The facility for rapeseed peeling in the ultrahigh frequency electromagnetic field

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Well-known plants can process 12 tons of unpeeled rapeseed per day, producing from each ton of seeds 40% of oil used as diesel fuel and 60% of cake with up to 20% oil content. To use the oil for food purposes, peeled rapeseed seeds should be used. The problem of high–quality peeling of rapeseed with the separation of the husk from the kernel and the preservation of the integrity of the kernel remains unresolved. AIM: The purpose of the work is to develop an installation for peeling rapeseed seeds in an ultrahigh frequency electromagnetic field in the process of hydro mechanical destruction and abrasion of shells. METHODS: Peeling of rapeseed seeds occurs: − due to hydro mechanical destruction (moistening of the shell to preserve the strength of the core, a single impact to destroy the strength of the bonds between the shells and the core); - abrasion of the shells as a result of friction against the rotating cone of the condenser part of the quasi- toroidal resonator and mutual friction of the seeds in an ultrahigh - frequency electromagnetic field RESULTS. The flow of the initial rapeseed seeds, together with the transporting air, is fed into the receiving container, where it is moistened. Seeds with a moistened shell through a radio-transparent funnel located in the condenser part of the quasi-toroidal resonator fall on the surface of the rotor, are subjected to repeated impact, intense friction against the abrasive surface. As a result, the shells of rapeseed seeds are separated from the core. The cores fall down and are discharged through the container. Light particles are removed by air through a pneumatic separation channel. In the sedimentary chamber, heavy ratios are separated from light impurities. Microcracks appear in the shell of rapeseed seeds, which facilitates separation from the core. The amount and rate of moisture absorption depends on the temperature of endogenous heating of rapeseed components. As the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the water molecules increases and, consequently, the intensity of moisture transfer in the shell. CONCLUSION: Calculations show that the electric field strength in the resonator reaches up to 15 kV/cm, which makes it possible to increase the temperature of dielectric heating of rapeseed seeds by 15-20 °C at a circumferential rotor speed (18-20 m/s) and promotes the separation of the moistened shell from the seed core. With an electric rotor drive power of 4.2 kW, a rotation speed of 750 rpm, and a magnetron power of 3.3 kW, the installation capacity will be 150 kg/h. Energy costs are equal to 0.05 kWh/kg. Advantages of a microwave-powered husker with a quasi-toroidal resonator: high technological efficiency, relatively low power consumption. Endogenous heat enhances the process of swelling of the shells. The resulting internal shifts facilitate the process of separating the shells from the rapeseed kernel, and the thermal factor makes it possible to shorten the duration of separation of the shells from the poison.