Performance Evaluation of the Melkassa-Made Engine-Driven Maize Sheller

The strategy of Ethiopian mechanization is to minimize postharvest loss. The methods of crop production were traditional. It involves high drudgery, low quality and quantity, time-consuming, and inefficient operation. To minimize loss, the sheller, thresher, and storage developed. But the performance was not clearly determined for researchers and manufacturers for selection and multiplication. The target of this research was the evaluation of Melkassa maize Sheller. It was conducted at three levels of feed rate: 7500, 6500, and 500 kg/hr., and speed: 700, 650, and 600 rpm. The moisture is 14 percent and maize LIMU variety. Split plot design of feed rate as the main factor and drum speed as a sub factor. The maximum shelling capacity of 6608.9 kg/h was achieved at a feed rate of 750 kg/h and a speed of 700 rpm. Where the minimum obtained at 5000 kg/hr and a speed of 600 rpm is 4242.27 kg/hr. The highest efficiency was 99.9 percent, the maximum breakage was 1.06 percent. The maximum fuel consumption is 2.347214 L/hr. The machine can significantly reduce drudgery and save time, energy, and cost of operation. As a suggestion, if engine changed to tractor attached will increase the requisition of technologies.