Jatropha Mobile Screw Press
20.01.2009
First Jatropha Mobile Screw Press Attracts Interest
Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH introduces smallest pressing plant.
Hamburg - The Jatropha World Fair held in October 2008 in Hamburg was attended by biodiesel producers, plantation owners, investors and mechanical engineering companies from all parts of the world. During those two days Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH presented to the interested visitors the possibilities of mechanical oil extraction from Jatropha kernels in practice. For this purpose the edible oil specialists had imported large quantities of Jatropha kernels for on-the-spot demonstrations of the efficiency and compact construction of a container pressing plant that has been specifically developed for oil extraction from Jatropha kernels.
Simple to set up
The mobile screw press is a ready-to-operate unit with a capacity of 100 to 150 kilogram per hour up to a system for 10 tons per day which can be either supplied in two standard freight containers or as a single container solution. It was specifically developed for operation on plantations in Africa which is the principal area where Jatropha nuts are cultivated. As a result of its exceptionally compact construction the pressing plant can be operated directly inside the containers. Only a few settings have to be made to start up the press. The mobile design of the press gives small-scale farmers the opportunity to easily relocate the screw press to different plantations. Alternatively, the plant can also be set up in a production hall. The press concept covers the entire process of seed preparation,
pressing and crude oil filtration.
Practice proven design
A vertical screw conveyor transports the Jatropha nuts from the store to the product intake where the kernels are directed through an opening in the container roof into the crushing mill. A dosing screw forwards the crushed kernels into the press. After the pressing operation the crude oil is conducted by an oil discharge screw into a tank. Another shaft conducts the press cakes down into corresponding collecting bins. A pipe system conducts the crude oil to the filtration system.
Minimum effort
To minimize the work for the plantation owners the seed preparation process for the screw press has been kept to an absolute minimum. Consequently, the kernels are not mechanically dried prior to processing, but this can be partly compensated by the hot climate prevailing in Jatropha cultivation areas. Jatropha processing with the container pressing plant is an economic alternative to large scale productions with other seeds.
Global leader
Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH with a workforce of 1,200 worldwide is one of the leading mechanical engineering and service companies in the field of rubber mixing, tire and edible oil technology. With production plants in three countries (Germany, Croatia and the US) and representative offices throughout the world, the company last year generated sales in excess of EUR 235 million. For further information on the company and its products visit: www.harburg-freudenberger.com.
