Abstract
The study focused on the design and fabrication of a soybean dehulling machine aimed at improving processing efficiency and reducing the labour associated with manual dehulling. The machine was powered by one horsepower (1HP) electric motor operating at a rotational speed of 600 rpm. It was designed to effectively separate the seed coat from the cotyledon while minimizing mechanical damage. The performance evaluation was carried out at three different levels of moisture content 10%, 12%, and 14% to determine the effect of seed moisture on dehulling efficiency and seed breakage. The performance of the machine was affected by the seed moisture level. An optimum performance occurred at 12% moisture content, with a dehulling efficiency of 90.4% and a minimal breakage rate of 0.3%. These findings indicate that moderate moisture enhances the frictional interaction between the seeds and the dehulling surface, leading to efficient shell removal. The developed machine demonstrated a reliable operation, ease of maintenance, and suitability for small and medium scale soybean processors.
Keywords
References
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