Design and construction of a motorized maize degermer.

Abstract

Cereal crops grown in Uganda include; maize, finger millet, sorghum, rice, pearl millet and wheat in that order of importance. Other than wheat, these crops provide staple food for well of the population (UBOS, 2010). According to report made by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2014), Uganda was ranked as the 8th largest producer of maize in Africa and 3rd in East Africa. Maize is grown in most parts of Uganda but most intensely in. eastern (Kapchorwa, Mbale: Kamuli, Jinja, Iganga), central (Masaka, Mubende) and western (Masindi Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kasese, Kabar.ole) coveting a total area of I across the whole: Uganda with 189.135hain central, 3882762ha in Eastern, 247980ha in Northern, 188,583 in western (UBOS, 2010) Maize is commonly consumed as either maize meal or maize flour but popular one is the maize flour. During the. process of maize milling into maize flour the hull and germ are removed -as maize bran leaving endosperm which is ground into maize flour. According to Heuze et al. (2015) Maize germ contributes about 1.1% of the kernel weight, contains 45-50% oil and about 85%. of the oil kernel. The germ if wholly separated- from endosperm and the hulls it can be further processed to produce high value products such as oil, oil meal, livestock feeds and fortification program. Therefore, there is a need to design and construct a motorized de-germing machine that will separate the germ wholly from the hull and endosperm so that it can be used for further processing. Different components of the machine were designed basing on the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of-the maize, 'the components include; the feed hopper. crushing rollers, shaft and abrasive disks main frame a driving mechanism and analyzing forces acting on the components to prevent failure The machine uses a total maximum. power of 7.5HP, after fabrication, the performance and economic analysis OF the machine were performed in terms of extraction. efficiency of 54.5%. Machine's total cost; Ugx.2.08Ma and its Net present value is 701240830.2, since its greater than 0, the project is viable, owing to the performance and economic analysis of the machine, it achieves all its design -purposes hence it is recommended for commercialization and adoption by the target-groups.