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Development and Performance Evaluation of A Combined Maize Shelling and Cleaning Machine
Development and Performance Evaluation of A Combined Maize Shelling and Cleaning Machine
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Abstract:- The construction, assembly and machine vital supply of carbohydrate, protein, iron, vitamin B and
evaluation of the combined maize shelling was done in minerals. In Africa, maize is fed on as a starchy base in huge
the department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental form of porridges and pastes. Green maize (fresh on the cob)
Engineering Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, is eaten parched, baked, roasted or boiled which play an
Ondo State, Nigeria. The evaluation of the machine was essential role in filling the massive gap after dry season
performed using NIS standard which involve the use of (IITA, 1996). In rural communities, the dwellers use maize
three different speeds of 400rpm, 500rpm and 600rpm at in manufacturing of porridge (fura) and “Tuwo” (Aremu et
moisture content of maize cobs at 11%, 12% and 13% al., 2015).
respectively. The results showed that shelling efficiency
and machine capacity in kg/hr were at highest value at In Nigeria, maize has turn out to be a staple meals crop
12% moisture content of maize and at 500rpm shelling that is recognized even to the poorest family. Many
speed. Thus shelling of maize at 12% moisture content Nigerians earn direct income through production of maize
dry basis using 500rpm shelling speed resulted into the but the production is incomplete without shelling and
highest efficiency and machine capacity when compare cleaning operations. It is used in numerous forms to
to other moisture content levels and machine speeds alleviate stavation, and such forms include pap, maize flour
and so forth. The most important steps involved in the
Keywords:- Design, Fabrication, Performance Evaluation, processing of maize are harvesting, drying, de-husking,
Maize Shelling Machine storing, shelling, cleaning and grinding. The processing of
maize into quality forms not only extend the useful life of
I. INTRODUCTION the crop, but also increases the net profit of the farmers
(Aylor, 2002). One of the most critical processing
Maize (Zeamas) is an annual legume crop. It has a operations done to carry out the quality of maize is shelling
distinct growth form, with the lower leaves being like broad and cleansing. These shelling and cleansing have been and
flags, generally 50 – 100 centimeters long and 5 – 10 remain a serious problem to local dwellers in their
centimeters wide, usually the stems are upright (Joshua and communities (Wenham, 1995). For the rural farmers to
Mendoza, 2007). The varieties of this crop follow same maximize profit from their maize, appropriate technology
trend of growth, although specific time and interval between that suites their needs must be used.
phases and total number of leaves produced may vary
between different cross-breeds, season, time of planting and The conventional shelling and cleaning techniques do
location (Ugwu and Omoruyi, 2016). Maize afford vitamins not assist large – scale processing of maize, in particular for
for human and animals and serving as a fundamental industrial functions. There are unique styles of shelling
uncooked fabric for starch, oil, alcoholic beverages, food machines which include the hand held sheller, small rotary
sweeteners and more recently fuel (Hoeft, Natziger, Johnson hand sheller, free standing manually operated sheller and
and Aldrich, 2000). It is an important source of motorized sheller. The electric motor technology involves
carbohydrate, protein, iron, vitamin B and minerals the use of mechanical assistance in shelling and cleaning of
(Amudalat, 2015). Over 30 % of the caloric consumption of maize (Nkakini, 2007). The physical and mechanical
human beings in sub – Saharan Africa comes from maize. properties of maize are extensive understanding that may be
All parts of the crop can be used for meal and non – meal utilized in maize farming, harvesting and storage or in
products. processing inclusive of shelling, cleaning, drying, freezing
and others. This information is vital in the designing and
Maize accounts for 30 – 50 % of low – earnings family construction of maize shelling and cleaning machines and
expenditures in Africa (IITA, 2019). Maize production in additionally in preparation of processing chain from grain to
Africa became about 75 million tons in 2018, representing food. Accurate design of machines and processes in the food
7.5 % of global maize manufacturing and the largest African chain from harvest to table requires an understanding of
producer is Nigeria with over 33 million tons, followed by physical properties of staple materials. (Ahlgrimm, 1997).
South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia. In industrialized nations,
maize is essentially used as farm animal feeds and as raw
material for industrial products, while in low-profit nations,
it is far specially used for human consumption (Ndirika,
1995). In Sub-Saharan Africa, maize is a staple meal for an
envisioned 50 % of the populace (IITA, 1996). Maize is a
Shelling is the act of removing seed or grain from their α = Angle of inclination.
various cobs after dehusking for both domestic and µ = Coefficient of friction (0.3-0.7)
commercial purposes. Shelling is best done when the
moisture content is as little as 13% (ASHRAE, 1998). In the Belt Design.
stone ages, primitive approach of shelling consist of beating The determination of type of belt was based on the
with stick, crushing with mortar and pestle, manual shelling amount of power to be transmitted, this is based on the
consequently consume much human power and time Indian standard (I S Code No. 2494- 1974) for belt (Sadhu,
demanding (Sunghal and Thierstein, 1987). 2004).
Removal of maize from cobs if completed by hand is a The following equations were used for belt design
great task in post harvest handling operation of maize. The
prevailing maize shelling machine are sophisticated and Equation (iv) was suggested by
required excessive power input to function as a result, they Khumi and Gupta (2006) for calculating the length of
are low in efficiency (Wagami, 1997). belt as:
P = 𝜔2 x r (i)
M=AxExL (viii)
W = MV2 (ix)
B. Machine Operation
The combined maize shelling and cleaning machine is
operated through the cranking of the prime mover which
Where: operate the shelling unit and drive the fan. An amount of
maize cobs are fed into the machine through the hopper and
N1 is revolution of smaller pulley, rpm a feed gate in the hopper regulates the flow of the maize into
N2 is revolution of larger pulley, rpm the machine (Feed Rate). As the maize get to the shelling
D2 is diameter of bigger pulley, mm chamber where beaters rotate, the maize cobs are shelled
D2 is diameter of smaller pulley, mm with the action of the beaters that beat the maize cob
repeatedly. The shelled maize pass through the screen of the
III. SELECTION OF BEARING shelling unit and falls across an air stream of the cleaning
unit and cleaned maize seeds are collected at the cleaned
The selection was based on the types of load the maize outlet. The chaffs and other foreign materials that are
bearing will support when at rest and during operation and lighter than the grains are blown out of the machine through
also based on the diameter of shaft. chaff outlet. The exploded view and picture of the machine
are shown in figures 1 and 2.
Fig 4 Effect of Machine Speed Efficiency of the Machine at Different Moisture Level