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