1kg home roaster

[matt_Hellyar]

Re: 1kg home roaster

now have motorised stirrer in the cooling tray, will post photos when I get a chance

[Dimal]

Re: 1kg home roaster

I am planning to build some kind of mesh catcher in the box to catch the chaff. at the moment it is just landing in the box on the fan housing.

Or... :

You could make yourself a simple Cyclone to separate the chaff out into a dedicated container. Not that difficult to do Matt

Mal.

[matt_Hellyar]

Re: 1kg home roaster

Ill think about it Mal.

[lindsayra]

Re: 1kg home roaster

Hi Mal,

You could make yourself a simple Cyclone to separate the chaff out into a dedicated container. Not that difficult to do Matt

Mal.

Wondering if you have come across any construction plans for a small cyclone?

After Google researching cyclones, I have been playing with a roughly made clear PVC prototype cyclone just to see if chaff could be effectively separated with a small cyclone.
If I could find a pattern that was satisfactory, and doable in metal, able to be used with inexpensive components, would probably have a go at making it.

Kind Regards
Lindsay

[Dimal]

Re: 1kg home roaster

Did you find this one Lindsay?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclonic_separation

Theres also this Google Book which seems very informative... http://tinyurl.com/yzw9wkc

And this one.... http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyc...yclonePlan.cfm

Then this handy online tool... http://www.ajdesigner.com/phpcyclone...l_velocity.php

Theres no simple one size fits all with this area of fluid dynamics mate as there are too many variables to take into account. A simple way to arrive at cyclone dimensions that will work in any given situation, is to use sheets of cardboard and adhesive tape. You just keep altering the dimensions until you achieve what youre looking for and once found, use the cardboard as a template to make a sheet metal cyclonic separator and Bobs your uncle....

Mal.

[speleomike]

Re: 1kg home roaster

Hi

I was thinking ... if your going to experiment and build a cyclone then youll need some chaf to mix with air and blow into the device for testing to see if your cyclone separats it from the air. Now that I have a bigger roaster I can sell you some bags of chaf for testing and that will help me to cover my green bean costs :-)

PS. See if you can get a look at a cyclone from a small Garanti or Toper. The inlet and outlet are big enough that you could probably see inside with a torch and feel around with your hands to see/feel how they are made.

Mike

[lindsayra]

Re: 1kg home roaster

Hi Mike,

Youre a man after my own heart, but Im fully stocked with chaff, after saving from 3or4 roasts.
On the cyclone, Im too familiar with what is inside but, sizing, scaling and construction may not be as easy as finding a new Uncle Bob and I dont have one in stock.

Did you find this one Lindsay?
And this one....etc.

Theres no simple one size fits all with this area of fluid dynamics mate as there are too many variables to take into account. A simple way to arrive at cyclone dimensions that will work in any given situation, is to use sheets of cardboard and adhesive tape. You just keep altering the dimensions until you achieve what youre looking for and once found, use the cardboard as a template to make a sheet metal cyclonic separator and Bobs your uncle....  

Hi Mal,
Yes, Yes, No, No.
I wanted a quick no thinking solution, but was forced into a limited amount of thinking, but I am not equipped for much more.
I have been working with a sheet of clear stiff PVC, some PET pieces duct tape and vacuum cleaner, similarly to your description but without Bob as my Uncle, limited time and abilities it is not that easy.
Easier alternatives are looking rosier all the time.

Thanks for your efforts and encouragement.
Im not sure whether Im flogging a very unwell horse or a dead horse, one thing Im very sure of though is; its not and never was a cup winner.
Cheers
Lindsay

[Dimal]

Re: 1kg home roaster

Hi Lindsay....

Have you constructed a separate cylindrical vortex chamber above the cone, where the air flow enters tangentially? Also, you need to play with the height above the vortex where the air exhausts after losing rotational energy.... This one can be a little tricky to get right but if you dont have the time to play around with it, I guess its not going to be something youll want to do.

You also need to be careful not to make the hole at the bottom of the cone too large otherwise too much air volume will be lost and thereby peripheral velocity. You really need to have some idea of the air velocity and volume, entering the vortex chamber so that you can predetermine to some extent, the ratio of the cross-sectional area between the main exhaust above the vortex chamber and the particle discharge hole at the bottom of the cone. These things always work best if you allow some of the air flow to assist the carriage of the solids.

Anyway, as you can no doubt appreciate, there isnt going to be a single plan that will do it for all situations and hardware arrangements, youre really going to have to come up with a plan to suit your setup....

All the best
Mal.

[matt_Hellyar]

Re: 1kg home roaster

thanks for the suggestion Mal, I have looked into it and thought about it and am keen to try building a cyclone, but it wont be for a while. im flat out with work, and Im pretty happy with the current setup.

Matt

[matt_Hellyar]

Re: 1kg home roaster

here are a couple pics of my cooler stirrer in action.

I just gave it its first proper run this morning with 750g of beans. Im happy with how it worked. after they had cooled I put a blue test bean in to see how much it moved around in the other beans, very happy with the results.

it runs on a battery operated bbq spit roast motor mounted onto the under side of the cooling tray. I have wired in to a transformer instead of batteries.

[WSullivan]

Re: 1kg home roaster

could we have a pick without beans please matt, looks the goods!

[matt_Hellyar]

Re: 1kg home roaster

here you go

[redzone121]

Re: 1kg home roaster

Wicked Skills Matt 8-)

[Luke_G]

Re: 1kg home roaster

Hey Matt!

I just got back from a 10 day holliday and jumped on here to see what i have missed... Youve been busy havnt you?

Just wondering when youll be at Marks roastery again? I can take some of your beans home with me to sample them on my home set up if you like? Are you still using the PNG peaberry?

Luke

[matt_Hellyar]

Re: 1kg home roaster

hey Luke, I should be there on monday night. (need more beans)
Ill bring a bag for you to sample.

Matt