CONTENTS Editorial - PALMOILISpalmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/POEB/poeb81.pdf · PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81 Recent Events Contributed by: Noor Asmawati Abd Samad* * Malaysian

PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81 �

CONTENTS

Editorial

RECENT EVENTS

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 2007 MPOB Training Programme

2007 MPOB Conferences/Seminars

FEATURE ARTICLESMalaysian Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects

Innovative Engineering Technology

An Introduction to Jatropha curcas

Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Loss Factor of Crude Palm Oil (CPO)

Mongana Basic: 7 - Extraction by Non-continuous Press

TITBITS

DATASHEET Fuel Characteristics of Methyl Ester and Diesel Oil

1

3

7

8

11

19

23

45

EDITORIAL BOARD

ChairmanDato’ Dr Mohd Basri Wahid

• Dr Choo Yuen May• Dr Lim Weng Soon• Dr Ma Ah Ngan

• Ab Aziz Md Yusof • Ir N P Thorairaj

SecretaryIr N Ravi Menon

Malaysian Palm Oil BoardMinistry of Plantation Industries and Commodities,

MalaysiaP .O. Box 10620, 50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 603-8769 4400Fax: 603-8925 9446

Website: http://mpob.gov.my

© Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 2006All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Products and services advertised in thisPalm Oil Engineering Bulletin do not

connote endorsement by MPOB.

TEditorial

see page 2

35

51

53

owing to many discouraging factors, the main one being the poor price of the energy produced. The returns are not good enough to attract potential investors. At one time, Europe had also gone through this stage but everything changed when their governments removed subsidies and imposed levy on fossil fuels. In Malaysia, the opposite is true - fossil fuel is subsidized but no such thing yet for renewable energy. Still some companies were brave enough to get it started. The companies were in east Malaysia where the electricity tariff is considerably higher than west Malaysia. In other words, it was probably a profitable venture.

In west Malaysia, there is a financial risk with the setting up of renewable energy power plants unless the government steps in and offers subsidy for renewable energy. West Malaysia’s overcapacity for power generation is another discouraging factor for the development of renewable energy in Malaysia. Another obstacle is the poor quality of empty fruit bunch (EFB), the biomass fuel targeted for renewable energy production. The EFB has about 70% moisture making it a tough customer as a power plant fuel. The transport cost of this fuel itself will be a deterrent for its marketability. Special treatment will be necessary to make it marketable. It is difficult to raise 42 bar steam pressure in a boiler using EFB as the fuel unless other fuel with high calorific value is used to complement the fuel.

he progress of biomass-based power generation is moving at a slow pace in Malaysia

PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81�

from page 2

CALL FOR ARTICLES

The millers are requested to send in articles of relevance to the palm oil industry in Malaysia for publication in Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin. By sharing your expertise you will be helping the industry and the nation as a whole. The topics of interest are:

1. Plant modifications done in your mill that resulted in improvements in milling operation or maintenance.

2. Innovations done in your mill that produced improvements in the operation of the mill and that you are willing to share them with others.

3. Any special work done in your mill that directly resulted in improvements in OER and product quality.

Please submit your article to us and we shall be pleased to publish them in Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin. Feel proud to have your articles published in this Bulletin that is circulated throughout the industry and MPOB offices worldwide.

Technical challenges relating to use of EFB must be addressed. For example, use of EFB as a raw fuel for boilers could cause premature boiler tube failure due to the high concentration of potassium in the fuel. This point has to be taken into serious consideration when the boiler is designed. The tubes subjected to the impact of the flow of furnace flue gases could corrode the tubes. This will require

some tube protection like protective coating or special shielding. The mills venturing into renewable energy power plants are requested to consider the above points as otherwise it may cost too much to rectify a defect at a later stage. Many projects failed because the mills did not visualize a number of problems that might arise in the course of plant operation.


Recent Events Contributed by: Noor Asmawati Abd Samad*

* Malaysian Palm Oil Board, P. O. Box 10620, 50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Minggu Q 2006Minggu Q 2006 or 2006 Quality Week was officially launched by the Director-General of MPOB, Dato’ Dr Mohd Basri Wahid on 5 December 2006 at MPOB Head Office in Bangi.

Among the activities organized during the week were MPOB Q Amazing Hunt, Hari Q, Hari 3K, BBQ Nite, annual dinner and fishing competition.

MPOB Q Amazing Hunt

A total of 42 teams participated in the MPOB Q Amazing Hunt 2006 on 2 December 2006. The route for the 2006 hunt was from MPOB Head Office in Bangi to Colmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi Resort, Pahang.

Hari Q (Q Day)

More than 300 MPOB staff received awards for various categories during Hari Q on 5 December 2006 at Dewan Sawit, Palm Information Centre, MPOB Head Office, Bangi.

Hari 3K (Safety, Health and Cleanliness)

Hari 3K was held on 5, 6 and 7 December 2006 at MPOB Head Office. Activities during Hari 3K were fire drill, aerobic exercise and emergency competition. There were also other interesting activities like talks on health, blood donation and medical check-up for breast and ovarian cancer.

Annual Dinner

The project entitled Fruitful Innovation – Nutrient Management and Fertilizer Formulation for Oil Palm by Ahmad Tarmizi Mohammed was awarded Anugerah Emas Penyelidikan MPOB 2006, during the Annual Dinner and Awards Night at Marriott Hotel, Putrajaya on 8 December 2006.

Projects chosen for the Anugerah Kecemerlangan Sains Piala Pusingan Ketua Pengarah 2006 were High Oleic Transgenic Oil Palm by Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir


and Production of Dihydrostearic Acid and its Derivatives by Dr Roila Awang.

In addition, 28 publications received awards for best publication.

The Director-General of MPOB, Dato’ Dr Mohd Basri Wahid presented the above awards.

At the same dinner, 15 companies and individuals from palm oil industry also received the awards in various categories for the Anugerah Industri Sawit for Peninsular Malaysia. Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Dr S Vijayaratnam presented the awards.

Recent Events

BBQ Nite

More than 3000 staff and family members were present at the BBQ Nite 2006 on 9 December 2006 at MPOB’s football field. Among the activities organized were shows by invited singers, a fireworks display and lucky draw.

Fishing Competition

A total of 120 participants took part in the fishing competition on 10 December 2006 at Kolam 4, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang.

2006 National Smallholders Conference

Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Dr S Vijayaratnam launched the 2006 National Smallholders Conference on 20 November 2006 at Promenade Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

A total of 400 smallholders participated in that conference.


Recent Events

During the opening ceremony, Datuk Dr S Vijayaratnam also presented awards for the Anugerah Industri Sawit Malaysia for Sabah and Sarawak to 12 companies and individuals involved in the palm oil industry.

Datuk Dr S Vijayaratnam also witnessed the signing ceremony of the agreement between MPOB and Saplantco Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Borneo Samudera Sdn Bhd on production and marketing of a mechanical cutter known as Cantas.

The Director-General of MPOB, Dato’ Dr Mohd Basri Wahid represented MPOB while Saplantco Sdn Bhd was represented by Salim Mohamad, Group Managing Director of Borneo Samudera Sdn Bhd.

Launching of MPOB’s Miri Office and e-Licensing

Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities launched MPOB’s Miri Office and e-Licensing on 15 December 2006 at Imperial Hotel, Miri, Sarawak.

MPOB Miri Office is a one-stop centre for registration and licensing of the palm oil industry in Sarawak, especially in Miri. Other functions are to provide advisory services to the smallholders on the planting of oil palm.

The e-Licensing is the latest compu-terized system developed by MPOB to

provide better and faster services for registration and licensing.

During the event, Datuk Peter Chin also presented membership cards to members of the Supervised Fertilizer Cluster Scheme of Lawas and Serian, Sarawak. He also presented quality planting materials to smallholders in Miri.

MoU between MPOB and Curtin University of

TechnologyCoinciding with the launching of MPOB’s Miri Office on 15 December 2006 at Imperial Hotel, Miri, Sarawak, MPOB also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd for the Development of a Compartment Fluidized Bed Gasifier (CFBG) for Syngas Production and Power Generation from Palm Oil Mill Biomass.

MPOB was represented by the Director-General, Dato’ Dr Mohd Basri Wahid while Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd was represented


by the Dean of Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak, Professor Ruth Marquis.

The cost for the R&D of the project will be shared by MPOB, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and Curtin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

The Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui witnessed the signing.

15th Oil Palm Plantation Management Course

A total of 16 participants from 13 countries attended the 15th Oil Palm Plantation Management Course (OPMC) from 3 to 16 December 2006 at Cititel Hotel, Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur.

All participants received their certificate in a ceremony attended by the Deputy

Director- General (R&D) of MPOB, Dr Choo Yuen May.

Farm Mechanization Operator’s Course

The first Farm Mechanization Operator’s Course (July Session) has produced 20 graduates who attended the long- and short-term courses from July until November 2006.

The Deputy Director-General (R&D) of MPOB, Dr Choo Yuen May presented certificates to all the participants on 19 December 2006 at Equatorial Hotel, Bangi.

Recent Events


Forthcoming Events

CODENO.

TITLE DATE VENUE

A COURSES

1 Oil Palm

A1.1 Kursus Kemahiran Menggred Buah Sawit

Bil.�:Sabah �0–��Mac Tawau,Sabah

Bil.�:Utara ��–��April Lumut,Perak

Bil.�:Selatan ��–��Mei JohorBharu

Bil.�:Tengah �9–��Jun Melaka

Bil.�:Timur �0–��Julai Kuantan

Bil.�:Sarawak ��–��Ogos Miri,Sarawak

Peperiksaan Kemahiran Menggred Buah Sawit

PeperiksaanBil.8 ��Mei Tawau,Sabah*

PeperiksaanBil.9 ��Ogos Kuantan,Pahang

A1.2 8th Intensive Diploma in Oil Palm Management and Technology Course

SemesterI ��June–�July MPOBHQ

EstateAttachment �–��July MPOBHQ

SemesterII ��July–9Aug. MPOBHQ

EstateAttachment ��–��Aug. MPOBHQ

SemesterIII ��Aug.–�8Sep. MPOBHQ

A1.3 KursusPengurusandanPenyelenggaraanTapakSemaianSawit

�–�April Tawau,Sabah

A1.4 KursusOperatorMekanisasiLadang FebruariOgos

MPOB/UKM

A1.5 ��thOilPalmPlantationsManagementCourse

�–�9Nov. KualaLumpur

A1.6 KursusPegawaiPengembangandanPengurusanKilang

��-��Nov. Trolak,Perak

2007 MPOB TRAINING PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

Recent Events

PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 818

2007 MPOB CONFERENCES/SEMINARS

Forthcoming Events

CODENO.

TITLE DATE VENUE

2 PALM OIL

A2.1 Diploma in Palm Oil Milling Technology and Management**

SemesterI ��–��Mar. PLASMAMPOB,

LahadDatu,Sabah

SemesterII ��–��May

SemesterIII 9–��July

Exam.SemesterIII �–�Sept.

A2.2 The��stMPOBOilPalmProductsSurveyingCourse

��–�9June JohorBahru,Johor

The�0thMPOBOilPalmProductsSurveyingExamination

��–�9August JohorBahru,Johor

A.2.3 KursusPenyeliaKilangKelapaSawitPeperiksaan**

�–��Mei��Julai

PLASMAMPOB,LahadDatu,Sabah

A.2.4 KursusPengendaliMakmalKilangMinyakSawit 9–��April Bintulu,Sabah

A.2.5 ReclamationWeldingTechnologyinPalmOilIndustry

April,June,August SIRIM,ShahAlam

A2.6 WelderCertificationinPalmOilIndustry Mar,June,August SIRIM,ShahAlam

A2.7 ColourCosmeticCourse ��–��July MPOB,HQ

A2.8 DiplomainMarketingandTracing *��Oct.–��Dec. MPOBHQ

CODENO.

TITLE DATE VENUE

1. ProgrammeAdvisoryCommittee(PAC)Seminar �Apr. MPOBHQ

2. �thNationalSeminaronOilPalmTreeUtilisation *March *Hotel

3. MPOBTransferofTechnology(TOT)Seminar�00� �8June MPOBHQ

4. MPOB Technology Demonstration Month 2007

Engineering&ProcessingResearchSeminar �July MPOBHQ

Quality&ProductDevelopmentResearchSeminar ��July MPOBHQ

BiologicalResearchSeminar �9July MPOBHQ

OleochemicalResearchSeminar ��July MPOBHQ

Forthcoming Events

PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81 9

CODENO.

TITLE DATE VENUE

5. MingguKomoditi�00� * *

6. InternationalBiofuelConference �–�July* *

7. MPOBInternationalPalmOilCongress(PIPOC) ��–�0Aug. KLConventionCentre,KualaLumpur

Notes: * Tobeconfirmed.+ Byinvitation. **CourseapprovedunderPROLUSschemeof Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad.

For enquiry or further information, please contact:

HRD&ConferenceManagementUnitTel. No. :0�-8��9��00ext.�8��,�8�0,�8��Fax No. : 0�-89��9��E-mail : [email protected]’s website : http://www.mpob.gov.my

Forthcoming Events

PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81 ��

Feature Article

Malaysian Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects**

Chow Mee Chin*; Chan Kook Weng* and Mohd Basri Wahid*

P

* Malaysian Palm Oil Board, P.O. Box 10620, 50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

** This paper was presented as a poster presentation at the 2006 National Seminar on Palm Oil Milling, Refining Technology, Quality and Environment, 14-15 August 2006, Crowne Plaza Riverside, Kuching, Sarawak.

INTRODUCTION

the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of mankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Since the Kyoto Protocol came into force on February 2005, many non-Annex 1 countries have gained momentum into identifying and developing projects, which can reduce the emission of identified greenhouse gases. Implementation of such projects can make them eligible for certified emission reductions, which can be translated into economic gains. Malaysia to date (31 July 2006) has seven registered projects with the CDM Executive Board. All these seven projects use renewable energy resources from the palm oil mills, replacing fossil fuel.

This accomplishment would not have been possible if not for the determination

of Malaysia to play its role in mitigating climate change. The co-ordinated efforts of the various national supporting agencies, Annex 1 country participation and active Malaysian industrialists are highly commendable. Figure 1 summarizes the various steps in the preparation cycle of a CDM project.

A number of criteria set by the international body must be fulfilled for a project to be approved as a Clean Development Mechanism or CDM project. The most important being the additionality criterion, i.e the project must result in the reduction of emissions that would not have occurred in the absence of the project. The emission reduction must be measurable, real and sustainable too. The project must also be developed in compliance with the domestic policies and strategies of the host country and also must uphold its sustainability development policies.

ADVANTAGES OF CDM

The appeal of CDM lies in the fact that it combines an incentive mechanism, in particular, for the project developer, where the final sale of Certified Emission Reduction (CERs) or carbon credits represents an additional source of project income. Secondly, the CDM may be a solution for the reduction and diversification of risks, which is likely to interest companies or

arties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are committed to protect

PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81��

Feature Article

groups faced with domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction objectives, particularly in the immediate term, as part of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). The implementation of CDM projects may also be part of the company’s consideration in realizing the environmental strategy in the host country and abroad by enhancing both its global competitiveness and image.

However, on the downside, the development of a CDM project incurs additional costs for the project developer known as transaction costs. These costs are related to the formalization and validation of

the CDM project, as well as monitoring and verification of the emission reduction. Thus, only projects that can generate significant emission reduction are favoured.

However, it is observed that the transaction cost, initially significant for the first CDM project can be reduced considerably for development of subsequent projects. When more personnel, are trained and as the CDM procedure modalities become more familiar and widespread, the CDM screening for eligibility and profitability may then become a norm of any emission reduction projects provided that the CDM rules and regulations stabilizes as more projects get implemented. It is interesting to note that to date (31 July 2006) a total of 7 994 116 t CO2e CERs have been issued by the Executive Board. This has reassured the various stakeholders of CDM projects that the mechanism is in order and has been successfully implemented too.

MALAYSIAN CDM PROJECTS

The seven Malaysian CDM projects of Malaysia are as summarized in Table 1. All of them are small-scale project activities except the project carried out by Lafarge Malaysia Cement Bhd. Technically, there are only four project types as the Seguntor Bioenergy and Kina Biopower are similar in utilizing biomass from palm oil mills to generate electricity and supplying to the grid. The projects at Lumut PGEO Edible Oils, Lahat Datu Edible Oils and Sandakan Edible Oils are all biomass steam and power plants in refineries, which also utilize empty fruit bunches (EFB) from the surrounding palm oil mills. The project at Sahabat Complex will also use EFB but the steam and power are utilized within a bigger integrated manufacturing complex including supplying electricity for residential use. The Lafarge Malaysian Cement Bhd project is a direct displacement of a significant amount of coal with palm kernel shell for heat generation only.

1.Develop a CDM project activity

2.Approval by the host and investing parties

3.Validation andregistration of

the CDM project activity

4.Monitoring of

the CDM project

5.Verification,

certification andissuance of

CERs

6.Distribution

of CERs

Figure 1. CDM project cycle.

Source: Adapted from CDM Manual 2005 for Project Developers and Policy Makers. Ministry of the Environment, Japan Global Environment Centre Foundation.


Feature Article

The various projects are as described, illustrating briefly the technical aspects and how these various projects fulfill the global approach to climate change by emission reduction and meeting the essential sustainability, additionality criteria and development strategies adopted by Malaysia.

SAHABAT EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH BIOMASS PROJECT

FELDA Palm Industries will use the waste EFB for electricity and steam generation. The project involves the construction of a 7.5 MW turbine generator equipped with auxiliary facilities such as boilers, water demineralization plant, cooling tower, air pollution control devices and EFB storage yard. Currently, stand-alone diesel generators are owned and operated by the Sahabat Oil Products (SOP refineries) or through FELDA Engineering Services Sdn Bhd (FESS) and Sahabat Bulkers supplying the power generated for industrial and domestic use at the Sahabat Complex.

The main processes and major power consumers, located at the Sahabat Complex, are Sahabat Oil Products and Sahabat Kernel Crushing Plant. Sahabat Bulkers consumes large amounts of electricity only when there is a shipment of crude palm oil.

Sahabat Bulkers was generating electricity for Bandar Sahabat Resort and the staff quarters until July 2001. The electricity generation and distribution was then carried out and managed by FESS. FESS generates its own electricity to supply the Bandar D settlement and Bandar C township. However, owing to an increase in demand from both commercial and domestic customers, FESS, has installed additional two diesel generators of 500 kW each at Sahabat Complex.

The Sahabat Oil Products refinery also requires steam for its operations, which it currently generates through two oil-fired boilers. The maximum steam demand for

the refinery is 16 t hr-1 at a pressure of 12.5 bar. The steam will be supplied by the power plant and its cost will be charged to the refinery based on its cost of production.

The development of this biomass plant will have a positive effect on the waste disposal problems faced by various mills at Sahabat Complex, diverting waste away from incineration, reducing the stress on composting capacity, and significantly reducing the amount of EFB currently used as mulch. A biomass utilization scheme, such as this, also presents an opportunity to promote alternative waste management strategies.

Other expected benefits from the project include:• the multiplier effect of this investment is

likely to bring additional benefits such as increased employment opportunities, in the area where the project is located. It increases diversity and security of electricity supply;

• it contributes towards a decrease in fuel imports; and

• the project will act as a clean technology demonstration project, encouraging development of biomass facilities throughout Malaysia, which could be replicated across the region.

The proposed activity, with its 7.5 MW installed capacity using additional boilers, will directly reduce GHG emissions from existing and future generation of electricity and steam production that use fossils fuels. Under the baseline scenario for the two components, there would be continued use of diesel generation to provide both electricity and steam to industrial, commercial and residential consumers within the Sahabat complex. The project will displace the use of diesel for electricity and steam generation with a carbon neutral alternative, i.e. use of EFB. However, the project will still results in some emissions from the use of diesel generators during annual maintenance period.


Feature Article Feature Article

BIOMASS ENERGY PLANT – LUMUT, LDEO BIOMASS STEAM AND POWER PLANT AND SEO BIOMASS STEAM

AND POWER PLANT

Biomass Energy Plant - Lumut

This project involves the installation of a modern, high efficient 30 t hr-1 capacity, 29 Bar(g) biomass-fired cogeneration system to supply steam and electricity to the PGEO palm oil refinery in Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia.

The project will be implemented in two stages. At the first stage, 15 t hr-1 of steam will be generated for the palm oil refinery process consumption and 3 t hr-1 will be used to provide cooling through a new absorption chiller system. This new absorption chiller system will replace an existing 650 RT (refrigerant tonne) electrically powered chiller system. The second stage of the project will be optimizing the steam energy by installing steam turbine and generator to supply 2 MW of electricity for the refinery own use.

LDEO Biomass Steam and Power Plant and SEO Biomass Steam and Power Plant

These two projects aim to use EFB as fuel for a modern, high efficient 35 t hr-1 capacity, 29 Bar(g) biomass-fired co-generation system to supply steam and electricity to the palm oil refinery. The project will be implemented in two stages where at the first stage 35 t hr-1 of steam will be generated for the palm oil refining process. The second stage will be to optimize the steam energy by installing a steam turbine generator to supply up to 5 MW of electricity for the refining process too. The projects shall be respectively sourcing EFBs from the vicinity via fuel purchase agreements.

Emission Reductions

Each of the project activity will be able to reduce emissions in three ways. First

is by displacing fuel oil, which is used to generate 15 t hr-1 steam. Second and third are by displacing electricity from the national grid by replacing existing chiller system and generating electricity. The energy plant will be sourcing the biomass waste from neighbouring palm oil mills via fuel purchase agreements.

The palm oil refinery is currently operating a fuel oil fired boiler plant to supply steam for the refining process and also purchase power from the electricity grid. The project is to reduce the amount of steam produced from fuel oil and grid generated power and thus reduce GHG emissions, the fuel oil fired boiler plant and the national electricity grid.

Such project type illustrates sustain-ability in various aspects. These include:

Sustainable development. The use of sustainable renewable energy sources in a highly efficient manner is in line with the country’s development policy of renewable energy as a fifth fuel. This will lead to a greater self-sufficiency of fuel for the energy sector. Currently, fuel oil is subsidized and the project will directly lead to reduction of subsidized fuel oil for the refinery and lead to reduction of gas and oil subsidies in the Malaysian power sector, as it will produce its own power and displace conventional power from the grid. Such a project will also lead to technology and knowledge transfer from Denmark to Malaysia to facilitate local manufacturing of high efficient biomass boilers, ensure local employment and reduce foreign expenditures.

Environmental sustainability. Decision to intensify the development of renewable energy as the fifth fuel resource under the country’s Fuel Diversification Policy, as stipulated in the objectives of the Third Perspective Plan Outline for 2001-2010 (OPP3) and the Eighth Malaysia Plan including pollution control systems for the flue gas and proper disposal of ash


Feature Article

and wastewater will comply with the local environmental regulations.

Social sustainability. Requires more skilled staff than the existing plant as the capacity is higher due to the additional grid connected electricity generation. The current workforce will be trained to operate the new plant and additional qualified staff will be employed. The project also gives an opportunity to manufacture and sell high efficiency boilers.

Economic sustainability. The fuel source is a sustainable, indigenous resource, which reduces fuel imports thus reducing the foreign exchange. This project will also eliminates the risk of fluctuating oil price enabling a more economic and reliable production.

The GHG emissions from the project activity is additional and would not have occurred without the proposed project activity.

In the absence of the project activity, the most likely scenario would be that the refinery would continue to operate using oil-fired boilers and purchase all the electricity from the grid. There are limited alternatives to oil firing, as the area does not have access to the natural gas distributions grid, which could have been an alternative that would reduce the GHG emissions.

REPLACEMENT OF FOSSIL FUEL BY PALM KERNEL SHELL BIOMASS IN THE PRODUCTION OF PORTLAND

CEMENT

Lafarge Malayan Cement Bhd (LMCB) has exclusively developed the technology and skills to substitute a significant percentage of the coal used at its Kanthan and Rawang plants with palm kernel shell.

The manufacture of cement is a high energy intensive activity. The vast proportion of this energy is required to heat the raw materials to a level that brings about the necessary chemical change to create cement clinker. In Malaysia, the heating

process is predominantly achieved through the firing of coal although some plants have in recent years also started consuming other fossil fuels such as e.g. pet coke.

The substitution of biomass for fossil fuels in the cement manufacturing process in Malaysia provides significant contribution to boost Malaysia’s sustainable development plans. LMCB currently sources all of its coal supplies from overseas. The substitution of imported fossil fuel with locally available biomass will not only reduce Malaysia’s dependence on imports, but also gives rise to environmental benefits from preserving fossil fuels and utilizing a waste biomass stream.

The decision to substitute fossil fuel with biomass is a positive action to reduce the GHG, carbon dioxide (CO2) from the cement manufacturing process. This action is also consistent with Lafarge’s global target to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% from 1990 to 2010.

The technology to process and use palm kernel shell has been developed in a partnership with Blue Circle Industries’ Technical Centre in Europe based on their experience of combustion of alternative fuels. Knowledge and expertise have been actively transferred in the development of the project by design work in Europe and European expert deployment in Malaysia during design, construction and subsequent follow-up adjustments and performance monitoring. Training of staff and engineers has also been provided during the design and commissioning stage of the project.

SEGUNTOR BIOENERGY AND KINA BIO POWER 11.5 MW EFB POWER

PLANT

The purpose of the project activity is to utilize EFB (an abundant waste product of the palm oil milling process), as the primary biomass fuel for power generation with gross generation capacity of 11.5 MW (10 MW net) at Sandakan, Sabah in Malaysia.


Feature Article

The majority of the electricity generated (87%) will be sold to the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) distribution grid by interconnecting to the 22/11 kV nearby substation under the Small Renewable Energy Programme (SREP) stipulated by the Government of Malaysia, while the balance (13%) will be provided for the project plant in-house (parasitic) consumption.

Four nearby palm oil mills in the vicinity of the project will be the EFB suppliers. Each project activity will produce approximately 92 681 MW hr annually for the electricity supplied to the SESB grid and plant in-house consumption.

The projects will contribute to sustainable development of Malaysia in two areas: production of biomass generated renewable energy - the project activity conforms to the Malaysian Government policy and contributes to sustainable development by providing electricity through biomass power generation without depending on conventional fossil fuel combustion. The electricity generated will be supplied to the SESB grid and displace part of its fossil fuel generated electricity.

Utilization of disposed agricultural waste by utilizing the EFB waste as primary fuel for power generation, the project activity prevents EFB from being left to decay, which would lead to uncontrolled methane emission and putrid odour. In the absence of the project, the likely fate of the EFB at these mills is to leave it to decay in the open air resulting in emitting biogas containing methane, a potential GHG and a potential fire hazard.

The implementation of the project activity is hindered by the following barriers:

Investment Barrier

The equipment cost for grid-connected biomass power plants are significantly

higher than that for GHG-intensive conventional fossil fuel power plants which are comparatively lower, increasing their attractiveness in long-term; this is still insufficient to increase project returns to the level attained by conventional plants. In developing countries, like Malaysia, where short-term minimization is important, grid-connected biomass power projects do not represent an attractive course of action.

Although the Malaysian Government has the SREP policy to encourage private entity which generates power from renewable biomass to sell part or all of its output to TNB/SESB, tariff is set at around RM 0.17 kW hr, with renewable power projects enjoying no special tariffs, despite the higher investment costs. The current electricity pricing structure gives comparative advantage to conventional power projects.

The additional revenue from the sale of CERs will increase the project return to a more acceptable level, enabling the implementation of the project. Without this extra source of income, the low return combined with the real and perceived risks involved can make the project unattractive to investors.

Barriers Due to Prevailing Practice

There are currently no regulations for the management of EFB waste except for the general ban on open-air burning as stipulated in 1998 amendments to the Environmental Quality Act of 1974. As there is also no standard technology to manage EFB waste, it is obvious that without incentives in the form of carbon credits, the most likely scenario for EFB waste at the palm oil mills is to leave it to decay in open-air, resulting in uncontrolled emission of GHGs.

Using biomass waste as fuel for electricity generation is not a standard waste management practice in Malaysia,


TABL

E 1.

CD

M P

RO

JEC

TS O

F M

ALA

YSIA

No.

Proj

ect t

itle

Hos

t par

ties

Oth

er p

artie

sin

volv

edA

ctiv

ity c

ateg

ory

Met

hodo

logi

es u

sed

Am

ount

of

redu

ctio

nsR

egis

trat

ion

date

Cre

ditin

g pe

riod

1Bi

omas

s Ene

rgy

Plan

t - L

umut

PGEO

Edi

ble

Oil

Sdn

Bhd

Lum

ut P

ort I

ndus

tria

l Par

kBl

ock

G5

Mal

aysi

aau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ants

:EN

CO

Ene

rgy

Sdn

Bhd

Den

mar

kau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ant:

Roya

l Dan

ish

Min

istr

y of

Fo

reig

n A

ffairs

1-En

ergy

indu

strie

sTh

erm

al e

nerg

y fo

r the

Use

r32

545

t C

O2e

p.

a24

-Feb

-06

1- F

eb- 0

6 -

31-Ja

n 12

(Ren

ewab

le)

2Re

plac

emen

t of f

ossi

l fue

lby

Pal

m K

erne

l She

llBi

omas

s in

the

prod

uctio

nof

Por

tland

Cem

ent

- L

arfa

rge

Mal

aysi

a

Cem

ent B

hd, R

awan

g-

Kan

than

Wor

ks

Sel

ango

r

Mal

aysi

aau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ants

:La

farg

e M

alay

anC

emen

t Bhd

Fran

ceau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ant:

Lafa

rge

S.A

.

4-M

anuf

actu

ring

indu

strie

sEm

issi

ons r

educ

tion

thro

ugh

part

ial

subs

titut

ion

of fo

ssils

fuel

s with

alte

rnat

ive

fuel

s in

cem

ent

man

ufac

ture

61 9

46 t

CO

2e

p.a

7-A

pr-0

61-

May

- 00

-30

Apr

10

(Fix

ed)

3Sa

haba

t Em

pty

Frui

tBu

nch

Biom

ass P

roje

ctFe

lda

Saha

bat

Laha

d D

atu,

Sab

ah

Mal

aysi

aau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ants

:Fe

lda

Palm

Indu

strie

sSd

n Bh

d

Uni

ted

Kin

gdom

of G

reat

Brita

in a

nd N

orth

ern

Irel

and

1-En

ergy

indu

strie

sTh

erm

al e

nerg

y fo

r the

user

53 9

86 t

CO

2e

p.a

23-A

pr-0

61-

Jan-

06

-31

-May

12

(Ren

ewab

le)

4LD

EO B

iom

ass S

team

and

Pow

er P

lant

in M

alay

sia

LDEO

Pal

m O

il Re

finer

yLa

had

Dat

u, S

abah

Mal

aysi

aau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ants

:LD

EO E

nerg

y Sd

n Bh

d

Can

ada

auth

oriz

ed p

artic

ipan

t:La

ndfil

l Gas

Can

ada

Ltd.

1-En

ergy

indu

strie

s(r

enew

able

-/no

n-re

new

able

sour

ces)

,13

-Was

te h

andl

ing

and

disp

osal

15

-Agr

icul

ture

.

- Th

erm

al e

nerg

y fo

r the

U

ser

- Av

oida

nce

of m

etha

ne

prod

uctio

n fr

om

bi

omas

s dec

ay th

roug

h

cont

rolle

d co

mbu

stio

n

208

871

t CO

2e

p.a

10-Ju

n-06

1-Ju

n-06

31-M

ay 1

3 (R

enew

able

)

5SE

O B

iom

ass S

team

and

Pow

er P

lant

in M

alay

sia

SEO

Pal

m O

il Re

finer

ySa

ndak

an, S

abah

Mal

aysi

aau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ants

:SE

O E

nerg

y Sd

n Bh

d

Can

ada

auth

oriz

ed p

artic

ipan

t:La

ndfil

l Gas

Can

ada

Ltd.

1-En

ergy

indu

strie

s(r

enew

able

-/no

n-re

new

able

sour

ces)

,13

-Was

te h

andl

ing

and

disp

osal

15

-Agr

icul

ture

.

- Th

erm

al e

nerg

y fo

r the

U

ser

- Av

oida

nce

of m

etha

ne

prod

uctio

n fr

om

bi

omas

s dec

ay th

roug

h

cont

rolle

d co

mbu

stio

n

216

831

t CO

2e

p.a

10-Ju

n-06

1-Ju

n-06

31-M

ay 1

3 (R

enew

able

)

6Se

gunt

or B

ioen

ergy

11.5

MW

EFB

Pow

er P

lant

Mal

aysi

aau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ants

:Se

gunt

or B

ioen

ergy

Japa

nau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ant:

Agr

itech

Mar

ketin

g C

o.Lt

d. C

lean

Ene

rgy

Fina

nce

Com

mitt

ee,

Mits

ubis

hi U

FJSe

curit

ies C

o. L

td.

1-En

ergy

indu

strie

s13

-Was

te h

andl

ing

and

disp

osal

15

-Agr

icul

ture

.

- Re

new

able

ele

ctric

ity

gene

ratio

n fo

r a g

rid-

Avoi

danc

e of

met

hane

pr

oduc

tion

from

biom

ass d

ecay

thro

ugh

co

ntro

lled

com

bust

ion

230

019

t CO

2e

p.a

21-Ju

l-06

1-A

pril-

08 -

31-M

ar 1

5 (R

enew

able

)

7K

ina

Biop

ower

11.5

MW

EFB

Pow

er P

lant

Mal

aysi

aau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ants

:K

ina

Biop

ower

Sdn

Bhd

Japa

nau

thor

ized

par

ticip

ant:

Agr

itech

Mar

ketin

g C

o.Lt

d. C

lean

Ene

rgy

Fina

nce

Com

mitt

ee,

Secu

ritie

s Co.

Ltd

1-En

ergy

indu

strie

s13

-Was

te h

andl

ing

and

disp

osal

15

-Agr

icul

ture

.

G

ener

atio

n fo

r a g

rid.

- Av

oida

nce

of m

etha

ne

prod

uctio

n fr

om

bi

omas

s dec

ay th

roug

h

cont

rolle

d co

mbu

stio

n

230

019

t CO

2e

p.a

21-Ju

l-06

1- A

pr-0

8 -

31-M

ar 1

5 (R

enew

able

)

Feature Article

Sour

ce: h

ttp:/

/cdm

.unf

ccc.

int

PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81�8

even though the SREP is highly promoted recently. The project activity, therefore, is highly unlikely to be the natural choice.

CONCLUSION

The successful registration of these seven CDM Malaysian projects with the Executive Board has been a long and testing period for the various pioneering project proponents in which initial planning and paper work actually started as early as 2001 where between 2001 and 2005, there was much doubt and scepticism as to the implementation of the mechanism until the Kyoto Protocol was finally ratified. Even then, till now the rules and procedures are still being refined and formalized.

The Malaysian industry has the potential to develop CDM projects in various areas but so far the registered CDM projects of Malaysia have been limited to using resources from the palm oil industry as solid fuel. Out of the seven projects, six utilize the EFB for either generation of electricity only or co-generation of steam and power while only one uses palm kernel shell as fuel for heat generation. These initial Malaysian projects indicate that the palm oil industry has vast potential to generate more CERs.

There are many other project types which can be considered by the palm oil industry. These may include harnessing the biogas from treated palm oil mill effluent or utilizing the untreated palm oil mill effluent. With new technologies, the readily available and abundant cellulosic solid biomass has potential to be transformed

to alternative renewable energy via the biological, thermal and chemical pathway. These derived alternative fuels can then directly displace the fossil fuel use. Palm oils mills could also consider improving the efficiency of their CHP system which are very CDM related. Either changing altogether or improvements in processes that reduce or eliminate the potency of the liquid effluent; utilization of less fossil fuel source generated power and diesel are all potential CDM projects.

Palm oil refineries and cement manufacturing plants as illustrated by the few Malaysian CDM projects can generate CERs using resources from palm oil mills while other alternatives include fuel switching to natural gas and utilizing less electricity from grid are all potentially viable CDM projects. There are also potential from oleochemical plants implementing CDM projects as part of their process improvements, in particular process that demand high energy and steam. From the plantations, there is potential to develop CDM projects related to reduced use of fertilizers. As the rules and procedures for the forest, afforestation and reforestation for full scale CDM projects are being refined and harmonized, there could possibly be opportunities for the Malaysian oil palm industry to develop projects from the plantation side too.

REFERENCE

http://cdm.unfccc.int. All information of projects are from the respective Project Design Document.

Feature Article

PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81 �9

Feature Article

THERMAL INSULATION TECHNOLOGY

Conventional method of insulating pipes and tanks in most industries is using rockwool with aluminum cladding to prevent heat loss as well as for personal protection in line with OSHA requirement.

In such cases, the insulation thickness varies from 25 mm to 50 mm or even more depending on the temperature of the medium flowing through the pipe. The common problem with conventional insulation is the corrosion under the insulation and substantial heat lost at valves and fittings, which are in some cases, left without any insulation after maintenance work as it is not practical to call a contractor to perform insulation work on just a valve. In order to overcome such problem, thermal insulating coating was formulated and it had been in wide use in developed nations.

Thermal insulating coating is an innovative coating technology as a 3 mm coating could do the same job as a 50 mm rockwool insulation. Mascoat is a composite ceramic insulation coating system that provides an insulating barrier, protects personnel and blocks corrosion - all in one application. Mascoat is appropriate for temperatures under 500ºF (260ºC).

Innovative Engineering TechnologyS P Narayanan*

HOW DOES THE COATING WORK?

Mascoat comprises microscopic match formulated matrix of air-encapsulated ceramic particles held in suspension by a high-grade acrylic binder. The product is VOC, friendly, non-toxic and non-combustible. It has been tested to ASTM standards and exceeds most criteria for weather stability, adhesion, flexibility and UV resistance (Table 1). Benefits of Thermal Insulating Coating

• provides non-combustible thermal insulation;

• adhere to any material and eliminates the potential for surface corrosion;

• increase in efficiency - saves energy;• significantly reduces or eliminate the

possibility of condensation in chillers; and

• light weight and Class A fire rating.

Uses

• personal protection;• tanks;• HVAC;• chillers and piping;• boilers;• pressure vessel;• heat exchangers;• piping; and • steam lines.

* Advance Training Centre, 18, Jalan 6/19 Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia.


Feature Article

TABLE 1. MASCOAT APPLICATION CHART

SOUND DAMPING TECHNOLOGY

Noise pollution is considered a hazard and has to comply to OSHA requirements. Sometimes it is costly to insulate the exposed area to meet the noise pollution requirement. Sound travels via two ways - through structure and through the air. To reduce sound energy, conversion from structurally transmitted energy to airborne

Figure 1.

sound air waves, dampening the vibration effects on the surface is required. Delta - dB employs its sound dampening technology, suppressing vibration movement through sound path. This suppression basically reduces or kills the sound prior to its airborne transmission. With just 2 mm thick coating, it is possible to reduce 5 - 10 Decibels (Figure 1).

Temperature (°F) Coating thickness (mm) Coats

90 - 120 0.5 1

121 - 160 1.0 2

161 - 200 1.5 3

201 - 240 2.0 4

241 - 280 2.5 5

281 - 320 3.0 6


Feature Article

TABLE 2. SOUND DAMPING EFFECTS USING COATINGS (decrease in Decibels vs. frequency)

Frequency Hz 188 366 585 881 1 000 3 000 5 000

60 mils Delta~db 9.3 11.5 10.7 11.6 10.8 10.9 11

40 mils Delta~db 4.0 5.8 5.3 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.8

Delta~db + Delta T Marine 10.2 11.8 11.7 12.9 12.9 12.9 12.9

Plain panel (no coating) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

HOW DOES THE COATING WORK?

Sound transfer is based upon three factors: the sound source (where the sound originates), the sound path (the vehicle that transfers the sound) and the sound receiver (how we perceive the sound). To control sound, it is vital to control at least one of these factors. As in most cases, it is difficult to control the source, thus controlling the sound transfer path is vital.

Delta-dB incorporates special anti-vibration fillers with a sound absorption resin. This formulation suppresses the vibration movement through the sound path, retarding sound/vibration transfer through the path. By controlling the vibration, less sound is transmitted through the surface (Table 2).


Feature Article

output with its associated year-end high stock may throw a false picture of its true value. With the global population ever on the rise, the long-term demand for raw food source will continue to rise. In areas where edible oil crop cannot be grown economi-cally, then non-edible crop certainly should be cultivated especially if it can replace fossil fuels. In this regard, Jatropha curcas is a good candidate that can satisfactorily replace diesel oil for generating energy.

Energy is the fundamental ingredient for the development of rural communities in developing countries. With the spiralling price of fossil fuel, developing nations find it difficult to cope up with their development programme. We may not be aware of this but today more than half the world’s population dwells in rural areas. Our country may not be facing any energy crisis but the vast majority of the nations not bestowed with petroleum reserves do face severe energy shortage. Perhaps one day Malaysia may be called upon by the United Nations to assist the poorer countries to achieve the status of a developed nation. If such an occasion arises then Malaysians have to be equipped with the right knowledge and the associated skill to fulfill their obligation. Currently, Malaysia does not have much hands on experience with Jatropha curcas in exploiting

An Introduction to Jatropha curcasN Ravi Menon*

its oil for commercial use even though this shrub known as Jarah in Malaysia had been flourishing in Malaysian villages from the Portuguese days.

Jatropha curcas L. is a perennial shrub that grows well in semi-tropical conditions, on poor soils requiring little care for its cultivation. It is a plant of Caribbean origin, spread as a valuable hedge to Africa and Asia by Portuguese traders. It is now wide spread throughout the arid and semi-arid tropical regions of the world. A member of the Euphorbiaceae family, it is drought-resistant, living up to 50 years and growing on marginal soils. It is also related closely to the castor family with the same medicinal properties. It requires a minimum of 250 mm of rainfall per year to survive. It is propagated by cuttings and seeds. For optimal production, it requires between 900 to 1200 mm of rainfall per year.

This plant appears to have received only moderate attention throughout its existence perhaps spanning hundreds of years. But now the energy-starved nations of the world are taking a serious look at it from the energy point of view. A great deal of research has gone into this plant in recent times for using it as a viable substitute for petroleum diesel. A notable one is the Jatropha Project initiated in Mali in 1993 by German Technical Assistance (GTZ). The results are indeed encouraging.

While there are more than 100 tree species which bear seed rich in oil and possessing


V egetable oil is too precious a commodity for use as a fuel even though the present palm oil


good qualities for transesterification to produce diesel oil, it has been found that Pongamia piñata and Jatropha curcas are the most suitable. The points favouring Jatropha are as follows:

• oil per hectare is among the highest of tree borne oilseeds;

• it can grow in areas of low rainfall (500 mm yr-1) and in marginal land including even deserts with the help of drip irrigation;

• it is easy to cultivate, grows relatively quickly and is hardy;

• it can be grown along the canals, roads and railway tracks, on borders of farmer’s fields as a boundary fence or live hedge in the arid/semi-arid areas and even on alkaline soils. It can be used to reclaim waste lands in the forests and outside;

• Jatropha seeds are easy to collect as they are ready to be plucked after the rainy season and the plants are not very tall;

• being rich in nitrogen, the seed cake is a good source of plant nutrients;

• seed production ranges from about 0.4 t ha-1 in the first year to 5 t ha-1 after three years;

• the plant starts yielding seeds in a maximum period of two years after planting;

• various parts of the plant are of medicinal value, its bark contains tannin;

• Jatropha can be established from seeds, three months old seedlings and from branch cutting;

• the plant is undemanding in soil type and does not require tillage; and

• a planting density of 2500 ha-1 has been found to be optimal although a lower density of 1666 was found to be more desirable on poor soils.

Jatropha is well-known for its medicinal properties in areas where it is grown. It is also widely used as a protective hedge or as living fence around agricultural fields, to prevent animals from grazing crops. Its wide leaves and seeds are toxic, discouraging animals from coming near the plants. Even though Jatropha prefers alkaline soils it can

easily be grown in a large variety of soils, including sandy ones. Under optimum conditions, Jatropha yields up to 8 t of seeds resulting in oil yields of up to 2.2 t ha-1

yr-1. Maximum production can be achieved in the fifth year. This may not be a match for palm oil in terms of yield per hectare but considering some other favourable points there is still room to accommodate Jatropha in Malaysia not as a competitor for palm oil but for complementing it.

The products derived from the seeds per 1000 ha are:

• 1500 to 1700 t oil yr-1;• compost from fruit pulp for fertilization;• heat from the combustion of seed shells

for drying nuts; and • 1600 t yr-1 feed concentrate (56% to

58% protein) from press cake after detoxification of the cake.

Analysis of the Jatropha curcas seed shows the following:

moisture content : 6.2%protein : 18.0% fat : 38.0%carbohydrates : 17.0%fibre : 15.5%ash : 5.3%

The oil content is 25% - 30% in the seeds and 50% - 60% in kernel (Table 1 and 2). The oil contains 21% saturated fatty acids and 79% unsaturated fatty acids. The seed contains a toxic chemical called cursin. The latex contains an alkaloid known as Jatrophine, which is believed to have anti-cancerous properties. It is also used for the relief from rheumatism and for sores on domestic livestock. The tender twigs of the plant are used for cleaning teeth, while the juice of the leaf is used as an external application of piles. The roots are also reported to be used as an antidote for snake bites. The bark of the plant yields a dark blue dye, which is used for colouring cloth, fishing nets and lines. The press cake is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. It can be used

Feature Article


Feature Article

as organic manure. The leaves can be used as food for the tusser silk worm. The leaves are also used for fumigating houses against bed-bugs. The ether extract shows antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Processing consists of the following: harvesting and de-pulping of seeds, removal of the seed coat, pressing seeds, filtration and detoxification of the oil, transesterification of the oil to produce biodiesel, detoxification of the press cake

TABLE 2. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF Jatropha curcas OIL AND DIESEL OIL

TABLE 1. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF Jatropha curcas OIL

Item Fatty acids composition %

Acid value 38.2 (a) Palmitic acid 4.2

Saponification value 195.0 (b) Stearic acid 6.9

Iodine value 101.7 (c) Oleic acid 43.1

Viscosity 40.4 (d) Linoleic acid 34.3

(e) Others 1.4

Properties Jatropha curcas oil Diesel

Viscosity (cp) at 30oC 5.51 3.60

Specific gravity at 15oC/4oC 0.917/0.923 0.841/0.850

Solidifying point (oC) 2.0 0.14

Cetane value 51.0 47.8 to 59

Carbon residue (%) 0.64 0.05 to 0.15

Distillation (oC) 284 to 295 350 to 370

Sulphur (%) 0.13 to 0.16 1 to 1.2

Acid value (mg KOH/g) 1 to 38.2 -

Saponification value 188 to 198 -

Iodine value 90.8 to 112.5 -

Refractive index (30oC) 1.47 -

Calorific value (kJ kg-1) 39 774 42 714

Pour point (oC) 8 10

Colour 4.0 4 or less

Source: www.svlele.com/jatropha.plant.htm

Source: www.svlele.com/jatropha.plant.htm


to produce fodder. A continuous one step process for the transesterification of the oil has been developed and the oil obtained consists of 99.5% esters.

In many countries it is grown as hedges and the claimed yield is 1 kg seed per metre length of hedge per year. If fences of all the oil palm plantations in Malaysia were to be replaced by this living fence it could run into several thousand kilometres of Jatropha and it is not necessary to sacrifice any good land for it. In India, the entire land bordering the railway track from Mumbai to Delhi is reported to be planted with Jatropha and the railway locomotive is also powered by its oil. In Myanmar, most of the diesel engines for power generation and other utilities also use raw Jatropha oil as the fuel without any modification. The engines are the Lister type engines with pre-combustion chambers. Similar applications are also wide spread in the African continent.

Jatropha can easily flourish in low fertility and alkaline soils. It also can give high yields in poor quality soils if supplemented with small quality of calcium, magnesium and sulphur. Jatropha also can be intercropped with other crops like sugar, coconut, oil palm, red/green peppers and tomatoes. Jatropha not only can protect crops from livestock but also it protects the other crops from plant pests providing additional protection to other crops with which it is intercropped.

Jatropha seed contains about 35% non-edible oil. The hedges produce about 1 kg seeds m-1 yr-1. Mali, a land-locked country in the middle of West Africa, at the edge of the Sahara desert currently has about 10 000 km of Jatropha hedges and it is growing at the rate of 2000 km yr-1. This has the potential of producing 5 million litres of oil per year. If carefully planted, the hedges can protect other crop from grazing livestock and also reduce damage from

wind and water. It has long been used as an ingredient for the manufacture of soap as it has high saponification value. The rural womenfolk traditionally used Jatropha curcas seeds as a laxative, the latex to stop bleeding and remedy against infections, leaves for controlling malaria and oil for soap production.

In Mali, the oil is used direct as a sub-stitute for gazoil mixture for operating the Lister engines, Indian type diesel engines that drive grain mills and water pumps. It only requires an additional fuel filter to run on pure Jatropha oil compared to petroleum oil diesel. In equivalent terms, the energy required to press the oil out of the seeds in mechanical presses amount to only 10% of the oil produced. The press cake which remains after the oil extraction is a very good organic fertilizer, with mineral composition almost the same as chicken manure.

The Jatropha Project was initiated in Mali in 1993 by GTZ. This system not only uses Jatropha oil as a fuel but also plays a pivotal role combining ecologic, economic and income-generating effects on the community. It promotes four main activities in the rural community: (a) renewable energy (b) erosion control (c) promotion of women (d) poverty reduction. This can be applied in some areas of east Malaysia.

In Nicaraguan, an integrated process system generates a variety of products from Jatropha curcas L. seeds. The oil can be used as edible oil after detoxification. The press cake also can be used as a fodder after detoxification. After transesterification the glycerine by-product can be used to make insecticide against ticks in cattle. The results from the analysis using UNIDO’s COMFAR III Expert programme indicates that the process is financially feasible and highly profitable. The traditional folk remedies using this plant are given in Table 3.

Feature Article


Feature Article

TABLE 3. TRADITIONAL FOLK REMEDIES USING Jatropha curcas Country Plant parts For the treatment of/medical properties

General Extracts Cancer. Also abrtifacient, anodyne, antiseptic, cicatrizant, depurative, emetic, haemostat, lactogogue, narcotic, purgative, rubefacient, styptic, vermifuge, vulnery.

Most nations Nuts Alopecia, anasorca, ascites, burns, carbuncles, convulsions, cough, dermatitis, diarrhoea, dropsy, dyspepsia, eczema, erysipelas, fever, gonorrhea, hernia, incontinence, inflammation, jaundice, neuralgia, paralysis, parturition, pleurisy, pneumonia, rash, rheumatism, scabies, sciatica, sores, stomach ache, syphilis, tetanus, thrush, tumours, ulcers, uterosis, whitlows, yaws and yellow fever. (Duke and Wain, 1981; List and Horhammer, 1969-1979).

Latex Antidote for bee and wasp stings (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).

Mauritius Oil Massage ascitic limbs.

Cameroon Leaf decoction Arthritis (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).

Colombia Leaf decoction Drink for venereal disease (Morton 1981).

Bahamas Leaf decoction Drink for heart burn.

Costa Rica leaves Poultice leaves onto erysipelas and splenosis.

Guatemala leaves Place heated leaves on the breast as a lactagogue,

Cuba Latex Apply for toothache.

Colombia & Costa Rica

Latex Apply for burns, haemorrhoids, ringworm, ulcers.

Barbados Leaf tea Treatment for marasmus.

Panama Leaf tea Treatment for jaundice.

Venezuela Root decoctionSeeds,Leaves

Latex

Treatment for dysentery (Morton, 1981).Seeds for dropsy, gout, paralysis, skin ailments (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962).Leaves as anti-parasitic, scabies, rubefacient for paralysis, rheumatism, hard tumours ( Hartwell, 1967-1971). Latex used for dressing of sores and ulcers, inflamed tongues (Perry, 1980).

Roots Decoction as mouth wash for bleeding gums and toothache.

Source: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/jatropha_curcas.html


ABSTRACT

crude palm oil (CPO). It was found that the CPO breakdown voltage is about one and a half times higher than the breakdown voltage of Shell Diala B insulation oil. The CPO breakdown voltage is very sensitive to temperature. The lower the temperature of CPO, the lower its breakdown voltage and dielectric loss factor. The CPO dielectric loss factor is higher than the dielectric loss factor of Shell Diala B, and the difference between them is in the range of 0.1%.

INTRODUCTION

The fact that Indonesia’s oil reserves are depleting and the current domestic energy consumption pattern is heavy on oil products, the country is being pushed to the brink of becoming a net oil importer in the near future. Referring to this serious situation, Indonesia has been gradually trying to reduce the industrial sector’s dependence on mineral oil. The mineral oils will deplete sooner or later. Many efforts have been made to anticipate such scarcity. Recently, Indonesia and Malaysia have developed industrial oils derived

Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Loss Factor of Crude Palm Oil (CPO)

Bonggas L Tobing*

T his paper reports the result of preliminary research on the breakdown voltage and the dielectric loss factor of

from crude palm oil (CPO). Granted with a large suitable area, Indonesia would have the opportunity to expand its oil palm plantations in order to provide a sufficient amount of CPO for the development of a non-mineral oil industry. Indonesia is the second largest producer of palm oil in the world with a total production of 7.2 million tonnes per year. Domestic consumption of CPO is about 3.5 million tonnes, leaving the rest for export. In order to increase the production in the near future, it is important to find other uses of CPO such as industrial non-mineral oil, like transformer oil. One of the principles of the national policy is to consider the impact on the environmental and the impact of every aspect of oil utilization. CPO is environmental friendly and renewable and it produces much less emissions compared to mineral oils (Agus, 2001).

In Indonesia, the transformer oil with brand Shell Diala B is widely used. This transformer oil is composed of mineral elements that are not environmental friendly. Considering that the environmental issue has become more and more important, we are required to find out an alternative to replace the conventional mineral oils with environmental friendly oils. CPO is one of the replacement elements that has potential and should be considered for this purpose. In Indonesia, the price of CPO is relatively cheaper than Shell Diala B transformer oil.

* High Voltage Engineering Laboratory, Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Feature Article


Feature Article

The production cost of a power transformer is determined by the cost of its oil insulation. If CPO can be made as the new oil to replace the conventional transformer oil, then the cost of production and maintenance of a transformer should decrease. The other advantage is that during the transformer maintenance the transformer rubbish is more environmental friendly. Therefore, it is necessary to compare the dielectric characteristics of CPO and Shell Diala B.

CPO is a product formed by carbon, hydrogen and oxygen elements. The palm oil consists of a major proportion of fatty acids (92.24% – 98.48%) and a small proportion of free fatty acids (1.37% – 6.55%), moisture (0.15% – 0.71%) and impurities (0.003% – 0.50%). Fatty acids composition are: lauric acids (0.2% - 0.3%), myristic acids (1.0% – 2.0%), palmitic acids (42.7% – 7.7%), oleic acids (37.6% – 41.9%), palmitoleic acids (0.1%), stearic acids (3.7% – 4.2%), linoleic acids (8.6% – 9.6%) and linolenic acids plus arachidic acids (0.7% - 0.8%). The proportion of free fatty acids, impurities and moisture component in CPO is (1.37% – 6.55%), (0.003% - 0.50%) and (0.15% - 0.71%) respectively (Ahmad and Salmah, 1988).

The physical characteristics of CPO are shown in Table 1.

Changes in the quality of oils are due to hydrolysis, oxidation and contamination. Hydrolytic changes occur when the oil is attacked by water. If CPO contains water, it undergoes a hydrolysis reaction and produces free fatty acids which have a corrosive effect. An oxidation reaction can also occur in the CPO when it comes in direct contact with air. This reaction causes oxygen intermingled in double bond of fatty acids chain to form peroxide that in turn will decompose to the aldheic particle. If the reaction occurs for a long time, it can damage the CPO molecule structure. Consequently, the electrical characteristic of the oil is changed. The CPO water content has high temperature thus affecting its

electrical characteristic. Besides that, an oxidizing reaction can occur in the CPO when attacked by oxygen, catalyzed by metals and high temperatures. The third factor which causes deterioration of oil or oil quality problems is contamination. This may be the high iron content of oils from wear and tear of machinery or pick-up of the metal during transport (Siew, 2000). It is known that a metal is conductive material and thus affects the electrical properties of oil. The main electrical properties of an oil insulation are breakdown voltage and the dielectric loss factor (Tgδ) (Gallagher and Pearmain, 1984). Hence, the breakdown voltage and the dielectric loss factor of CPO are necessary to be known.

This research will observe the effect of temperature on both the breakdown voltage and the dielectric loss factor of CPO. The obtained findings will be compared against the breakdown voltage and dielectric loss factor of Shell Diala B Transformer Oil.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology for the research consists of a sample preparation, a procedure on breakdown voltage testing, and a procedure of Tgδ measurement.

Sample Preparation

CPO sample for this research is produced by PTPN-IV (one of the state-owned companies in North Sumatra, Indonesia that produces CPO as its main product). The Shell Diala B Transformer Oil is taken from the branch office of PT PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara) in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra. First, the sample must be flushed to reduce the water content using a flushing apparatus. Then the sample is divided into two groups such as, a sample for the breakdown voltage test, and a sample for the dielectric loss factor-measuring test. The two groups of samples are heated up to 120°C to reduce its water contents before the test is carried out.


Feature Article

TABLE 1. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CRUDE PALM OIL (CPO)

Breakdown Voltage Testing

The measurement equipment used for the testing is High Voltage Test Set; model ET-51D, Keihin Densokki Co., Ltd, Japan. This transformer test is equipped with a regulator that is capable of increasing the voltage at a rate of 1 kV s-1. The highest output voltage of this transformer test is 60 kV/50 Hz. The diagram of the test set-up is shown in Figure 1.

Based on different temperature test

levels, the group samples are further divided into seven sub-groups. Each sub-group sample consists of three sample units. The sample unit is put into a test standard oil vessel as regulated in JIS-C2101. The vessel is provided with sphere electrodes that have a diameter of 12.5 mm. The gap distance of the mentioned electrodes can be adjusted. During the test, the gap distance is adjusted to 1.0 mm so that the CPO can be electrically broken down at a voltage below

the maximum voltage of the transformer test output.

The breakdown voltage of each sample unit is measured six times as regulated in JIS-C2101, and the mean value of the last five measurements is considered to be the breakdown voltage of the sample unit. The temperature of the sample unit is measured before and after the test is done, and the average value of both measurements is considered to be the temperatures of the sample unit. The temperature of the sub-group sample is the mean temperature of the three samples in the sub-group. The breakdown voltage of the sub-group sample is taken as the mean value of the breakdown voltage of the three samples in the sub-group sample.

Tgδ Measurement

The measuring equipment of Tgδ that is used for this testing is C & Tgδ Measuring

Characteristic Value

Appearance Yellow reddish

Density (20°C) 0.925 - 0.935

Melting point 27°C – 50°C

Boiling point (760 mmHg) 205°C – 376°C

Firing point 287.8°C – 362.8°C

Pour point 12.8°C

Flash point 240°C

Distillation temperature 90% point 359

Specific calorie (kilocalorie/kg) 0.5 – 0.6

Refraction index 1.42 – 1.48

Specific gravity 0.899 @ 122°F

Kinematics viscosity @ 55°C (cST) 24.3

Source: Ahmad and Salmah (1988).


Feature Article

Set for High Voltage Equipments, type DAC-ASM 3E, made in Soken, Japan. This equipment measures Tgδ in the range of 0% to 50%, and with the voltage ranges from 0 -12 kV at a frequency of 50 Hz. The diagram of the test set-up is shown in Figure 2.

The sample group for the dielectric loss factor investigation consists of three CPO sample units and three sample units of Shell Diala B. After the samples were heated to 120°C, the samples were put into an oil vessel equipped with a half sphere electrode, a diameter of 36 mm and a distance gap of 2.5 mm. The vessel was sealed to prevent the sample from being contaminated by dust. The sample was then cooled down for 10 min so that air bubble in the sample can disappear.

Measuring Tgδ at a certain level of temperature was previously done by measuring the initial temperature and Tgδ

Source: Naidu and Kamaraju (1996).

Figure 2. The dielectric loss factor test diagram set-up.

Source: Dieter Kind (1993).

Figure 1. The breakdown test diagram set-up.

of a sample unit. The setting voltage during the measurement of Tgδ has been limited to 3 kV/50 Hz in order to avoid partial discharge in the sample. Let us say that the initial measuring result was Tgδinitial. Two minutes later, subsequent measurements were taken for the sample unit at the same voltage of 3 kV/50 Hz with a sample temperature slightly lower than the previous one, and its results were Tgδ2. The value of Tgδ is the average value of Tgδinitial and Tgδ2 (Dieter Kind, 1993). An appropriate temperature for the average Tgδ above is the mean value of temperature of both Tgδinitial and Tgδ2.

Measurement of Tgδ at lower level temperatures is repeatedly done every 5 min. Similar procedures are repeated until it reaches the room temperature.

RESULTS

There are two types of data that have been measured; the breakdown voltage, the Tgδ of CPO and Shell Diala B samples. The following section gives the results of the breakdown voltage, the Tgδ measurement of CPO and Shell Diala B.

The Breakdown Voltage

Following the procedure described above, the results of the breakdown voltage test for the CPO and Shell Diala B are given in Tables 2 and 3.

The graph in Figure 3 shows the correlation of the breakdown voltage and the temperature for the CPO and Shell Diala B.

The correlation between the temperature and the breakdown voltage of the Shell Diala B is determined by using a regression analysis. The same technique is applied to calculate the value of the Shell Diala B breakdown voltage with the same temperature as the CPO. The results are given in Table 4. It is concluded that for the same temperature, CPO breakdown voltage

Capacitor

Thermometer


Feature Article

(PT PLN, 1982), the breakdown voltage of unprocessed insulation oil is ≥ 30 kV/2.5 mm or ≥ 12 kV mm-1. The breakdown voltage of CPO at temperature ≥ 60°C is ≥ 31 kV mm-1. Therefore, it can be said that the breakdown voltage of CPO complies with SPLN 49-1982.

Dielectric Loss Factor

The measurement results of three sample units of CPO are given in Table 5. Variations of CPO Tgδ for different temperatures is shown in Figure 4. It shows the value of Tgδ varies sharply for temperatures that are close to each other.

The results of Tgδ measurement from Shell Diala B is shown in Table 6. Variation of Shell Diala B Tgδ for different temperatures is also available in Figure 5. As seen from the figures, the value of Tgδ also varies sharply for temperatures that are close to each other.

Investigating the possibility of replacing CPO for Shell Diala B replacement is based on their dielectric loss factor, that is, by comparing the highest value of CPO Tgδ (worst quality) with the lowest value of Shell Diala B Tgδ (best quality). The highest value of CPO Tgδ must be lower than the lowest value of Shell Diala B, in order to prove that the CPO is better than Shell Diala B. Figures 4 and 5 show the highest values of CPO Tgδ and the lowest value of Shell Diala B, respectively and the comparison between the two is shown in Table 7.

Figure 6 shows the correlation between the Tgδ and the temperature of both types of oils. It shows the comparison between the highest Tgδ of CPO and the lowest Tgδ of Shell Diala B. As seen from Figure 6, the CPO Tgδ is higher than Shell Diala Tgδ at the same temperature. This means that the CPO Tgδ is not as good as the Shell Diala B Tgδ. The main factor that contributes to higher values of CPO Tgδ than Shell Diala B is due to the contamination of fibrous parts

TABLE 2. BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE OF CRUDE PALM OIL (CPO)

Temperatures (oC) Vbreakdown

(kV)

82.90 33.86 69.32 32.30 61.75 31.10 55.93 30.60 47.95 27.90 41.20 26.70 34.21 25.10

TABLE 3. BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE OF SHELL DIALA B

Temperatures (oC) Vbreakdown

75.20 25.8 69.95 25.0 61.15 23.8 52.05 22.2 47.85 21.4 40.40 19.4 32.35 13.0

Figure 3. The breakdown voltage of crude palm oil (CPO) and Shell Diala B.

is higher than Shell Diala B. The mean value of CPO breakdown voltage is 1.38 times higher than Shell Diala B.

According to SPLN 49-1982 (Indonesian National Electricity Company Standard)

Temperature (oC)

Breakdown


Feature Article

TABLE 4. BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE COMPARISON BETWEEN CRUDE PALM OIL (CPO) AND SHELL DIALA B

Temperatures (oC) Vbreakdown (kV)

CPO Shell Diala B

82.90 33.86 22.66

69.32 32.30 24.70

61.75 31.10 25.24

55.93 30.60 24.27

47.95 27.90 21.81

41.20 26.70 17.85

34.21 25.10 12.38

and resin of the palm bunch. The flushing equipments used could not purify the CPO perfectly. If it did the value of CPO Tgδ would be lower.

According to SPLN 49-1982, the dielectric loss factor of unprocessed insulation oil is ≤ 5% (PT PLN, 1982). The highest result of CPO dielectric loss factor measurement is 0.219%. Even though the dielectric loss factor of CPO is not as good as Shell Diala B oil, the dielectric loss factor of CPO conforms to SPLN 49-1982.

DISCUSSION

Further investigation is absolutely required for refined CPO to get oil that is not contaminated by fibrous parts and the resin of the palm bunch. By using refined CPO, it is envisaged that the dielectric loss factor of CPO would be lower than the result recorded in this test. The research on the electrical characteristic of CPO needs to be improved and developed. Besides breakdown voltage and Tgδ investigation, further investigation such as conductivity of CPO should be done.

TABLE 5. MEASUREMENT OF Tgδ OF CRUDE PALM OIL (CPO)

Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

Temp. (°C) Tgδ (%) Temp. (°C) Tgδ (%) Temp. (°C) Tgδ (%)

51.50 0.153 51.75 0.185 54.45 0.20545.25 0.219 44.35 0.158 46.65 0.17739.70 0.155 40.20 0.167 40.90 0.17537.60 0.143 36.85 0.159 37.10 0.18735.95 0.137 34.95 0.175 34.80 0.17633.45 0.130 33.00 0.167 32.65 0.15131.85 0.129 31.70 0.167 30.85 0.135


Feature Article

Figure 4. The highest dielectric loss factor of crude palm oil (CPO).

Figure 5. The lowest dielectric loss factor of Shell Diala B.

TABLE 6. MEASUREMENT DATA OF Tgδ SHELL DIALA B

Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

Temp. (oC) Tgδ (%) Temp. (oC) Tgδ (%) Temp. (oC) Tgδ (%)

50.50 0.075 51.15 0.073 51.10 0.05244.30 0.068 44.40 0.072 47.10 0.04939.85 0.068 40.15 0.064 43.60 0.04736.85 0.073 37.50 0.058 39.20 0.04434.10 0.075 35.55 0.056 36.60 0.04332.50 0.072 33.40 0.054 34.75 0.04131.50 0.069 32.50 0.046 32.80 0.040

Tg δ (%)

Temperature (oC)

Temperature (oC)

Tg δ (%)


Feature Article

Figure 6. The comparison between the highest Tgδ of crude palm oil (CPO) and the lowest Tgδ of Shell Diala B.

TABLE 7. THE HIGHEST AND THE LOWEST VALUE OF TGδ FOR CRUDE PALM OIL (CPO) AND SHELL DIALA B

CPO Shell Diala B

Temp. (°C) Tgδ (%) Temp. (°C) Tgδ (%)

31.70 0.167 31.50 0.069

33.00 0.167 32.50 0.072

34.95 0.175 34.10 0.075

37.10 0.186 36.85 0.073

40.90 0.175 39.85 0.068

45.25 0.219 44.40 0.072

46.65 0.177 50.50 0.075

51.75 0.185 51.15 0.073

54.45 0.205 31.50 0.069

The addition of other substance would need further investigation as well to improve the electrical characteristics of CPO. As noted earlier, the production cost of a power transformer is determined by the cost of its oil insulation. If in the future, CPO can be made in to the basic material of transformer oil, then it will reduce the production and maintenance cost of a power transformer.

CONCLUSION

The research produces some interesting conclusions which are described as follows:• from the breakdown voltage viewpoint,

electrical strength of CPO is better than Shell Diala B oil. The breakdown voltage of CPO is 1.38 times higher than Shell Diala B oil;

Feature Article

Temperature (oC)


Feature Article

• from the dielectric loss factor point of view, CPO is worse than Shell Diala B oil. The average value of CPO dielectric loss factor is 2.74 times higher than Shell Diala B oil;

• the breakdown voltage of CPO complies with SPLN 49-1982; and

• even though the dielectric loss factor of CPO is not as good as Shell Diala B oil, the dielectric loss factor of CPO conforms to SPLN 49-198 2.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author wishes to thank Mr Suparyono of PT PLN Pematang Siantar, Indonesia, for support in this work. In addition, thanks go to Dr Jenny Elisabeth of PT KPN in Medan and Dr Donal Siahaan of IOPRI, Medan, for discussions regarding the specification of CPO. The author gives the appreciation also to Mr Syahrawardi of USU HV Laboratory for his assistance in setting up the experimental work.

REFERENCES

AGUS, P (2001). Palm biodiesel: its potency, technology, business prospect and environmental implications in Indonesia.

Proc. of the International Biodiesel Workshop. Medan. Indonesia. p. 1 - 12.

AHMAD, H and SALMAH, J (1998). Palm oil as diesel fuel: field trial on cars with Elsbett engine. Proc. of the 1998 PORIM International Biofuel and Lubricant Conference. PORIM, Bangi. p. 165 - 181.

SIEW WAI LIN (2000). Enhancement of oil quality, Advances in Oil Palm Research. Volume II, MPOB, Bangi. p. 935 – 967.

GALLAGHER, T J and PEARMAIN, A J (1984). High Voltage Measurement, Testing and Design. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons, p. 59 - 64

DIETER KIND (1993). An Introduction to High-Voltage Experimental Technique (Translated to Indonesian by Sirait K T). Penerbit ITB, Bandung. p. 113 – 116, 151-153.

NAIDU, M S and KAMARAJU, V (1996). High Voltage Engineering, McGraw-Hill, New York, p. 295 – 307.

PT PLN (Persero) (1982). Spesifikasi Isolasi Minyak Baru untuk Transformator dan Pemutus Daya SPLN 49. Jakarta, Indonesia. p. 10.


Feature Article

Tbar (100 kg cm-2) on the cake. The cage had a height of 1 m and a diameter of 0.520 m having a capacity of 212 litres.

A number of factors were examined, the most important ones being: number of plates, pressure, duration of pressing, digestion, sterilization and the nut breakage. Contrary to what has been done with the centrifugal and the screw presses in this case the study will not deal with different type of fruits.

The non-continuous press is actually more versatile and capable of dealing with almost any type of fruit.

Number of Plates

The number of plates does not seem to affect the oil extraction. No difference in the oil content of the fibre was recorded when pressing was carried out without plates at all or with an increasing number of plates until the cake thickness was reduced to a mere 10 mm to 20 mm. The only advantage in the use of plates appears to be the easier unloading of the cake. When only two or three plates were used, the discharge of the cake was slow and laborious. The

Mongana Basic: 7 – Extraction by Non-continuous Press

Condensed by: N Ravi Menon*

his method of pressing was tried out in a revolving press capable of exerting a pressure of about 97

disadvantage of producing thin cake slices was the increase in the percentage of nut breakage.

The utilization of partitions made of canvas was envisaged but according to the advice of specialists no improvement could be expected from there. The object of canvas partitions was to increase the porosity of the cake. Their use is fully justified in the case of compact and closely packed cake (palm kernel cake etc.) but in the case of oil palm fruit, the cake remains very porous even at the end of pressing owing to the presence of fibre and nuts.

Plates

The top and the bottom plates are thicker than the intermediate plates with the diameter 9 mm smaller than the cage diameter. The plates may or may not be centred but with D x P fruits if there is excess gap between the plate and the cage, some press cake may escape through the gap without being pressed. Even though the matter ejected may be only a few hundred grammes it can trigger a significant pressure drop (20% to 30%) in the press.

In addition to the adverse effect on the pressure, the expelling of the matter can also increase the dirt content of the crude oil. This sort of contamination occurs only with D x P fruit.



The degree of oil extraction is contingent upon the intensity as the pressure build-up of the applied pressure but is not directly proportional to it. The effect decreases as the pressure build-up. For instance, the five results were recorded under standard conditions shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1. THE PRESSURE EXERTED ON THE CAKE AND THE OIL LOSS

Pressure (kg cm-1) Oil on dry fibre (%)

30 33.3

60 23.2

90 22.4

150 20.7

Sterilization

Sterilization carried out with live steam at atmospheric pressure on D x P fruit spikelets affects extraction efficiency. It can be observed that fibre feels greasy between the fingers not only as a result of the high oil content (30% - 40%) but also because the pressure of a lot of cellular debris. It is opportune to recall that the above conditions of sterilization an oil wall eventuate in the centrifugal extraction process. Sterilization with flowing live steam appears to lead to easier extraction than sterilization under pressure when operating on stored loose fruit. Easier should be taken to mean that application of pressure not up to maximum level leads to a higher oil recovery. However, at maximum pressure, the difference does not necessarily exist any more. For instance, a 10 kg cm-2 pressure removes 80% of the oil contained in fruits sterilized in live steam at atmospheric pressure against 50% for sterilization done under pressure. However, after applications of a 75 kg cm-2 pressure, both cakes are identical.

Triple peak sterilization applied to bunch of any type of planting material makes it possible in the best conditions of digestion and at the rate of six pressings per hour to record 11.5% to 14.0% oil on dry fibre and 0.5% to 0.8% oil on nuts together with a settling coefficient of 0.98. As has been pointed out elsewhere, fibre with less than 10% oil on non-oily solids was obtained in a non-continuous press as a result of eliminating an important portion of the cellular debris during digestion through the use of a perforated bottom plate for instance. The cellular debris is thus drained off into the crude oil and this lowers the coefficient.

In the case of fruit of high pericarp content, the above mentioned rates of extraction can be obtained practically without nut breakage. Serious breakage occurs when fruit of low pulp content is extracted up to 12% to 14% oil on dry fibre.

The duration of pressing does not appear to affect the extent of oil extraction except in the case of low pressure range.

Similarly, repeated pressure build-ups and releases are effective as long as maximum pressure is not attained but two successive applications of maximum pressure do appear to have higher oil removal efficiency than one. In a totally enclosed press, it is difficult to observe what happens but in Mongana, the flow of liquid through the cage and into the crude oil receiving funnel was easily visible.

Digestion

Digestion had a marked effect on the efficiency of a non-continuous press, more than that of centrifugal extraction. For instance, two series of pressings involving 19 and 11 loads respectively were carried out. In the first, digestion was carried out at a shaft speed of 17 rpm with eight beater arms. In the second, the speed was 30 rpm with 10 beater arms fitted. The other conditions were identical (sterilization and pressing cycle). The results are shown in Table 2.

Feature Article Feature Article


TABLE 2. EFFECT OF DIGESTION ON OIL EXTRACTION EFFICIENCY

Oil on dry fibre Oil on nuts Settling coefficient

Insufficient digestion 26.4 1.5 0.975

Adequate digestion 12.2 0.7 0.984

Nut breakages were assessed in relation to applied pressure. Table 3 gives the daily analytical results obtained on fibre and the percentage of broken nuts for five different intensities of pressing. In order to set-up the worst possible conditions, the fruit was sterilized with live steam at atmospheric pressure for 20 min. Only steam jacket heating was used during digestion (temperature of the mesh approximately 70oC). The shell did not therefore acquire springiness and kernels remained attached to the shell. The nut breakage recorded must therefore be considered as maximum. It may however occur at industrial scale in similar conditions of processing. The pressure indicated in Table 3 is that shown by the pressure gauge. The effective pressure on the cake is approximately one-third of it.

Figure 1. Nut breakage and oil content of fibre in relation to pressure.

Figure 1 provides the pattern of residual oil in fibre and nut breakage. The diagram should be compared with that of Figure 2 obtained on a screw press. The observation clearly lends support to the hypothesis of the equilibrium of fibre to nuts. It can be observed that between 50 and 150 kg cm2 (gauge pressure) nut breakage occurs. At that point, the void between the nuts is filled up and the equilibrium is attained. Nut breakage ceases and the oil content of fibre follows an asymptotic curve.

As in the case of other two extraction processes in use (centrifuges and screw presses), an attempt was made to press pericarp alone without nut specifically with the object of evolving a procedure specially adapted to the fruit of palm groves. The

(in kg cm-2)

% Nut breakage

Feature Article

% Oil on dry fibre


Figure 2. Oil content of fibre and corresponding nut breakage in relation to pressure (palm grove fruit).

results are very similar to those recorded for the other processes: the pressing of straight pulp leads to a lower rate of extraction than when nuts are present (17% to 18% oil on dry

TABLE 3. EFFECT OF PRESSURE ON NUT BREAKAGE AND OIL CONTENT OF FIBRE

Pressure in bar (psig) Broken nuts (%) Oil in dry fibre Moisture in wet fibre

49 (711) 1.0 35.8 53.1

98 (1 450) 13.8 22.4 53.2

147 (2 175) 21.5 20.2 52.0

196 (2 900) 20.6 16.9 52.3

245 (3 625) 19.9 14.4 47.4

294 (4 350) 18.4 13.9 -

fibre against 11.5% to 14%). It can therefore be stated that generally and regardless of the process used, the extraction of straight pulp is not to be recommended.

Feature Article


Titbits

a) Fried Pomfret Wrapped in Banana Leaf Ingredients

Black pomfret 500 g - wash, wipe dry and make slits

on both sidesCurry leaves 6 leaves – wash well Palm oil 6 tablespoonsBanana leaf sufficient to wrap

the fish individually

Making the Rubbing Paste

Heat the following in a frying pan without oil. Stir continuously to prevent them from burning until the ingredients give out a pungent smell. Grind them together to a paste in a blender adding just sufficient water to keep them in a paste constituency.

dry chillies 6 pieces grated coconut 4 tablespoonscoriander seeds 2 tablespoonsblack pepper 1 teaspoon

Note: Add water a little at a time until the paste just begin to have a central passage way. If the central hole is too large it indicates excess water, in which case drain off some water and try grinding again.

Add the following to the paste and grind again to a fine paste:

3 green chillies - dicedA piece of ginger, about 12 mm - sliced into small pieces4 cloves of garlic- sliced into small pieces.4 small onions - sliced into small pieces1 teaspoon turmeric powder1 teaspoon vinegar¾ tablespoon salt or as required.

Rub the paste liberally on both sides of each pomfret, wrap them separately in banana leaf and keep them aside. (May use a toothpick to seal the ends of banana leaf).

Pour the palm oil on a frying pan and heat up the oil. Carefully fry both sides of the wrapped-up pomfret. When vapour start issuing from the frying pan, garnish with lemon slices and cucumber

b) Another Method of Frying

After rubbing the paste liberally on both sides of each pomfret, fry them using a large frying pan.

Lay two banana leaves in it. Pour the oil on it and spread out the oiled fish on the leaf. Put another two layers of banana leaf over the fish, cover the frying pan, with a lid and heat at a low heat for some time.

Open the lid and turn over the fish and heat again until the fish is cooked. Pour ½ cup of coconut milk (santan) over it (optional) and let it simmer for a while without the lid.

Cooking with Palm Oil


Titbits

The Merger of Three Plantation Giants

The grand merger to create the world’s largest palm oil producer appears to be finally taking shape after three years of waiting. After the merger of the three oil palm companies - Sime Darby Bhd, Golden Hope Plantations Bhd and Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd, the new entity called Synergy Dynamics Sdn Bhd will be worth about USD 8.6 billion. If any of the three companies choose not to merge, the deal will be called off.

The merger does not mean that the performance of the new company will be any better than before. But it can certainly trim the number of management staff resulting in a lower cost of plantation operation.

The merged entity comprising nine companies will have about 600 000 ha of plantation in Malaysia and Indonesia with 107 000 employees. This will be second in size to unlisted FELDA, the Malaysian state plantation firm with 800 000 ha.

The merger exercise which would be completed by the fourth-quarter of 2007 would also include the de-listing of some nine public listed companies and the listing of Synergy Drive Sdn Bhd according to Datuk Nazir Razak, the CEO of CIMB, the financial advisors, who set-up the new special purpose vehicle company.


Datasheet

Fuel Characteristics of Methyl Ester and Diesel Oil

Tests conductedProducts

Methyl estersof CPO

Methyl esters of stearin

Malaysian diesel oil

Specific gravity ASTM D 1290oF (699oC)

0.8700 0.8713 0.8330

Colour (visual) Reddish Orange Yellow

Odour Castrol smell Normal

Sulphur content % wt. IP 242

0.04 0.002 0.10

Viscosity @40oC ASDM D445 (cST)

4.5 4.6 4.0

Pour point (oC)ASTM D 97

16.0 17.0 15.0

Distillation D (86oC)I.B.P. (oC)10% oC20% oC50% oC90% oCF.B.P. (oC)Final recovery (ml)

324.0330.0331.0334.0343.0363.098.00

320.0331.0332.0335.0343.0349.098.50

228.0258.0270.0298.0276.0400.0

-

Cetane indexASTM D 976

50 52 53

Gross heat of combustion ASTM D 2382 (kJ y-1)

40 135 39 826 45 800

Flash point (oC)PM cc ASTM D 93

174 165 98

Conradson carbon residue ASTM D 198 % wt

0.02 0.25 0.14

Source: MPOB (2000). Pocketbook of Palm Oil Uses. MPOB, Bangi. p. 156.


ADVERTISEMENThe advertisement cost is RM 600 per issue for an A4 size page of black and white, whereas the cost for colour is RM 800. Advertisers are required to submit to us either their own black and white artwork or colour separation films. Cheque should be made payable to the ‘Malaysian Palm Oil Board’. If you have any queries, please contact the following at MPOB.

Tel:0�-8��9��00Fax:0�-89��9��

Dr.LimWengSoonext:��0�•N.RaviMenonext:��•LimSooChinext:��E-mail:[email protected]

AdvertisingScheduleforMPOBPalm Oil Engineering Bulletin

Issue Quarter Deadline forRegistration

Deadline forSubmissionof Artwork

8� Jan-Mar�00� �0Jan�00� �8Feb�00�8� Apr-June�00� �0Apr�00� �0May�00�8� July-Sept�00� �0July�00� �0Aug�00�

REPLY-SLIP

Dr.LimWengSoon/Ir.N.RaviMenonEngineeringandProcessingDivisionPalmOilEngineeringBulletinMPOBP.O.Box�0��0�0��0KualaLumpurMalaysia

PALMOILENGINEERINGBULLETINADVERTISEMENT–FULLPAGEADVT.

�.WeconfirmourintentiontoadvertiseintheMPOBPalm Oil Engineering Bulletin.

Company:

Address:

E-Mail:Tel.No.:FaxNo.:ContactPerson:IssueNo.:

�.Theartworkisattached/willbesentonforyourfurtheraction.

�. Pleasefindenclosed*crossedchequeno.:forRM ()beingpaymentfortheadvertisementfee.

�.Thankyou.

(Signature) (Date)

*MadepayabletoMALAYSIAN PALM OIL BOARD.

T

MPO

B P

ALM

OIL

EN

GIN

EERI

NG

BU

LLET

IN -

FULL

PA

GE

#


MPO

B PA

LM O

IL E

NG

INEE

RIN

G B

ULL

ETIN

- V

END

OR

S’ L

IST

ollowingadecisionbytheEditorialBoardtofurtherincreasetheroleofPalm Oil Engineering BulletintoservetheIndustrybetter,anewadditioncalledPalm Oil Mill VendorshasbeenintroducedsimilartoTelekomYellow Pages toassistmillengineerstoknowwheretosourcematerialsorservicespertainingtotheindustry.Inordertomakethisuseful,weneedtheco-operationofthemillengineers/managerstopersuadetheirvendorstoadvertiseintheVendors’ ListforanominalfeeofRM�00/year(fourissues).Ifyouhaveanyqueries,pleasecontactthefollowingatMPOB.

Tel:0�-8��9��00Fax:0�-89��9��

Ir. Ravi Menonext.��ore-mail:[email protected]. Lim Soo Chin ext.��ore-mail:[email protected]

REPLY SLIP

Dr. Lim Weng Soon/Ir. N. Ravi MenonEngineeringandProcessingDivisionPalmOilEngineeringBulletinAdvertisementMPOB,P.O.Box�0��0,�0��0KualaLumpur,Malaysia.

WewishtoadvertiseintheMPOBPalm Oil Engineering Bulletin

Company:IssueNo.:

ContactPerson:H/P:

Address:

E-Mail:Tel:Fax:

PleasefindenclosedacrossedchequeNo.:Bank:

forRM:(RinggitMalaysia)

drawninfavourof MALAYSIAN PALM OIL BOARD

Please select the headings from the list given below (not more than five headings) under which you wish to advertise.

Airfilters/dryersAirseparatorsBoilersuppliersBearingsBoilerspares/cleaningBunchcrushersBeltsCastingsCleaning-generalCivilengineeringConditionmonitoringControl/automation/sparesConveyors/elevatorsConsultancyservicesDieseleng./services/sparesFansElectricmotorsExpansionjointsFabricationworks

Signature:

Name:

Date: Companychop

ADVERTISEMENT

F

Filtercloth/materialsFluidcontrolsystemGaskets/packingmaterialsGearboxesHardware-health&safetyproductsLaboratoryanalysisLaboratoryequipmentLubricantsMillmachinerysparesNutcrackersPalmoilmillconsultantsPollutioncontrolsystemsPressurevesselsPumpsPurifiersScrewpress/partsScrubbersSludgeseparators/decantersSteamturbines

Sterilizer/partsStoragesilosVacuumpumpsValvesWatertreatmentWeldingequipmentsWastewatertreatmentWeighingmachineswheelloaders/sparesOthers(specifyheadings)

�.

�.

�.

�.

�.

#


From:

Address:

Question/Comment:

Signed:Date:

(We have enclosed this form to assist you in sending to us any questions or comments)

#


ChairmanTheEditorialBoardPalmOilEngineeringBulletinMalaysianPalmOilBoardP.O.Box�0��0�0��0KualaLumpurMalaysia

STAMP

Documents

CONTENTS Editorial - PALMOILISpalmoilis.mpob.gov.my/publications/POEB/poeb81.pdf · PALM OIL ENGINEERING BULLETIN NO. 81 Recent Events Contributed by: Noor Asmawati Abd Samad* * Malaysian