The effect of operating parameters on the performance of an innovative garlic clove separating machine

Abstract Garlic is an essential crop in Egypt with significant culinary and medicinal value, yet manual clove separation remains laborious and inefficient. This study aimed to develop an innovative garlic clove separating machine. Machine performance was assessed across three parameters: drum speeds ranged between 22 and 41 rpm, moisture content (MC) ranged between 46 and 62%, and clearance settings ranged between 10 and 20 mm. MC emerged as the most critical performance determinant, with optimal separation efficiency at 48–56% MC. Clearance settings significantly influenced quality, where 20 mm clearance maximized capacity while 10 mm enhanced purity, particularly for MC bulbs (<45% MC). Clove damage showed strong MC dependence, with 20 mm clearance minimizing injury in moist bulbs and 10 mm optimal for drier conditions. MC and clearance adjustments proved more impactful. The study identified key trade-offs: higher MC improved throughput but increased damage, whereas tighter clearances boosted purity at the expense of separation completeness. The practical recommendations include processing at 49–54% MC, using 10 mm clearance for dry bulbs and 20 mm for wet ones, and adjusting drum speed accordingly (32–41 rpm). These guidelines can improve processing efficiency by 18–22% while reducing damage losses by up to 15%.