Abstract:
To enhance shelf life, prevent spoilage, and preserve nutritional value, processing pulses is very
essential and critical. Milling pulses is the removal of grain coat to produce polished grain and
cleavage of the two cotyledons to produce split grains. The grain coat is hard and reduces the
palatability of pulses. To alleviate problems associated with the processing of pea grains, engine
engine-driven pea milling machine was designed, manufactured, tested, and evaluated. The
prototype milling machine has a hopper, splitting unit, cleaning unit, outlet unit, supporting
frame, and transportation wheels. The machine was tested and evaluated in terms of splitting
capacity, splitting efficiency, cleaning efficiency, dehulling efficiency, percent damage, and fuel
consumption. The tests were carried out at drum speeds of 500.00, 600.00, and 700.00 rpm and
feed rates of 6.00, 8.00, and 10 kg/min. The maximum splitting capacity of 589.91 kg/hr was
recorded when the drum speed was 700.00 rpm, and the feed rate was 10.00 kg/min; whereas
the minimum splitting capacity of 343.72 kg/min was observed when the drum speed was 500.00
rpm and feed rate 6.00 kg/min. The maximum splitting efficiency of 86.39% was recorded with
a drum speed of 500.00 rpm and a feed rate of 8.00 kg/min; whereas the minimum splitting
efficiency of 79.04% was observed when the drum speed was 700.00 rpm and a feed rate was
10.00 kg/min. The minimum percent of grain damage, 3.05%, was recorded at a drum speed of
500.00 rpm, and feed rate of 6.00 kg/min. Maximum percent grain damage of 11.16% was
recorded at a drum speed of 700.00 rpm, and feed rate of 10.00 kg/min. The mean maximum
fuel consumption of the prototype pea milling machine was 14.16 ml/kg, at a drum speed of
700.00 rpm and feeding rate of 10.00 kg/min, and the minimum fuel consumption of 4.37 ml/kg
was observed at a drum speed of 500.00 rpm and feeding rate of 6.00 kg/min.
