Development of Postproduction

Machinery for Jatropha curcas seeds

Arnold R. Elepaño
Institute of Agricultural Engineering
CEAT, UP Los Baños

2010 Completed Projects Output

22 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
Definitions

Kernel
shelling

Seed

dehusking

Fruit
Shell

Husk
Undergraduate Thesis
• De Vela, R. 2008. Thermo-Physical Properties of
Jatropha curcas Seeds
• Laguerta, I. 2009. Moisture Isotherms of Jatropha
curcas Seeds and Kernels
 Dimensions
0.5
0.45
unshelled
0.4
0.35 shelled

Length (in)
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1 Length vs. MC
0.05
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Moisture Content (% wet basis)

0.7
Width vs. MC 0.7 Thickness vs. MC
0.6
0.6
0.5
Thickness
0.5
Width (in)

0.4 unshelled 0.4 unshelled

0.3 0.3 shelled

shelled
0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1

0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Moisture Content (% wet basis) Moisture Content (% wet basis)

Bulk Density

True density (g/cm3)

seeds: 0.767
kernel: 0.756
Angle of Repose
Specific Heat
Thermal Conductivity
1.2

0.8

ln (TR)
0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 50 100 150 200 250
time,s

0.18

Thermal conductivity (W/m-K)

0.16

0.14

0.12

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
k = 0.04 + 0.4 MCw Moisture Content (% wet basis)
Thermal Diffusivity   k / Cp

α = 1.97 x 10-6 + 2.17 x 10 -8 MCw

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

Made of lightweight material.

Collection net should be laid on the ground prior

to harvesting. DC Motor
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
n
AMDP 19mar2009
Unshelle
Flatbed Drying System for Jatropha

Main components:

Drying bin made of GI sheet

Blower
Biomass furnace w/ Jatropha
shell as feed supplemented
by other biomass materials

Capacity: 4 t/h
Drying air temperature: 60°C
Drying time: 6-8 h
 Temperature Effect

20
• At constant RH, EMC
18 decreases with
16

14
increasing temperature
30ºC
12

10
42ºC
• The vapor pressure on
8
63ºC
the seed is higher at
EMC, % db

4 higher temperature
2

0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Relative humidity, decimal

 Seed vs Kernel
• Seed = Kernel + Shell
20 • Greater volume of the
18

16
seed enables it to hold
14 more moisture than
12
kernel
10

8
seeds
• Fresh shell contains
EMC, %db

4
kernels
49% moisture wb
2

0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Relative humidity, decimal

 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 Requirement
Equipment Specifications Total Cost

1. Harvester 9 units PhP 540,000

50-100 kg/h
2. Husker 1 unit 120,000
1 ton/h
3. Sheller 3 units 180,000
200 kg/h
4. Dryer 1 unit 660,000
4 ton/h
5. Storage 500 bags cap 255,000
6. Extractor 2 units 1,800,000
300 kg/h
7. Others Building, 180 m2 1,400,000
Ancillary Equipment
Total Investment Cost PhP 4,955,000
arnold_elepano@yahoo.com