Performance Evaluation of a Developed Maize Sheller

Abstract

Assessing the performance characteristics of the developed maize shelling machine is the focus of this paper. Maize shelling machine was fabricated based on engineering design approach with the aid of software (CAD) and values, and was later fabricated at Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti Central Workshop using suitable materials after considering the factors such as Hardness, ease of machining, tensile strength, availability, durability and the cost. The machine is electrically operated by an electric motor with power rating of 2.235 kW, speed of 1430 rpm and torque of 14.92 Nm. Kernel losses and damages were found to be very negligible. It shells 60 times as fast as hand shelling. The design presented in this paper is aided with computer software (Autodesk Inventor) to give the accurate and precise results. Maize shelling machine was developed to shell maize and separate the cob from the grains with appropriate engineering design factors. The efficiency of the machine is a benchmarked against the commercially available maize shelling machines. It has an average shelling capacity of 55 kg/hr, its shelling efficiency is 91.29 % and breakage is very insignificant, as well as losses. The machine can help to substantially reduce the human labor and stress involved in shelling maize and also reducing the time used for shelling operation on farms. There is no doubt that the machine will ease the long term problem of maize shelling especially for the rural farmers.