Development of a Grain Winnowing and Separation Machine

Kong, Kar Jing (2026) Development of a Grain Winnowing and Separation Machine. Final Year Project (Diploma), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

The grain winnowing and separation machine improves post-harvest efficiency by separating grain from chaff using sieving and airflow, reducing labour and increasing productivity. It consists of a feeding hopper, sieving unit, winnowing fan, and separate outlets for grain and waste. The design emphasises low cost, simple fabrication, and suitability for small to medium-scale farmers. A literature review was conducted to evaluate existing machines and identify suitable separation mechanisms for the design. Based on this, three conceptual designs were developed, from which a final design was selected and modelled using SolidWorks. The final design selected consist of an adjustable feeding hopper, blower with horizontal airflow, and a sieving system with three layers. The prototype was fabricated and tested to evaluate its performance. Experimental results showed that the machine was capable of effective grainâhusk separation, achieving a maximum grain recovery efficiency of 91.67% under optimal operating condition of 200 g input at 200 V. It was observed that increasing airflow improved husk separation but also caused grain loss at excessively high velocities, indicating the need for proper airflow control. Modifications such as the addition of a mesh at the outlet improved husk containment