Palm fruit sheller

Types of palm fruit shellers

A palm fruit sheller refers to a machine used to remove the shell of palm fruits. The fruits are usually hard and tend to damage the kernels. Therefore, the shellers are designed to extract the kernels without damaging them. There are various types of palm fruit shellers adapted to shell different kinds of fruits. Here are some of them:

• Manual palm sheller

  The manual sheller is operated by hand. It consists of a cylindrical housing made from wood or metal fitted with a crank handle. Inside the housing, there are threads that grip and crack the palm fruit shells. Since it is operated manually, it is suitable for small-scale farmers. Overall, the manual sheller is affordable compared to automatic models.

• Electric palm fruit sheller

  The electric sheller comprises an electric motor and a fruit hopper. All the operator has to do is feed the fruit into the hopper and turn on the motor. The process of extracting the fruit shell is automatic. Depending on the model, some motor speeds can be adjusted. The electric palm sheller is suitable for mid to large-scale operations. It is faster than the manual model but can be more expensive.

• Pneumatic palm sheller

  A pneumatic palm sheller makes use of compressed air to extract palm kernels from their shells. It applies high-stress levels to crack the shells while dislodging the kernels. Like the electric sheller, this type of sheller can be used in mid to large-scale operations. It is also faster than manual shellers and, in most cases, damages few palm kernels. However, a pneumatic palm sheller needs a source of compressed air such as an air compressor or pressurized gas to function.

• Centrifugal palm sheller

  The centrifugal palm sheller is similar to the pneumatic model in that it processes the palm fruit based on a specific mechanism. As the name suggests, this sheller uses centrifuge force to crack the palm fruit shells. The machine has a rotating drum. The cleaned whole palm fruits are fed into the drum and rotated at high speeds. The cracked shells are then separated from the palm kernels. Some centrifugal palm shellers have an air separator to blow away the cracked shells.

Specifications & maintenance of the palm fruit sheller

Specifications

It is important to pay attention to the surrounding area and working environment of the palm kernel fruit sheller so as not to cause any mechanical damage to the machine. More details on some critical parts of the palm kernel sheller are as follows:

• Feeding system

  This part is responsible for distributing the palm fruit into the shelling chamber evenly, ensuring consistent shelling results. Many feeding systems utilize vibrating feeders, hoppers, and conveyor belts to do this function. The feeding system's design can influence the efficiency of a kernel scleral sheller machine strongly. An unevenly-fed palm fruit can result in a jammed, inefficient, or overburdened shelling system.

• Air separator

  An air separator separates the light empty fruit shells from the palm nuts based on weight, shape, and size. Generally, this part includes an adjustable airflow fan, a conveyor system, and quantity separators. By adjusting the fan's speed and direction as well as the angle and speed of the conveyor belt, the expected separation outcome can be achieved successfully. The palm nuts will then be collected for further processing, while the empty fruits shells will go for disposal.

• Shelling mechanism

  This mechanism's primary duty is to break the hard shells of the palm fruits, releasing the kernels. Depending on the model and manufacturer, the shelling mechanism may consist of impact plates, hammers, rotating drums, etc. The efficiency of the palm kernel extraction machine is significantly influenced by the performance of the shelling mechanism. The mechanism should effectively extract the kernels without damaging them. The performance can influence the subsequent steps of the palm fruit processing line.

• Vibrating sieves

  The vibrating sieves are responsible for classifying the crushed materials. They separate the undesirable materials, such as shell fragments and fibers, from the palm kernels in accordance with size and weight. Different sieve mesh sizes and vibration frequencies enable different levels of separation and classification. The vibrating sieves' effectiveness determines how well the damaged shell fragments and fibers are separated out. This sets the stage for the further refinement and purity confirmation of the palm kernels.

• Conveyor belts

  The separated materials are transported to different storage systems by the conveyor belts. Palm kernel conveyors come in a variety of designs, including as tube and belt conveyors, depending on the desired destination and the type of material. The destination of the materials is crucial to subsequent processing and storage. The storage facilities for palm kernel may include silos, bags, conveyor belts, and storage systems.

Maintenance

For principal parts of the palm kernel fruit sheller described above, their corresponding maintenance methods are summarized as follows:

• Feeding system:

  The feeding system needs to be cleaned on a regular basis. Cleaning is especially important after fruit shelling to prevent blockages and uneven feeding. Only fruit residues and other debris should be removed but also avoid shelling residues stuck in the feeding system. To ensure even distribution of palm fruits, all components, particularly the vibrating feeders and hoppers, should be checked for structural integrity and operational efficiency on a regular basis. Timely repairs of any damage can avoid uneven feeding and subsequently reduce shelling efficiency.

• Air separator:

  Adjust the air fan's speed regularly so that the best separation effect can be obtained. The angle and speed of the conveyor should also be adjusted periodically, maintaining the separation efficiency in accordance with the specific fruit characteristics. Because the air separator is very critical to the following processing, it and the fan motor should be checked periodically to ensure that they operate normally to avoid malfunction or separation failure.

• Shelling mechanism:

  The impacting plates and hammers of the shelling mechanism need to be routinely lubricated so that they can move freely and shell efficiently. Regularly inspect the shelling mechanism, including its components and connections, to ensure proper shelling and avoid damage to the palm kernels. Timely adjustment and repair of any abnormalities are required. In order to achieve the best shelling results, the shelling mechanism is required to be calibrated periodically according to the characteristics of different palm fruits. The calibration includes adjusting the shelling gap, shelling intensity, etc.

• Vibrating sieves:

  The mesh of vibrating sieves should be cleaned periodically so as to avoid clogging and maintain the classification efficiency. Depending on the classification requirements, the vibrating sieves' mesh sizes should be replaced periodically. The durability and classification precision of vibrating sieves are ensured by regularly checking the vibration motors and their connections. Scheduling maintenance ensures that the classification accuracy is maintained and that the materials are properly handled.

• Conveyor belts:

  Cleaning conveyor belts periodically is necessary to remove fruit residue and other wastes. The cleaning ensures that no residues are transported to further processing and thus facilitates further processing efficiency. The connections and motors of the conveyor belts need to be inspected periodically to ensure normal operation and avoid material jamming and interruption of transportation.

Scenarios of palm fruit shellers

Palm nut shellers are mainly used in the palm oil processing industry. Here are some usage scenarios:

• Small-scale palm oil processors: Small-scale palm oil processors use palm fruit shellers to separate palm nuts from oil palm fruits. After the oil palm fruits are shelled, the oil can be extracted directly from the fruit pulp. This allows small-scale processors to obtain valuable products while reducing processing costs.
• Agricultural cooperatives or workshops: Agricultural cooperatives or workshops can use palm fruit shellers for centralized processing. These cooperatives or workshops shell a large number of oil palm fruits, providing processed raw materials for further processing or sale. Centralized processing can improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Research and experimental use: Research institutions or experimental farms may use palm fruit shellers for research or experimentation. They can study the characteristics and effects of different types of palm nut shellers, as well as optimize the processes and techniques related to palm oil extraction.
• Families with oil palm plantations: Families with oil palm plantations can use palm fruit shellers for self-use. They can process part of the harvested oil palm fruits for household consumption or local sale, reducing dependence on external processing services.
• Mobile processing units: Mobile processing units can use palm nut shellers for on-site processing. These units provide shelling services at the site of oil palm cultivation or near fruit production areas, reducing transportation costs and time, and improving processing efficiency.
• Food processing companies: Some food processing companies use palm fruit shellers to process palm oil as one of their production ingredients. These companies require a stable supply of palm oil, and palm fruit shellers can help them obtain the raw materials directly.

How to choose palm fruit shellers

Before buying palm kernel shellers, there are a few crucial things to consider.

• Capacity

  Settling on the ideal capacity of the palm kernel suture sheller depends on several factors. The capacity of the fruit sheller is quantified by the amount of fruits it can process within a specified timeframe, for example, an hour. Every fruit sheller has its specific capacity due to the different techniques and models of construction. When buying a fruit sheller for a farming business, it is vital to consider the capacity as it will have a direct impact on productivity and efficiency. For large-scale operations where huge volumes of fruits are processed daily, investing in a fruit sheller with a large capacity will be more cost-effective in the long run and will save time.

• Fruit type compatibility

  Not all fruit shellers are created to efficiently and effectively process all types of fruits. Certain fruit shellers have been designed and constructed specifically to handle the unique characteristics of specific fruits like the palm fruit sheller for sale. The compatibility between a fruit sheller and a particular fruit is essential for optimal performance, minimal downtime, and maximum yield. The design of the fruit sheller may include specific feeding mechanisms, variable speed controls, and precision cutting tools that correspond to the size and shape of the fruit it is meant to shell.

• Machine durability

  Considering the machine's durability of a palm fruit sheller means looking at the material it's made of. This may comprise stainless steel, carbon steel, and cobalt alloy. Due to their long-lasting nature, stainless steel fruit shellers can withstand rust and corrosion for many years when exposed to harsh environmental elements. Farmers can rest assured that their fruit sheller will last long, thanks to its durable material, which will require little maintenance.

• Cost

  When considering how much the palm fruit sheller costs, it's crucial to examine the factors influencing the price to better understand what one is paying for and what one will get in return. Several variables, including capacity, technology, material, fruit type compatibility, and machine durability, affect the cost of a sheller. The fruit type compatibility is also the main reason fruit shellers vary in price, with some fruits having unique features that are more costly than others, like the palm fruit kernel.

FAQ

Q1: What is the importance of learning how to shelled palm fruits in Nigeria?

A1: Understanding how to shelled palm fruits is crucial in that it empowers one to establish independent business ventures.

Q2: Where can one learn how to shell palm fruits?

A2: There are several options available to educate people on the art of shelling palm such as workshops, universities and online tutorials among others.

Q3: What are the advantages of a mechanical palm kernel sheller?

A3: Mechanical palm kernel shellers are efficient, have a high capacity, reduce manual labor, and provide better separation and extraction rates.

Q4: What are the types of palm kernel shellers?

A4: There are two main types of palm kernel shellers; mechanical and manual palm kernel shellers. The manual palm kernel sheller is further categorized into single barrel, double barrel and array palm kernel shellers.

Q5: What are the latest developments in palm kernel shelling technology?

A5: Some of the latest developments in palm kernel shelling technology include automated precision shellers, sustainable shelling methods and smart shelling systems.