Development of an Improved Groundnut Roasting and Peeling Machine

Aim: This research aims to develop an improved groundnut roasting and peeling machine that reduces human effort and increases productivity. Study Design: Redesign the existing groundnut roasting machine by incorporating a peeling chamber, fabricate an improved groundnut roasting machine, and evaluate the performance of the groundnut roasting and peeling machine. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, between  2021-2024. Methodology: The method used consists of designed components utilizing SolidWorks software, which includes a roasting chamber, a peeling chamber, and the necessary specifications for roasting groundnuts, peeling groundnuts, and their required power and speed, which are essential for the completion of this study. Results: This study found that peeling 5 kg of groundnuts by hand takes approximately 3-5 hours, whereas peeling the same quantity using the machine takes 14 minutes, with a peeling efficiency of 90%. It was also observed that the mass before roasting varies significantly, and a machine operating at different revolutions per minute produces different values after peeling. Conclusion: A groundnut roasting and peeling machine was built using readily available materials and is suitable for local production of roasted and peeled groundnut seeds. The machine is easy to operate, repair, and maintain. The technology is affordable and less costly compared to imported roasting and peeling machines. It has low operational costs; it is compact, of moderate weight, produces minimal noise, and operates without vibrations. Therefore, it can be concluded that groundnut weight before roasting varies, and the machine operating at different revolutions per minute yields different peeling results. The time required to peel 5 kg of groundnuts manually is approximately 3-5 hours, whereas the same amount can be peeled using this machine in just 14 minutes. The machine achieves a peeling efficiency of 90% and a capacity of 19.6 kg/hour of peeled groundnuts. This clearly shows that peeling roasted groundnut seeds with this machine is more advantageous than doing so manually, and it represents an improvement over previously fabricated design.