Coconut Shell Separator/

Coconut Oil Extractor

Akshaykumar Mattur, Chinmai Bhat
6th Semester, Mechanical Engineering Department
Basaveshwar Engineering College, Bagalkot
State: Karnataka, Country: India
matturakshay@gmail.com
cvbhatjkd@gmail.com
7795336758, 9886832850

cvbhatjkd@gmail.com
Abstract: This is the era of automation. 7795336758,
To sustain 9886832850
Year World India’s
in today’s competitive environment, automation is Requirement Production
the must necessary. This brings in a versatile (1000 (1000
product that may be used as Shell Separator or Tonnes) Tonnes)
when it is connected to crusher, becomes Oil 2008-09 5620 405
Extractor. Here, we have taken it as Oil Extractor. 2009-10 6600 415
This mainly deals with the process that will bring 2010-11 6240 407
automation in extraction of coconut oil right from
introduction of dry coconut (including husk) into
machine to coconut oil. This innovation is the
Entrepreneurial product that collaborates
components of IT and non-IT. II. Scope of this Innovation

I. Existing Problems  Coconut oil is widely used as edible oil, as

 De-husking of coconut is most tedious work
and requires more labor and time.
 The potential growth of coconut trees in
North Karnataka has been increased due to
extended irrigation facilities by the
government but at the mean time they face
problem in either selling or transporting
 Coconut oil production rate is low and
doesn’t compete with world’s requirement
as India is third largest producer of
coconuts.
hair oil, for body massaging also in soap and
chemical industries.
 Yes we agree, such machines are available
in market. But ours is the most automated
and good productive based one.
 The technology of those machines is limited
only till de-husking but ours involve
complete automation of all those processes
that are needed for extraction of oil.
 With little ALTERATIONS our product can
also be used to extract different oils like
(Sunflower, Groundnut oil etc.), during off-
season of coconuts.
 Very minimum human intervention is
required.
 III. Technology
The automation and processing of all the system is
controlled through sensors (microcontroller based) –
Complete automation from De-husking till
IT COMPONENTs
extraction of coconut oil
HOW?
IV. 3D Views
Parts used
1) Spiral feeding/husk removal system: It
1. Rotary Shafts of Spiral Feeding System
consists of two rotary shafts with spiral
blades as shown below in figure 1. Both
these blades are made to rotate in opposite
direction such that coconut stays within the
groove and the spiral shape of blade is
because it helps in motion of coconuts as
well as removal of husk. Both these shafts
are inclined at 15 degrees so that coconut
moves also under gravity. Measures are
taken to maintain coconuts within the
system by providing outer covering. Intake Figure 21
of coconuts (including husk) into the
system is controlled by microcontroller
2. Elliptical Ball Mill
through quantity sensors which are
explained in Controlling Unit.
2) Elliptical Ball Mill: Ball mill consists
of protrusions inside made up of steel or
tungsten carbide of high BHN and rotate at
prescribed speed so that coconut inside this
mill falls from top to bottom(due to
gravity) and hits these protrusion with high
impact. Thus, shell of de-husked coconuts
break. It is worth noting that dry coconuts
(copra) won’t break due to their elastic Figure 2
nature. The speed of rotation is controlled
by microcontroller through speed and
vibration sensors which are explained in V. Top, Bottom, Cross-sectional
Controlling Unit. Ref figure 2. and Isometric Views
3) Conveyer: De-husked, de-shelled dry coconuts
(copra) along with broken shells fall on the conveyer 1. Spiral Feeding System
which will be moving at high velocity. As the shells
are broken into small pieces, their weight is very less
when compared to weight of copras. Hence, copras
fall near the conveyer which is then introduced into
the crusher through hopper whereas shells fall away
at some distance from the conveyer. Similar process
can be observed in Rice Mills during separation of
rice grains from its husk.
4) Crusher: these are used for extraction of coconut
oil from copras.
Figure 3
 2. Elliptical Ball Mill
Figure 4
VI. Controlling Unit
The controlling unit consists
Microcontroller and Sensors.
Microcontroller: is the one that receives command
from the sensors and in turn controls the motion of
the motors
Sensors: A sensor is a device that measures a
physical quantity and converts it into a signal which
can be read by an observer or by an instrument. It can
also be defined as a device which receives and
responds to a signal or stimulus. The mechanical
sensors that we have used here are:
 Quantity Sensors: These sensors are
used to count and allow the prescribed
amount of coconut into the spiral
feeding system. These sensors can
control ON/OFF mechanisms of spiral
feeding system automatically.
 Speed Sensors : The various types of
speed sensors most commonly used are
-Tacho generator, Reflective/Slotted
opto-coupler, Doppler Effect sensors
from the vibration sensors, depending
upon the instruction received from the
vibration sensors the speed fluctuates. If
vibration is more in ball mill the speed
increases. As the shell break into
smaller pieces, the vibration reduces
and hence speed decreases. At one
threshold vibration, the ball mill stops
rotating and de-shelled copras along
with shells fall on the conveyer from
where they are separated.
of
 Vibrating Sensors: These sensors senses
the frequency of vibration and works as
explained above. Vibration motion
mainly measures what is known as
oscillation. The frequency of the
oscillation depends on the amount of
force acting per area of ball mill. As the
shell breaks into smaller pieces, the
impact on the surface reduces and hence
when it is connected to microcontroller,
reduces the speed of the ball mill.
 VII. Process Chart IX. Controlling Unit Process
Chart

Motor

Motor Speed Sensor

Microcontroller Quantity Sensor Ball Mill

Vibration Sensor

Here, the quantity sensors will first count the

prescribed amount of coconuts entering into the mill.
VIII. Diagram showing location of After prescribed amount of coconut entering into the
various parts and sensors mill, the door will be closed by motor controlled by
microcontroller. The rotation of ball mill starts as
soon as the opening is closed. Vibration sensor and
speed sensor govern
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ffffffffffffffffffffffffffddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Hopper ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Spiral feeding system ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

Hopper X. Costing

Product Name Qty Amount

Ball Mill
Design consultancy - 10,000/-
and Prototyping
Copras
Shafts with spiral 2 50,000/-
blades
Ball Mill 1 50,000/-
Conveyer
Hopper Crusher 1 50,000/-
Conveyer Belt 1 10,000/-
Crusher
Motors 4 20,000/-
IT Components - 40,000/-
Design and Testing - 20,000/-
Miscellaneous - 20,000/-
Total 2,70,000/-
 • We will implement the scanner that will
scan for rotted coconuts being carried for processing
XI. Activity wise Breakup and measures will be taken so as to remove it.

MONTH ACTIVITES
January Survey XIII. Conclusion
February Definition and
Concept Automation is the most basic need for every
March Designing and manufacturing and processing industries in today’s
Specification competitive world. Coconut oil extractor is one such
April Design Review product which enhances production capacity and also
May Planning and
promotes Entrepreneurship. It has the capacity to
Fabrication
June Fabrication provide employment opportunities and also reduces
July Fabrication efforts of farmers
August Fabrication
September Fabrication
October Fabrication
XIV. Acknowledgement
November Testing and Review
December Planning and
We wish to take opportunity to thank to our Principal
Marketing
Dr.R.N.Herkal, HOD of Mechanical Engineering
Department Dr.S.N.Kurbet, and our Guide
Dr.V.V.Kuppast.

Activity We also like to extend our thanks to Organisers and

120 Volunteers of INSIGNIA’15 (TECHFEST
100 SDMCET) for giving us opportunity to present our
80
paper.
60
40
20 Activity
0 XV. Bibliography
1st month
2nd month

4th month
5th month
6th month
7th month
8th month
9th month
3rd month

10th month
11th month
12th month

[1] Automation production systems and computer-

XII. Advanced Phase
In advanced phase we will improve the product so
that the quality of the produced coconut oil will be
improved. The various implementations are:
integrated manufacturing by Mikell.P.Groover
[2] CAD-CAM by P.N.Rao
[3] Autodesk Inventor Professional 2014
[4] Autodesk Inventor by Curtis Waguespack.
[5] Engineering Economics by K.R.Phaneesh.
[6] Creating Entrepreneur by Roger Cowdrey.
[7] www.google.com

• In this phase, we mainly concentrate on

solarizing the power requirements. This will help us
to reduce the cost of coconut oil and hence farmers
will be benefited.
Literature Survey human labor. About 20 – 40 kg of
copra can be handled by a chekku
Coconut oil is consumed in tropical
countries for thousands of years.
Studies done on native diets high in
coconut oil consumption show that
this population is generally in good
health. Coconut oil has a long shelf
life and is used in baking industries,
processed foods, infant formulae,
pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and as hair
oil. Compared to other oil seed crops,
coconut oil is less susceptible to
abnormal climatic condition. However,
the extraction of coconut oil is not an
easy task. It involves de-husking of
dried coconuts, breaking the shells,
making the copras into small pieces
and then oil is extracted.

Common Methods of Coconut Oil

Production

Different types of coconut oil for

edible purposes are available viz, virgin
coconut oil from wet coconuts
(unrefined grade); coconut oil from
dry coconuts (unrefined grade); and
coconut oil by solvent extraction
method (refined from coconut
expeller cake). Virgin coconut oil is
claimed to have more health benefits
compared to coconut oil extracted
from copra.

Copra Milling by traditional Methods

The extraction of oil from copra is one

of the oldest seed crushing
operations. In India and Sri Lanka copra
is still crushed for oil extraction in
the primitive chekkus as well as in
rotary ghanis, expellers and hydraulic
presses. The chekku is a fixed wooden
or stone mortar inside which revolves
on a hard wooden pestle. The pestle is
attached to a long pole which is moved
round via bullocks, donkey or by