Publication

Abstract : Traditional coconut dehusking methods, reliant on manual labor, are plagued by inefficiency and inconsistency. Existing attempts at mechanized approach have not provided the solution scientifically. The present solutions have not been validated scientifically in terms of speed, yield, safety etc. In addition, the existing designs are not optimized or varying coconut sizes, shapes and maturity. This article presents a power-operated dehusking machine at nominal speed and high yield to achieve consistent husk removal. The machine’s core design prioritizes safe and efficient dehusking. The focus on functionality leverages a power-driven mechanism to minimize human effort and maximize processing throughput. The structural stability and durability of critical dehusking components are meticulously calculated to ensure reliable operation, using static stresses, stress analysis, high cycle fatigue analysis, and finite element analysis. Comprehensive proof-of-concept tests using various performance metrics such as the coconut size, shape, maturity, dehusking time, etc. are measured in each case, which validated the machine’s functionality and performance across a range of coconut sizes, confirming its ability to consistently remove husks effectively. A subsequent performance evaluation assessed the machine’s throughput rate, dehusking rate, number of crushed coconuts, and the reasons for failure in dehusking. The developed machine achieved a dehusking rate of 200 coconuts per hour, with a remarkably low rate of crushed coconuts at only 10 coconuts per hour.