Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks

Abstract Date seed grinding remains a significant challenge limiting the utilization of this valuable agricultural by-product." In this study, a compact date seeds grinding unit was designed, tested, and evaluated. The machine has two primary: a pair of toothed cylinders and a hammer mill. The...

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Main Authors: Khaled Abdeen Mousa Ali, Changyou Li, Wang Han, Sali Issa, Mohamed Hamdy Eid, Samy F. Mahmoud, Marwa Abd-Elnaby Mohammed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87508-4
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author Khaled Abdeen Mousa Ali
Changyou Li
Wang Han
Sali Issa
Mohamed Hamdy Eid
Samy F. Mahmoud
Marwa Abd-Elnaby Mohammed
author_facet Khaled Abdeen Mousa Ali
Changyou Li
Wang Han
Sali Issa
Mohamed Hamdy Eid
Samy F. Mahmoud
Marwa Abd-Elnaby Mohammed
author_sort Khaled Abdeen Mousa Ali
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Date seed grinding remains a significant challenge limiting the utilization of this valuable agricultural by-product." In this study, a compact date seeds grinding unit was designed, tested, and evaluated. The machine has two primary: a pair of toothed cylinders and a hammer mill. The machine’s performance was assessed in terms of throughput, specific energy consumption, and mean particle size of the product. First, the cylindrical section was tested under various conditions, including cylinder rotational speed (150, 250, 350, and 450 rpm), feed gate opening size (30, 37.5, and 45 cm2), and the clearance between cylinders (0, 1, and 2 mm). The feedforward neural network (FNN) framework predicated the optimal operating conditions for this part, which were recorded as 150 rpm cylinder rotational speed, 45 cm2 feed gate opening, and 2 mm cylinder clearance. This optimal operational condition was utilized as the starting conditions for subsequent testing of the hammer mill section. Then, the hammer mill was tested with different hammer rotational speeds (1250, 1500, and 1750 rpm) and screen hole diameters (2, 4, and 6 mm) underneath the hammers. The FNN model was again employed to predicate the most suitable operating parameters for the grinding unit. The key results included the optimal operational parameters at 150 rpm cylinder rotational speed, 2 mm clearance, 45 cm2 feeding area, 1750 rpm hammer speed, and 6 mm screen hole diameter. That operational condition resulted in 30 kg/h for machine’s throughput, 49 kW h/ton specific energy consumption, and 2.14 mm mean product size. With FNN model accuracy R2 of 0.99974, demonstrating high prediction reliability. Meanwhile, the operating cost was 0.027 $/kg, suitable for small to medium-scale operations. The significance of these findings lies in the development of an efficient, versatile milling solution for date seeds and similar agricultural materials. This research pioneers the application of machine learning in optimizing date seed processing, potentially revolutionizing agricultural waste valorization and opening new avenues for sustainable resource utilization.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-037d7882bfbc4012a6b03fadb52cd3642025-02-09T12:35:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115112010.1038/s41598-025-87508-4Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networksKhaled Abdeen Mousa Ali0Changyou Li1Wang Han2Sali Issa3Mohamed Hamdy Eid4Samy F. Mahmoud5Marwa Abd-Elnaby Mohammed6College of Engineering, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Engineering, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Engineering, South China Agricultural UniversityElectrical Information of Science and Technology, Hubei University of EducationInstitute of Environmental Management, Faculty of Earth Science, University of MiskolcDepartment of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif UniversityAgricultural Engineering Research Institute (AENRI)Abstract Date seed grinding remains a significant challenge limiting the utilization of this valuable agricultural by-product." In this study, a compact date seeds grinding unit was designed, tested, and evaluated. The machine has two primary: a pair of toothed cylinders and a hammer mill. The machine’s performance was assessed in terms of throughput, specific energy consumption, and mean particle size of the product. First, the cylindrical section was tested under various conditions, including cylinder rotational speed (150, 250, 350, and 450 rpm), feed gate opening size (30, 37.5, and 45 cm2), and the clearance between cylinders (0, 1, and 2 mm). The feedforward neural network (FNN) framework predicated the optimal operating conditions for this part, which were recorded as 150 rpm cylinder rotational speed, 45 cm2 feed gate opening, and 2 mm cylinder clearance. This optimal operational condition was utilized as the starting conditions for subsequent testing of the hammer mill section. Then, the hammer mill was tested with different hammer rotational speeds (1250, 1500, and 1750 rpm) and screen hole diameters (2, 4, and 6 mm) underneath the hammers. The FNN model was again employed to predicate the most suitable operating parameters for the grinding unit. The key results included the optimal operational parameters at 150 rpm cylinder rotational speed, 2 mm clearance, 45 cm2 feeding area, 1750 rpm hammer speed, and 6 mm screen hole diameter. That operational condition resulted in 30 kg/h for machine’s throughput, 49 kW h/ton specific energy consumption, and 2.14 mm mean product size. With FNN model accuracy R2 of 0.99974, demonstrating high prediction reliability. Meanwhile, the operating cost was 0.027 $/kg, suitable for small to medium-scale operations. The significance of these findings lies in the development of an efficient, versatile milling solution for date seeds and similar agricultural materials. This research pioneers the application of machine learning in optimizing date seed processing, potentially revolutionizing agricultural waste valorization and opening new avenues for sustainable resource utilization.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87508-4Date seed processingFeedforward neural networkAgricultural waste valorizationMilling machine designSustainable resource utilization
spellingShingle Khaled Abdeen Mousa Ali
Changyou Li
Wang Han
Sali Issa
Mohamed Hamdy Eid
Samy F. Mahmoud
Marwa Abd-Elnaby Mohammed
Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks
Scientific Reports
Date seed processing
Feedforward neural network
Agricultural waste valorization
Milling machine design
Sustainable resource utilization
title Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks
title_full Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks
title_fullStr Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks
title_full_unstemmed Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks
title_short Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks
title_sort performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks
topic Date seed processing
Feedforward neural network
Agricultural waste valorization
Milling machine design
Sustainable resource utilization
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87508-4
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