Effect of compression speed on energy requirement and oil yield of Jatropha curcas L. bulk seeds under linear compression

Abstract

The influence of pressing speed on energy demand and percentage oil yield of Jatropha curcas L. bulk seeds was examined in compression loading test using Universal Testing Machine and vessel diameter of 60 mm. Maximum force of 100 kN and speed between 1 and 50 mm min−1 were applied on jatropha bulk seeds of initial moisture content 8.61% ± 1.14% (w. b.) at pressing height of 60 mm. The mechanical behaviour and deformation characteristic curves of jatropha bulk seeds were also assessed in relation to speed. Based on the statistical analysis of results, deformation energy decreased significantly (p 0.05). In contrast, oil point force increased with increasing compression speed from 17.03 ± 2.33 to 59.27 ± 30.81 kN, oil point deformation from 38.22 ± 0.49 to 41.99 ± 1.40 mm and oil point energy from 0.15 ± 0.01 to 0.31 ± 0.09 kJ, all significant at p