Design and Development of a Low Cost Chironji Nut Decorticator

The chironji nut (Buchanania lanzan) is currently shelled by hand since there isn't a suitable machine. Since chironji nuts are similar to gorgon and cashew nuts, its their shelling can also be done through the methods followed in gorgon and cashew nuts. Chironji nuts are challenging to decorate because of their small size and hard-shelled grains, which cut in much more strongly to the kernels. It takes a lot of repeated impact and shear stresses on the shell to shell the nuts. In order to maximize decorticating efficiency and recovery and minimize broken kernel, a 3 horsepower electric motor-driven sheller with a capacity of 140–150 kg/h was conceived and constructed. The factors, which include feed rate, moisture content, concave clearance, and impeller speed, were tuned. The impeller, concave, cleaner/grader, and hopper are the four main parts of the sheller were mathematically designed. AutoCAD software was used to model the designed components before they were manufactured in the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India's machine shop. The machine measures 1140 mm in length, 1107 mm in width, and 2120 mm in height. The machine can process 157 kg of nuts per hour with a 69% decortication efficiency. The machine's overall weight was determined to be 168, and the estimated cost of fabrication was around 65,000 Indian rupees.