Design of a Plant to Produce 1000 Tonnes of Shea Butter Per Annum Using Mechanical Method

ABSTRACT
The design of a 1000 tonnes per annum Shea butter plant was carried out using data obtained from literature. Assumptions were made, where experimental data were not available. The block diagram, process flow sheet, material and energy balance on the process was carried out and presented on this work. A total of six units were used in the design, comprising of the dryer, de-sheller, roaster, expeller, filter and refiner (reactor). The plant is expected to operate for eight hours per day for 300 days with work free weekends and twelve public holidays. Two days overall maintenance is to be carried out twice a year (every six month). Four units of the plant- the dryer (wire mesh), the roaster, simple filter and the refiner (reactor) were designed. Other equipments like the de-sheller and expeller were however not designed but were selected based on capacity and operating condition of the plant. The total energy consumed in the production was 52497589kJ. Cost estimation was carried on the plant and this showed that the total cost of the plant is #32,338,000 with a turnover ratio of 8%. and a payback period of 1 1⁄2  year.