History of Human Powered Oil Expeller:

A Literature Review

S. M. Sheikh(&) and K. S. Zakiuddin(&)

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Priyadarshini College of Engineering,

Nagpur 440001, India
sirajsheikh27@gmail.com, qszaki1@rediffmail.com

Abstract. This paper covers the form and existence of oil expeller as well as
manual methods from last decades. It delivers a vibrant introduction to both
traditional and improved methods for the extraction of vegetable oil from oil-
seeds. In the output of edible oils, an advance on the existing traditional
methods, environmental factors, socioeconomic and cultural considerations of
the users need to be considered. This can be achieved through more research in
the recommended area of need. The purpose of the report is to introduce some
views of oil expression technology in order to create an interest and awareness
of technology, which may help improving the development in the rural regions.
The different types of designs and progressive developments with operating
parameters and mechanisms used can be overviewed from the literature review
to obtain out the scope for further developments in human powered oil expeller.

Keywords: Oil expeller
Human powered oil expeller
Animal power

Petroleum extraction
Power ghani
Manual oil expeller

1 Introduction

In the worldwide background, India is one of the first producers of oilseeds. Though
India produces around 18 million metric tons of oilseeds annually, but still this level of
production is not decent to satisfy the need of edible oil in the country. Hence, an
incessant effort is on to improve the production of oilseeds utilizing the accessible
assets. Oil production is significant not only among small-to-medium scale industri-
alists, but also to rural populace, engaging quite a substantial workforce serving as a
source of income to many communities pleasing in the exercise [1].
Area of agriculture is going towards the commercialization in economic crisis,
economic growth, and economic growth. Prominence is on the mechanization of pre-
harvesting and post-harvesting equipment’s. We can discover that oil expeller is one of
the post-harvesting equipment which has promising potential towards the industrial-
ization and confined employment, this equipment is available at low cost and with the
simplicity of operation [2]. Then the recommendation will be given to Human powered
oil expeller machine which is ecofriendly as well as worked with the human power and
then it will be recognized as a renewable source of vitality.
Improved technology exists for the all types of oil bearing raw materials, both at the
pre-processing and oil extraction. Extraction devices exist into five essential technical

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

B. Zhang and M. Ceccarelli (Eds.): Explorations in the History and Heritage
of Machines and Mechanisms, HMMS 37, pp. 77–88, 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03538-9_7
78 S. M. Sheikh and K. S. Zakiuddin

options; Indigenous methods (Traditional domestic method; pounding, boiling and

skimming. Hot water floatation), ghanis, manual presses, powered exporters’ and
solvent extraction.
The theme is focused on human powered oil expeller machine, and then taking a
brief history with the traditional methods of oil extrusion need to be discussed [3].

1.1 Materials and Methods

Essentially, all agricultural products are split into three categories first oilseeds (cotton,
castor, sunflower, etc.), Second Nuts (coconut, groundnut, sheanut, etc.) And third, one
monocarps or fruits (oil palm) etc. Before oil extraction some raw materials need to be
pre-processed. Seeds and nuts, in many examples, are heated before processing.
Type of expeller to be used to process it depends upon the geometry of seed or nut.
Traditionally heating is taken out over open fires but seed scorchers depend on the
temperature and substantially the quality of raw material [4].

2 Results and Discussion

2.1 Indigenous Methods (Traditional Domestic Methods)

Hot water floatation is the simplest method and is still practiced in many rural regions.
Firstly Seeds are pasted on ground manually and then the paste is heated up to a certain
time and adds boiling water into heated paste. After boiling the mix, the jumble is
allowed to cool during which time the oil gathers at the tip and is skinned off. The
process gives extraction efficiency near about 40%.
Oil extraction efficiency is mostly low, because of formation of oil-water emulsions
which makes the final separation difficult. In some cases salt is applied to break such
emulsions. These indigenous methods can be applied to process oil seeds at the village
level like groundnuts, sunflower seed, palm kernels, coconuts, sesame seed, rape- seed,
castor seed and she freaks (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Heating oven (KIT)

 History of Human Powered Oil Expeller: A Literature Review 79

2.2 Ghanis
Ghani was invented in India, which primarily used to distill oil from mustard and
sesame seeds. Ghani also used to distill oil from coconut and peanut. Usually ghani are
constructed locally and run by animals. It consists of a forest or stone pestle and
wooden mortar. The mortar is fixed to the earth while the pestles driven by one or a
couple of bullocks so that seeds are crushed by friction and force per unit area. Oil
flows through a hole at the rear end of the mortar while the residue or cake is scooped
away. Depending on the size of the mortar and type of seeds generally animal powered
ghani can express about 10 kg of seeds every two hours. The cake is scoop out are
used in solvent extraction plant for further descent of petroleum. The oilseed cakes
obtained from ghani have a high percentage of oil (12–14%). The oilseeds processed in
the ghani are normally neither reduced in size nor cooked prior to their jamming.
The Ghani requires mechanical energy which was maneuvered by one bullock (the
equivalent of 0.35 kW) can process 5 kg oilseed in about one hr. Hence, 0.3515 or 0.07
kWh is required to process 1 kg of an oilseed into oil (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Animal powered extraction

Ghani energy consumption is approximately equal to the maximum sum of energy

needed by small oil expellers. Motorized version of the traditional animal-powered
genes is common. KVIC introduced the power gone in 1971–72 to replace the bullocks
and improve the take. In Power ghani driven genius the pestle and mortar units are
normally set in pairs with either the pestle or mortar held stationary while the other is
rotated. Power ghani have a larger content than the traditional flair and can process
roughly 1000 kg of seed per day [11]. Power ghani yield oil with inferior spiciness.
In the event of power ghani either the mortar or pestle is fixed, the other rotating.
Power ghani usually are worked in pairs and throw a typical capability of 100 kg/day.
The extraction efficiency is mostly greater than animal units [13] (Fig. 3).
However, while introducing such intermediate technology, the main equipment
remained unaltered and only the bullock was replaced with electricity as motive power
which increased the yield by about one percent and reduced the time for crushing by
20%. It also cut the cost of motive power to the extent of 80% in terms of maintenance
of animals (Fig. 4).
80 S. M. Sheikh and K. S. Zakiuddin

Fig. 3. Power Ghani with stationary pestle

Fig. 4. Power Ghani with stationary mortar

2.2.1 Comparative Performance of Ghanis Used for Expelling

Energy wise expellers are least energy consuming followed by improved and tradi-
tional ghanies. Close to 16 and 44% less energy is required respectively in the case of
improved Ghani and mechanical expels as Compared to conventional Ghani shown in
Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1. Relative performance of different types of ghani

Test results Bullock drawn improved Overhead Portable power
ghani power ghani ghani
Floor space required, 36.00 7.20 3.24
sq. m
Capacity/charge. kg 6–10 12–15 12–15
Crushing time/charge, 90 60 50
Min
Crushing capacity 68–80 100 115
kg/d (8 h)
 History of Human Powered Oil Expeller: A Literature Review 81

Table 2. Energy requirement for oil expelling in different systems

Description Traditional Improved OilExpeller
ghani ghani
Energy required/t of oil seeds, KWh 125 105 70
% energy requirement over traditional ghanies 100 84 56
Oilseed crushing per unit energy, kg/KWh 8 9.5 14
Increased amount of oilseed expelled per unit 100 118.7 175
(KWh) energy over traditional ghanies, %

Aside from them other traditional methods are nevertheless applied to distill pet-
roleum from oil bearing materials. Such systems include the use of heavy stones,
wedges, levers and twisted ropes apply pressure to the material and so squeeze out the
oil. They are incompetent, of low capacity and labor exhaustive [12].

2.3 Mechanical Presses

Mechanical Presses have a number of different designs, which can be grouped into
screw or hydraulic operation but both can be manual or motor driven. The expression
efficiency is around 90% in oil plate presses, but it’s depending upon the nature and the
amount of product being expressed [6]. Screw types are more consistent than hydraulic
types, but are slower and create less pressure. Hydraulic types are more exclusive, need
more saving and hazard contaminate oil with poisonous hydraulic fluid (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Mechanical press

In screw press is by hand operated, the substance from which the oil is to be
expressed is pressed slowly and with maximum force by plunger (round steel plate),
forced down by a screw, and into a cylinder with a large number of small holes [6]
(Fig. 6).
82 S. M. Sheikh and K. S. Zakiuddin

Fig. 6. Manual oil expeller

Many different cases of mechanical presses are in used but they separated into two
vital types, plates presses and ram presses. In plate presses or piston is pulled into a
perforated cylinder containing the oil bearing material by means of a worm. In some
cases, hydraulic jacks have been utilized; care is required to make certain there is no
seepage of hydraulic fluid that might infect the edible oil (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7. Screw press

In hydraulic presses that can be power or manually operated, pressure is exerted by

hydraulic device such as a lorry jack which requires a heavy and rigid frame structure.
Because of the weight of such a structure the press must be stationary and cannot be
moved as easily as a screw press. Hydraulic presses can process mesocarp (fruits),
oilseeds and nuts as they generate greater pressure than a screw essential to ensure that
hydraulic fluid, which may be toxic, does not come into contact with the foodstuff [6]
(Fig. 8).

Fig. 8. Kit spindle press

 History of Human Powered Oil Expeller: A Literature Review 83

In a ram press a piston forces the oilseed forward in a perforated enclose fitted with
an adaptable choke at the outlet, which controls the pressure. Ram presses provide a
better shearing action than simple screw presses and have been set up to be signifi-
cantly more competent for some new materials. It is significant that when taking a
particular case of press its aptness for the new material to be treated is specified
(Fig. 9).

Fig. 9. Ram press

2.4 Powered Expellers

During the extraction process oil and oil-cake are produced. The essential constituent
parts of small-scale expeller are shown in Fig. 10. The expeller is run either by an
electric motor or by a diesel locomotive. At the center of the expeller is a powered
worm shaft which goes around within a closely fitting cage. The sources are contin-
uously run into the crush through the hopper and are broken down by the worm shaft.
Pressure is exerted on the system by restricting the opening at the closing of the
cage through which the oil cake is dropped from the pressure. The friction generated
inside the expeller barrel will eventually result in the breaking down of the worms haft
end portion, barrel bars or rings, and foul. Replacement of these regions will depend
upon the character and amount of oilseed processed. The simplicity of use and cost of
wearing components are important factors during setting up a small-scale expeller unit
(Fig. 10).
Powered oil expellers are the most common available device to obtain more output
and extraction efficiency. The capacity of expels is measured inform a kg/her up to
tons/her, but they all function on same principals same. The new material, which may
have been previously heated to aid in the release of oil, is fed continuously to the
expeller where it is eaten by the worm shaft into a horizontal cylinder. A controllable
pressure is made up in the cylinder by way of an adjustable choke at the cylinder outlet.
The internal pressure ruptures the oil cells in the material and oil flows out through
perforations in the cylinder cage. Some caution has to be chosen when selecting an
expeller for a peculiar good. Many have been designed for special applications, in
terms of home pressure, amount of shearing action etc. Certain types tend to be more
adjustable and so less product specific than another (Fig. 11).
84 S. M. Sheikh and K. S. Zakiuddin

Fig. 10. Powered Expeller

Fig. 11. Small scale expeller

The researcher observed that in above all extraction machines and system none of
the systems are able to create all of the oil from a germ. In some rural locality there is
no purpose or importance of cake. Peoples are not aware about the uses of cake even
they used local dishes for animal feed. Some of the raw materials do not release oil
yield by simply throwing out like rice brain. In case of rice brain, solvent extraction is
ultimate solution as compare to expeller.

2.5 Solvent Extraction

Solvent extraction is one of the best processes that have to be taken out at relatively
large scale. Basically the procedure is one of continuous extraction with the new
material flowing in one direction against a solvent; usually hexane. Crude oil then
passes on for refining. Solvent extraction involves the use of organic solvents like
straight chain hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, alcohols and ketones recover
the oil from the origins. The process for nut (groundnut) is similar to that of seeds (soya
bean, cotton, and so on). Broadly speaking, nuts or seeds are shelled and winnowed to
remove character-rich cases, and whitened by removing the tannin containing the skins.
Sometimes the nuts or seed flakes are cooked before they are converging to the
 History of Human Powered Oil Expeller: A Literature Review 85

separator. In the centrifuge, the oil is withdrawn by means of a solvent. The solvent
oppressed flakes are the passed through a desolventizer, which regains the solvents.
The desolventized cake may undergo further discussion before it is utilized as feed for
animals. Solvent extraction is capable of taking away all the available oil from oilseeds
or nuts near about 98% of the oil is being extracted by solvent methods [12]. This
method generally takes more capital expenditure, and polishing the oil before use. On
that point are also possibilities of perniciousness from the solvent used and peril of fire
blown up from the role of a fickle organic dissolving agent.

3 Overview Oilseed Processing Technologies

Before introducing new technologies it is significant to establish comparisons between

the proposed improved technology and traditional methods. In some cases, it was found
that the improved technology was no better than the traditional method and in fact
increased the labor requirements and time inputs or resulted in an excess demand for
raw materials. The availability of inputs such as animal power and human power need
to be quantified.
The five common methods that are used to distill oil from oil bearing seeds are
listed in Table 3. All these technologies have been applied for seeds including cot-
tonseed, soybean, sunflower and groundnuts. [9–11].

Table 3. Oilseed Processing Technologies

Technology Description Content
Solvent method Industrial technology; oilseeds rolled to reduce 120
them to flakes, which are faded out in a solvent that tons/day
takes out the petroleum.
Intermediate (screw Power-driven technology, oilseeds continuously 90 kg/h
expellers) technology fed, pre-heated, crashed and pressed to expel oil as
it passes through the machine.
Oil-plate method Plunger/cylinder presses, either screw operated or 15 kg/batch
hydraulically operated
Indigenous methods Traditional domestic method; pounding, boiling Few kg per
and skimming. day
Lever-operated Ram Manually operated mechanical press, seeds are fed 55 kg/shift
Presses continuously, and oil separates from cake

Out of the five methods, the ram press technology is the most adaptable to small-
scale rural activity. The ram press technology is grounded on a manually operated
machine. It is less effective than the industry-established methods (solvent extraction
and using screw expellers) that require particular and expensive machinery electrically
powered and strict hygienic conditions that are cannot be easily obtained at the small-
scale rural level. Accessibility to modern equipment and extra parts, degree of
86 S. M. Sheikh and K. S. Zakiuddin

complexity of the equipment, maintenance, and the availability of power source con-
stitute other major setbacks [11]. Indigenous methods, on the other hand, are not
efficient; more or less of them (like hot water extraction) is very grueling and time
eating up.

4 Design of the Human Powered Oil Expeller

4.1 Description of the Human Powered Oil Expeller
Any manufacturing process requiring more than 0.10 hp and which can be operated
intermittently without affecting end product can also be human powered. On average,
the power produced by a man is approximately 75 W (0.10 HP) if he works contin-
uously [8]. So that human powered as an energy source is applied for oil expelling.
Figure 12 shows schematically concept of Human Powered Oil Expeller Machine. The
system consists of three units, namely Energy unit, transmission mechanism unit and
Process unit (Oil Expeller machine) (Fig. 12).

Fig. 12. Concept of human powered oil expeller machine

4.2 Operation of the Human Powered Oil Expeller

In this process a flywheel is used as a source of power. Manpower is used to energize
the flywheel at an energy input rate, which is convenient for a human. Utmost possible
energy is stored in a flywheel; it is supplied through clutch and gearing system to a
processing shaft. The process unit consists of the gear pair which is drawn to power
screw (i.e. A screw shape tool used for mashing and pressing of seeds). Because of
which the power screw rotates in the barrel and provide is crushing and squeezing
action take place. The flywheel will decelerate at a charge per unit depends on load
torque. Larger the resisting torque, larger will be the deceleration [14]. Oil Expeller
Powered by Human Powered Flywheel Motor operates on the foundation of the above
rule.
 History of Human Powered Oil Expeller: A Literature Review 87

5 Results and Discussion

The oilseeds and oil bearing fruits become more significant for human nutrition and
also for technical applications. There are many factors affecting agricultural produc-
tivity in developing countries and it would be simplistic to assume that the solution to
the problems of low productivity is purely one of applying the right technology. Oil
expeller can be performed by manually controlled machine and electric controlled.
Traditional technologies usually have the advantage of requiring low investment, but
are labor intensive and time consuming. Some oil exporters are also operated by hand
that causes stress to the body parts due to incorrect ergonomic posture, which will be
eradicated by utilizing this car. Developing nations like India are facing problems of
Power storage due to rapid industrialization, non-availability of power in rural areas
and workers. In the setting of the present condition in India and third world countries
the Power shortage and exhaustion of coal reserves and unemployment, it is felt that
Human powered energized oil expeller machine for oil extraction is really necessary.
This machine is environment friendly, i.e. non-pollutant. It will bring Innovation &
Mechanization in agricultural technology. Unskilled workers may also find employ-
ment. Development of such an energy source which has enormous utility in energizing
many rural based process machines in places where reliability of availability of electric
energy is much more downcast. The conception and the development of the Oil
Expeller we can state that the purpose must be efficient and low in price. This will
increase the productivity of the small medium business and further more help the
community by receiving social economic benefits.

6 Conclusions

The present paper is focus on human powered oil expeller and hence getting a brief
history with the traditional and mechanical methods of oil expeller.. The emphasis has
been very much on oil expeller as an expanse of knowledge. It is meant to create an
interest and awareness of the technology, which may help improving the development
in the rural regions. Design and the development of the Human Powered Oil Expeller
we can state that the purpose must be efficient, low in cost and maintain the envi-
ronment green and pollution free as it suffers no negative backlash on the air. This will
increase the productivity of the small medium business and furthermore help the
community by receiving social economic benefits. As a low-cost, easy-to-use oil
processing technology, it may increase the production of and the consumption of edible
oil in rural regions.
Its simplicity, low capital cost and low demands for skilled operation and main-
tenance are all important in the rural surroundings. Huge throughputs are not wanted,
and small local enterprises have an advantage over large plants, for which the cost of
transporting the edible oil to rural districts is high. To provide oil-cake available as best
cattle feed. It helps to increase milk production considerably. The increased availability
of locally extracted oil to rural families encourage its consumption, contributing to
improved human nutrition, and the community also gains from the institution of local
engagement.
88 S. M. Sheikh and K. S. Zakiuddin

Acknowledgments. I would like to get hold of this chance to convey my profound gratitude and
deep regard to my PhD supervisor, Professor K. S. Zakiuddin who provided insight and expertise
that greatly assisted the research.

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