Study and Design of a Dry Palm Kernel Separator

Abstract

Palm oil and palm kernel oil production in Benin relies primarily on the artisanal sector. Surveys were conducted among rural women in southern Benin to detail each phase of the artisanal production process, from raw material procurement to product marketing. Some practices have not encouraged mechanization, and processing processes that have long remained manual are now poorly mechanized. The present study was carried out with a view to studying and designing a "dry palm kernel separating machine". It is intended to facilitate the separation of hulls and palm kernels in order to optimize the yield of separation, and reducing the pain of the nut processors. The realization of the machine has required the collection of a number of materials and parts among which we can cite: the motor, steel shafts, plates and bearings. It was built according to three systems: a drum, vibrating perforated grids and a conveyor belt to ensure good separation. First of all, there is a first separation at the level of the drum which allows in a first place to recover the not crushed shells. After this first separation, a second one is made on two perforated grids of different diameters. This separation is to collect hulls and broken almonds that could pass and finally, the third separation based on a conveyor belt, allowing to collect round almonds and without hulls. However, it is equipped with a Robbin engine of 1 HP that rotates at a speed of 1500 rpm. The tests and studies on the equipment have allowed the separation of hulls and kernels in the transformation process. These tests have resulted in a separation of 200 Kg of crushed nuts per hour. The machine has been partially designed and tested manually to attest its functionality, which is quite satisfactory.