ArticleThe study aimed at describing the experimental and theoretical relationships between
t
he force and deformation curves as well as the deformation energy of bulk oil palm kernels under
compression loading. V
essel diameters of 60, 80 and 100
mm
with initial pressing heights of the
bulk kernels measured at 40, 60 and 80
mm
were examined
by appl
ying
a maximum compressive
force of 200
kN and a speed of 5
mm
min
-
1
. For the theoretical description of the force and
deformation curves, the tangent curve mathematical model was applied using the MathCAD
14
software where the force coefficient of mechani
cal behaviour,
A
(kN), the deformation coefficient
of mechanical behaviour,
B
(mm
-
1
) and the fitting curve function exponent,
n
(
-
)
were
determined
respectively. The determined coefficients in addition to the maximum deformation values
obtained from the co
mpression test were used for the estimation of the theoretical or analytical
deformation energy. The determined
regression models expressing the deformation, numerical
energy and theoretical energy as well as the tangent model coefficients
A
and
B
dependen
t on the
vessel diameter and pressing height were
statistically significant (
P
<
0.05) or (
F
-
ratio
>
F
-
critical)
.
Improving the mechanical pressing of oil extraction for both domestic and industrial
applications still remain a concer
n of researchers and en
gineers
