Shelling of groundnut pods (Arachis hypegea) by hand is tedious, laborious and unhygienic with low efficiencies. As a result farmer get low income due to amount of broken kernels and a lot of time is lost in the tedious shelling operation. To overcome this problem, pertinent parameters that influence shelling efficiency of pedal operated groundnut decorticator were identified. Pedal operated decorticator were designed and fabricated with chain and sprocket of bicycle and aluminum spike tooth is used and evaluation was done in the department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin because it was affordable and locally fabricated. A rotary motion mechanism was employed to drive the decorticating drum while concave screen was fixed. The selection of the screen aperture was based on the size and shape of the groundnut seed. The factors considered in this project work were feed rate and operators characteristics (height, weight and knuckle lengths). The evaluation of machine was conducted while time was taken for each tests. The result of the pedal operated groundnut decorticator revealed that operator III has the maximum shelling efficiency of 65% was achieved at 9minutes, 16 seconds and breakage of 9% and throughput capacity of 15.3kg/hr. Operator II was the optimum shelling efficiency of 56% at 12 minutes 44 seconds and breakage of 8% and throughput capacity of 14kg/hr. Operator I has the minimum shelling efficiency of 47% at 11 minutes 44 seconds and breakage of 16% and throughput capacity of 15kg/hr. The total amount used for the fabrication of the pedal operated groundnut decorticator was totaled to Ninety-two Thousand and Seven Hundred Naira only (N92,700.00). The result of the fabricator implies that the characteristics of Operator III is recommended to farmers who shell for seed can now obtained more seed shelled with low breakage and will get more income.
Cover Page
Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Plates
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problems 2
1.3 Objective of the Project 2
1.4 Justification of the Project 3
1.5 Scope of the Study 3
CHAPTER TWO:
LITERATURE REVIEW 4
2.1 Physical Properties of Groundnut 4
2.1.1 Determination of Size 4
2.1.2 Determination of Coefficient of Friction 5
2.1.3 Determination of Moisture Content 5
2.1.4 Angle of Repose 6
2.1.5 Porosity 6
2.1.6 Surface Area 6
2.2 History of Groundnut in Nigeria 6
2.3 Agronomy of Groundnut 7
2.4 Post Harvest Losses of Groundnut Seeds 8
2.5 Economic Importance of Groundnut Seed 9
2.6 Factor Affecting Shelling Operation 11
2.6.1 Cylinder-Concave Clearance 11
2.6.2 Sieve Shake 12
2.7 Description of some Threshing Equipment 12
2.7.1 Maize Sheller 12
2.7.2 Maize Dehusker-cum Sheller: 13
2.7.3: Hand Maize Sheller 13
2.7.4 Groundnut Striper 14
2.7.5: Groundnut Thresher 15
2.7.6: Groundnut Decorticator Manually Operated 16
2.7.7 Power Operated Groundnut Decorticator 17
2.7.8 Pedal Operated Thresher (Paddy Thresher): 18
2.8 Terminology Related to Thresher 18
2.8.1 Feed Rate 18
2.8.2 Clean Grain 19
2.8.3 Concave Clearance 19
2.8.4 Cleaning Efficiency 19
2.8.5 Threshing Efficiency 19
2.9 Review of Existing work 19
CHAPTER THREE:
MATERIAL AND METHODS
3.1 Physical Properties of Biological Materials 23
3.1.1 Sample Preparation 23
3.1.2 Determination of Size and Shape 24
3.1.3 Determination of Moisture Content 24
3.1.4 Determination of Mass, Volume and Density 25
3.1.5 Determination of Coefficient of Static Friction 25
3.1.6 Determination of Angle of Repose 25
3.2 Description of the Groundnut Pedal Operated Machine 26
3.3 Design Consideration 28
3.4 Design Calculation and Analysis 28
3.4.1 Design for Hopper 28
3.4.2. Design for Decorticating Unit 29
3.4.3 Design of Chain Drive 32
3.4.3.1 Determination of Chain Length between the Pedal and Idler Shaft 32
3.4.3.2 Determination of Chain Length Between the Idler Shaft and Decorticating Shaft
3.4.3.3 Determination of Chain Length Between the Idler Shaft and Blower Shaft 33
3.5 Material Selection 34
3.6 Fabrication Procedure and Assembly 34
3.6.1 Fabrication of Main Frame 34
3.6.2 Fabrication of Hopper 35
3.6.3 Fabrication of Bicycle Pedal and Chain Drive 35
3.6.4 Fabrication of Decorticating Drum 35
3.6.5 Decorticating Screen 35
3.6.6 Operator Seat 36
3.6.7 Aluminum Spike Tooth 36
3.7 Principle of Operation of the Machine 36
3.8 Cost Analysis 37
3.9 Performance Evaluation 38
3.9.1 Sourcing of Experimental Material 38
3.9.2 Sample Preparation 38
3.9.3 Experimental Procedure 38
3.9.4 Instrumentation Used for the Experiment 39
3.9.5 Design Layout 42
3.9.6 Output Parameter 42
CHAPTER FOUR:
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.0 Results And Discussion 45
4.1 Results 45
4.2. Discussion 46
4.2.1 Physical Properties of Groundnut Pods 46
4.2.2 Effect of Operator Parameter Threshing Efficiency 47
CHAPTER FIVE:
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusions 48
5.2 Recommendations 48
References 49
Appendix A 52
Appendix B 59
Design, Fabrication And Performance Evaluation Of Pedal Operated Groundnut Decorticator. (n.d.). UniTopics. https://www.unitopics.com/project/material/design-fabrication-and-performance-evaluation-of-pedal-operated-groundnut-decorticator/
“Design, Fabrication And Performance Evaluation Of Pedal Operated Groundnut Decorticator.” UniTopics, https://www.unitopics.com/project/material/design-fabrication-and-performance-evaluation-of-pedal-operated-groundnut-decorticator/. Accessed 19 September 2024.
“Design, Fabrication And Performance Evaluation Of Pedal Operated Groundnut Decorticator.” UniTopics, Accessed September 19, 2024. https://www.unitopics.com/project/material/design-fabrication-and-performance-evaluation-of-pedal-operated-groundnut-decorticator/
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