Effect of Moisture and Grain Type on the Capacity, Specific Energy and Particle Size of Hammer Mill

Abstract

The grinding of feed components is the first step in the process of preparing and manufacturing feed because it minimizes energy waste during feed intake. This paper presents the effect of moisture and grain type on the capacity, energy and particle size of a hammer mill. Specific capacity, specific energy, geometric mean diameter, and size reduction degree were measured. Two moisture levels of the grain (8.2 and 13.4 %) and three types of grain (wheat, barley and yellow corn) were used. Results showed that increasing grain moisture from 8.2 to 13.4 % led to no significant effect on specific capacity and specific energy. On the other hand, a significant increase in the geometric mean diameter of grinding and decreased size reduction degree, with changing the grain type (wheat, barley and yellow corn) recorded a significant effect in all the indicators studied. The best results was achieved at the moisture of grains 8.2 % and yellow corn grains, the highest specific capacity was 2.80 kg.kWh^-1, the least specific energy was 0.36 kWh.kg^-1, Also least geometric mean diameter was 428.2 µm, and the highest size reduction degree was 48.24. It was concluded that when grain moisture was raised, there was no significant effect in specific capacity, specific energy, a significant increase in the geometric mean diameter of grinding and decreased size reduction degree, with changing the grain type (wheat, barley and yellow corn) recorded a significant effect in all the indicators studied.