Design, Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of an Integrated Maize Dehusking Cum Shelling Machine

A maize dehusker-cum-sheller was designed and fabricated to combine husk removal and kernel shelling into a single mechanized operation, reducing the labour, time, and post-harvest losses associated with manual maize processing. The machine's performance was evaluated using 5 kg batches of husked maize cobs at three moisture content levels (13%, 14%, and 15%, wet basis) and three cylinder speeds (650, 750, and 850 rpm), giving nine test combinations. For each combination, the weights of husk removed, cleanly shelled kernels, unshelled kernels, and bare cobs were recorded and used to determine shelling efficiency, dehusking efficiency, throughput capacity, and mechanical kernel damage. Results showed that shelling efficiency and dehusking efficiency both increased with cylinder speed but decreased with increasing moisture content, while mechanical kernel damage increased with speed and decreased with moisture content. The highest shelling efficiency (95.03%) and dehusking efficiency (99.2%) were recorded at 13% moisture content and 850 rpm, though this condition also produced the highest mechanical damage (5.8%). An operating speed of approximately 750 rpm combined with 13-14% moisture content gave the best overall balance of efficiency, throughput, and grain quality. The machine is recommended as an effective, low-cost solution for combined maize dehusking and shelling in small and medium scale post harvest operations.

maize dehusker-cum-sheller; shelling efficiency; dehusking efficiency; moisture content; cylinder speed; mechanical damage.

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