Abstract:
This paper presents the design, fabrication and perfomiance evaluation of a hand operated hand groundnut sheller using locally available materials of metal, wood and wire mesh. The sizing and fabrication of feeding hopper, shelling chamber, exit jute, blower, pulley system and main framework were slime using standard engineering procedures. The machine was tested for shelling capacity and efficiency at five concave clearances, six operation speeds (in revolutions per minute) and three moisture contents. An optimum clearance was reached at 30 mm for runner and bush varieties of groundnuts from Western Kenya. At this clearance the average sheller efficiency was 79% when the groundnuts were at a moisture content of 13% and sheller operation speed of l5 revolutions per minute. The total amount of power requirement for the Sheller was approximated as 3.71 W.
