]]
 <br/>
@@ Line 89: / Line 90: @@
 == Types of Grain that can be Milled<br/> ==
-Grain mills must be adapted to the type of product to be milled. There are several grain mills which can be adapted to different goods, for example, wheat, maize, or sorghum. Be careful when choosing a product and test it before deployment.
+{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" border="0" style="width: 100%"
 == Improper Sizing<br/> ==
-When designing the system, one should take care of proper sizing of the mill and the associated power system. <u>Key questions to be considered include:</u>
+When designing the system, one should take care of proper sizing of the mill and the associated power system. <u></u>
 *What is the amount of grain that has to be milled on average, and in peak times? Can my (diesel / solar) system power the mill for a sufficient amount of time?
 *What is the output of the mill (in kg/day)? Does the output vary in function of the type of grain?
@@ Line 109: / Line 118: @@
 <br/>
 = References<br/> =
@@ Line 114: / Line 129: @@
 <references />
 [[Category:Impacts]]

@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 <references />
-[[Category:Lessons_Learned]]
+[[Category:Impacts]]
-[[Category:Powering_Agriculture]]
+[[Category:Agriculture]]
 [[Category:Senegal]]
 [[Category:Food_and_Agriculture]]
-[[Category:Impacts]]
+[[Category:Powering_Agriculture]]
-[[Category:Agriculture]]
+[[Category:Lessons_Learned]]