Cold pressed virgin coconut oil production: Enhancing energy efficiency through a closed tunnel hot air generation system

Abstract

The primary aim of this paper was to research and develop a closed tunnel house hot air production system, focusing on cost reduction in the cold-pressed coconut oil production process. The study's scope was centered on a case analysis of Tropicana Oil Co. Ltd. situated in Sampran district, Nakhon Pathom province. The research encompassed the design of a system capable of generating hot air and conserving thermal energy within a closed tunnel house environment. This included developing and constructing a prototype system tailored to this purpose. One of the key objectives was to assess the system's efficiency within the closed tunnel house setup. The broader goal was to enhance air temperature while reducing moisture content before initiating the coconut drying process. It was achieved through an electricity-powered hot air-drying technique, the process aimed to efficiently eliminate water or moisture from dried coconut, priming it for the subsequent cold-pressed oil extraction phase. The resulting system is anticipated to yield multiple benefits. It's projected to curtail energy consumption for operators by minimizing temperature losses within the system. This is facilitated by augmenting natural heat to elevate the air and container temperature during baking. Furthermore, this research unveiled insights into the optimal tunnel house configuration as a highly effective heat source. It also advanced knowledge in creating low-humidity heat storage systems and measurement/control mechanisms tailored for specific tasks. These innovations are anticipated to have applications beyond the coconut oil industry, extending to other sectors reliant on heat energy for production processes.