Design Improvements and Performance Evaluation of a Developed Coconut Dehusking Machine

Abstract

Manual coconut dehusking is slow, labor-intensive, and often unsafe, motivating the development of mechanized dehusking machines. However, existing designs often suffer from long processing times and low efficiency. This study presents design improvements and a performance evaluation of a developed coconut dehusking machine. Key modifications included upgrading the drive system to a 3 hp geared motor, optimizing the blade configuration, and refining the frame and roller alignment. The improved machine was experimentally tested on ten coconut samples, and performance was assessed using dehusking time and energy consumption as metrics. Results showed a reduction in dehusking time to 9–13 seconds per coconut, compared to 15–25 seconds for the original machine, and improved energy efficiency due to shorter processing time. These findings demonstrate that the implemented design improvements significantly enhance machine performance, making it more efficient and suitable for small- to medium-scale coconut processing, while acknowledging that further testing with a larger sample is recommended.