Design, Testing and Evaluation of Mobile Corn Mill for Village-Level Operation in the Philippines

Abstract

The efficiency and availability of corn mills operating in the Philippines play a vital role in achieving food self-sufficiency in the entire country. Majority of operational corn mills are situated along the highway where three-phase electrical line is available. Current design of operational corn mills still utilizes emery stone for its degermination process, two-steel rollers for its milling process and oscillating sifter that all require huge amount of power. The purpose of this research was to develop a technically viable and financially feasible new type of mobile corn mill that can be used in the countryside particularly in the remote areas. The developed corn mill system is comprised of the degerminator, rotary mill, rotary grader and equipped with a pre-cleaner (destoner and winnower), two elevators and a suction blower. It is powered by 60 HP, 4-cylinder diesel engine. Performance test results revealed that the developed mobile corn mill has an input capacity of 940 - 1,100 kg/h with product recovery of 66-71 % and degerminator efficiency of 82-88 %. Cost of milling is estimated at Php0.86 per kg output. The estimated cost of the developed corn mill is Php850,000 per unit (US$1=Php50). The developed corn mill technology can be used by farmer cooperatives and local entrepreneurs that will engage in custom-milling business and the processing of corn for food and animal feeds.