STUDY ON 6CT-65 MODEL TEA LEAF DEWATERING MACHINE

6CT-65 model tea leaf dewatering machine was designed on the centrifugal principle. It is mainly composed of a iotating tube, a braking device, a rubber damping device, electric equi-pment and a base. It is used to dewater all kinds of rained tea leaves. It shortens the cooling time, saves energy and improves the quality of tea.This paper illustrates the principle of the prototype, the speed and size of the rotating tube, the centrifugal force, the most pressure borne on each unit area of green leaves, the power of the motor, the dewater-ing rate, the effect of saving energy and the test of the quality of tea. Since 1985 the prototype has treated 4410.1 kg of rained tea leaves. Results show that the dewatering rate of the prototype reaches over 90%. On the average, 100 kg of rained tea leaves loses 11.43 kg of water; in other words, 100 kg of made tea loses 51.66 kg of water, which means that producing 100 kg of made tea saves 27.5 kg of standard coal or 53.74 kg of firewood. Experiments also show that after dewatering treatment, the quality of made tea has been significantly improved. The machine treats 300 kg of rained tea leaves per hour. The technical appraisement in 1987 showed that its function indexes are up to the standard and that its chief technical parameters are reasonable. The prototype is simple in construction and easy to operate. It has produced significant economic benefits.