Implementación de un sistema de aspiración industrial para empaque al vacío de banano destinado a exportación

Abstract

The objective of this project is the design, construction, and implementation of a specialized industrial aspiration system for the banana vacuum packing process. This initiative arises as a technical response to the low reliability of domestic vacuum cleaners currently used in the sector, which present critical failures due to overheating and premature wear when subjected to continuous duty cycles. For the prototype development, a Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) methodology was applied using SolidWorks software. A closed centrifugal impeller with 16 backward-curved blades and an optimized volute were designed to maximize static pressure. Structural validation was performed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), ensuring the resistance of the shaft and blades to the centrifugal forces generated at 3600 RPM. The manufacturing process integrated plasma cutting to minimize thermal distortion, SMAW welding to guarantee hermeticity, and dynamic balancing to eliminate vibrations. Finally, the equipment operation was validated on a real packing line under high-demand conditions. The results demonstrated superior thermal stability, maintaining the motor temperature at 45°C after 4 hours of continuous operation, compared to > 65 °C for domestic equipment. The system achieved a constant vacuum time of 5 seconds per bag and an estimated Return on Investment (ROI) of 1.27 years, constituting a technologically robust and financially profitable solution for the banana industry.