Design and construction of a dual powered groundnut oil extractor.

Abstract

Groundnut is a very important oil seed and food crop around the globe based on its nutritional and trade values, it also serves as food for humans or livestock) and in the absence of meat, forms a valuable dietary protein component: Oil extracted from groundnut by traditional means can produce about 20-30% from the groundnut whereas the mechanical methods will yield a higher percentage. A mechanical means of extracting oil was designed, constructed with Ideally available materials and tested for groundnut oil extraction. The machine consists of the frame, hopper, a chain and sprocket reduction system and the power shaft It was powered by a 3 hp,1450rpm 3-phase electric motor. The extractor has an average capacity of 30kg/hr and 13.4kg/hr when run using motor at a speed of 161rpm and flywheel at an average of 60rpm respectively and on testing however the machine produced oily paste instead of oil, this was due to large size (0.5mm) of oil nozzles on the barrel which allowed some paste through along with the oil and low pressure build 'up (internal pressure 24MPa) in the barrel. The machine comes with a production cost of 1 million UgX. The 'extractor can be used for small scale groundnut oil extraction in the rural and urban communities, Keywords: Groundnut, Machine, Extractor, oily-paste, Oil.