Turbine Speed - RoboLabs Grand Robopop 220 User Manual

4.3 Turbine speed

Turbine speed for Mushroom should be higher than for Butterfly. Unlike Mushroom, which
has proper spherical shape, Butterfly has irregular shape with "winglets"; hence less intense
airflow is required to blow out Butterfly popcorn; and more intensive airflow is required for
Mushroom.
Alike the popping temperature, excessive values of turbine speed may cause a bunch of
issues. Too slow turbine will cause popcorn accumulation in the chamber, smoldering, smoke
formation, and finally, chamber clogging. Too fast turbine increases scrap rate, because many
kernels are blown out of the chamber before they pop. Airflow intensity can be reduced be-
cause of clogged metallic mesh inside the chamber. See Maintenance and cleaning section.
The Vortex patented technology is based on air convection inside the machine. Airflow is
created by the turbine (blower) that is being controlled by the machine's algorithm. During
popping stage the algorithm gradually increases the turbine speed, starting from the basic
speed (F) set on the inverter (VFD). How much the speed will be increased over the whole
popping cycle is directly depended on TURBINE SPD position. Positions 1, 2, 3 corresponds to
increments of 6 Hz, 8 Hz, and 10 Hz, respectively.
Watch the chamber through the observation port after feeding cycle is completed. If corn
kernels do not move around the perforated bowl for more than 60 seconds, increase the basic
speed F.
Too high basic speed (F) and/or too high value of speed increment (set by TURBINE SPD)
might cause higher scrap rate. Too low values might lead to chamber clogging. Choose both
values based on performance of particular corn so that to minimize the scrap rate, from one
side, and to avoid chamber clogging, from the other side.
Basic speed (F) adjustment procedure
• Electric shock hazard! High voltage inside electric panel. DO NOT touch
bare terminals and/or wires.
• Only skilled person is permitted to perform the following operation.
To change the basic speed (F) do the following:
1. Open the electric panel of the machine.
2. Locate the VFD unit with control panel, see Fig.6.
3. Ensure the display reading starts with F. If not,
press one or more times, until F reading ap-
pears on the display.
4. Press or
the basic speed.
5. Close the electric compartment.
DANGER
keys to increase or decrease
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Figure 6: VFD control panel