Development of postproduction machinery for Jatropha curcas seeds

Development of Postproduction Machinery for Jatropha curcas seeds

Arnold R. ElepañoInstitute of Agricultural Engineering

CEAT, UP Los Baños

2010 Completed Projects Output22 February 2011

OVCRE Bldg. Conference Hall

Project 6 Components (DOST 2007-2009)• Development of a Mechanical Harvester for Jatropha

Seeds

Dr. Ronel S. Pangan, Study Leader

• Development of Machinery and Equipment for Husking, Shelling and Cleaning of Jatropha Seeds

Engr. Jose D. de Ramos, Study Leader

• Design and Development of a System for the Drying and Storage Jatropha Seeds

Dr. Arnold R. Elepaño, Project Leader

Objectives

Develop postproduction machinery for Jatropha seed production

• Develop a set of machinery for the following operations: (i) harvesting, (ii) husking, (iii) shelling, and (iv) cleaning

• Design and develop a system for the proper (i) drying and (ii) storage of Jatropha seeds

• Test and evaluate the developed technologies

Fruit

dehusking

Husk

Seed

Shell

Kernel

shelling

Definitions

Undergraduate Thesis

• De Vela, R. 2008. Thermo-Physical Properties of Jatropha curcas Seeds

• Laguerta, I. 2009. Moisture Isotherms of Jatropha curcas Seeds and Kernels

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Moisture Content (% wet basis)

Len

gth

(in

) shelled

unshelled

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Moisture Content (% wet basis)

Wid

th (

in)

shelled

unshelled

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Moisture Content (% wet basis)

shelled

unshelledT

hic

kn

ess

Length vs. MC

Width vs. MC Thickness vs. MC

Dimensions

Bulk Density

True density (g/cm3)seeds: 0.767

kernel: 0.756

Angle of Repose

Specific Heat

Thermal Conductivity

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

0 50 100 150 200 250

time,s

ln (

TR

)

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Moisture Content (% wet basis)

Th

erm

al

co

nd

ucti

vit

y (

W/m

-K)

k = 0.04 + 0.4 MCw

Thermal Diffusivity

α = 1.97 x 10-6 + 2.17 x 10 -8 MCw

Cpk /

Jatropha Oil Content

• Soxhlet method

Green Fruit = 64.4% oil

Yellow Fruit = 62.9%

• Jatropha fruits, either green or yellow do not have significant differences in oil content. Fruits can be harvested all at the same time, 5-day harvest window.

Oil Content of Jatropha (AMDP/Biotech)

Component Oil Content, % Remarks

Husk Nil

Shell Nil

Kernel 12.5 – 57.8% Depends on the

variety

Harvesting Shear

Harvesting is accomplished by inserting the fruits on the slots and by pulling or shearing action.

The harvesting shear comes with a harvesting bucket slung to the operator. The two will be connected by a flexible hose so that harvested fruits will be conveyed directly to the basket.

Harvesting basket

10-15 kg capacity

Harvesting Rod

Rotating Head

DC Motor

Made of lightweight material.

Collection net should be laid on the ground priorto harvesting.

AMDP 19mar2009

Jatropha Fruit Dehusker Power requirement: 5 – 7 hp gasoline or

diesel engine

Requires one to two operators

1 – 2 tons per hour design capacity

Includes a separation unit to separate

the seeds from the pods

Can dehusk yellow to black fruits

AMDP 19mar2009

Manual Jatropha Fruit Dehusker Manually-operated using a crank Requires one to two operators A sieve separates the seeds from the

pods Can dehusk mature green to black fruits 50 to 80 kg per hour capacity

AMDP 19mar2009

Jatropha Seed Sheller

Power requirement: 1 hp electric motor

Requires one operator

200 – 300 kg per hour design capacity

Whole

Broke

nUnshelle

d

Flatbed Drying System for Jatropha

Main components:

Drying bin made of GI sheetBlowerBiomass furnace w/ Jatropha

shell as feed supplementedby other biomass materials

Capacity: 4 t/hDrying air temperature: 60°CDrying time: 6-8 h

Temperature Effect

• At constant RH, EMC decreases with increasing temperature

• The vapor pressure on the seed is higher at higher temperature

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Relative humidity, decimal

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

EM

C, %

db

30ºC 42ºC

63ºC

Seed vs Kernel

• Seed = Kernel + Shell

• Greater volume of the seed enables it to hold more moisture than kernel

• Fresh shell contains 49% moisture wb

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Relative humidity, decimal

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

EM

C, %

db

seeds

kernels

Seed Conditioner

• Continuous flow

• Rotary drum

• Biomass furnace

Oil Expeller

• Adapted from the coconut oil expeller design• 100 kg seed/hr• 85 -90 % extraction efficiency • 4 KW motor

• Performance affected by: MC Temperature of seed Size reduction Shaft RPM Percent hull removed

1,000 li/day capacity PPT RequirementEquipment Specifications Total Cost

1. Harvester 9 units

50-100 kg/h

PhP 540,000

2. Husker 1 unit

1 ton/h

120,000

3. Sheller 3 units

200 kg/h

180,000

4. Dryer 1 unit

4 ton/h

660,000

5. Storage 500 bags cap 255,000

6. Extractor 2 units

300 kg/h

1,800,000

7. Others Building, 180 m2

Ancillary Equipment

1,400,000

Total Investment Cost PhP 4,955,000

arnold_elepano@yahoo.com