Development and performance evaluation of a cowpea threshing machine
Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Research Article
Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 2022, 13(01), 022–026.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gjeta.2022.13.1.0168
Publication history:
Received on 26 August 2022; revised on 03 October 2022; accepted on 06 October 2022
Abstract:
A cowpea threshing machine was designed, constructed and evaluated in the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. The machine was constructed using locally available materials with the primary aim of reducing drudgery attached to the traditional method of threshing cowpea. The machine consisted of the hopper, the threshing unit, the cleaning unit, the outlet and a single phase electric motor. The machine was evaluated based on the varied operating speed of 450rpm, 550rpm and 650rpm and moisture content of 13.5%, 14.5% and 15.5% respectively. The results showed that the machine efficiency increases with increase in feed rate and decrease in moisture content. An optimum level of 94.4% efficiency was observed at the speed of 650rpm and moisture content of 13.5%.
Keywords:
Cowpea; Threshing machine; Operating speed; Feed rate; Efficiency
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