Design and Fabrication of a Palm Kernel Nut and Shell Separating Machine

Abstract

This paper presents a novel design and fabrication of a palm kernel nut and shell separating machine to improve the turnout rate as well as the overall efficiency of the machine. Standard design procedures were adapted from Design Engineering text and hand books, in the specifications and computation of dimensions of various components of the machine. Seven repetitions were carried out in the measurements of input and separated nuts and shells as basis for computing mean values and efficiencies. The components of the kernel nut and shell separating machine were designed and fabricated from locally available materials using manufacturing methods explained in the paper. Suitable tests were done and the over-all performance was found to be satisfactory. The machine has an input capacity of 29.42 kg by weight, a mean separation time of 50.75 seconds and an overall efficiency of 96.59 %. This is a very simple and effective machine.