Design and construction of a direct hydro powered coffee depulper

Coffee is an important agricultural product throughout much of the developing world. Harvesting and processing of coffee beans are a labor intensive endeavor, and much of this effort is provided by people. One physically demanding step is depulping, or removing the coffee “cherry” from its husk. Reducing the need for manual labor is one way to improve the quality of life for agricultural communities. A team from the Appalachian State University, USA designed, built, and installed a direct hydro-powered coffee depulper at Finca Esperanza Verde, Nicaragua in 2007. The hydro turbine is a commercially available WaterMotor which provides around 200 W of power. The system has performed flawlessly through five harvests. This paper describes the system and challenges that the team faced from design through construction. It is hoped that this project can serve as a model for other small direct hydro projects in the region.

► Design and construction of a direct microhydro system
► Microhydro system displaces human power in coffee processing.
► Renewable energy can improve quality of life for agricultural workers.
► International projects require creativity and flexible design.