Development of a Dry Lotus Seed Sheller

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A dry lotus seed sheller was designed and fabricated to reduce shelling time and number of labor for the dry lotus seed shell removing. The prototype consisted of main frame, feeding unit, 2 sizes of shelling unit; the 10.5 and 11.5 mm cylinder cutting balde were installed in first and second shelling unit, respectively, the power transmission unit, and 2 hp electric motor was used as a prime mover. The dry lotus seeds were fed manually into feeding chute at the top of the machine, then were conveyed to shelling unit by seed feeder, and left through in front of the machine after shelling. Testing results indicated that the best shelling quality was obtained when operated at 13.3 mm/s piercing rod speed. Working capacity was found to be 1.3±0.1 kg/hr, the percentage of shelling and seeds damaged of the first shelling unit were 75.7±6.4 and 18.2±0.7%, the percentage of shelling and seeds damaged of the second shelling unit were 73.3±4.0% and 20.2±1.8%, and consumed 0.52 kW-hr of energy.
Based on the engineering economical analysis, indicated that the operating cost was 24 Bath/kg, payback period 3 months and the break-even point of the machine was 40 hr/year.
at the annual use of 1,200 hr/year.