DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF A PALM NUT, KERNEL, AND SHELL SEPARATOR USING QUADRATIC PROJECTILE DRAG PRINCIPLES

Separating cracked palm nut components kernel, shell, and uncracked nut is challenging due to overlapping physical properties. This study presents the design and analysis of a separator based on the quadratic projectile drag principle, exploiting differences in mass, density, and drag-to-mass ratio to achieve spatial separation via controlled projectile motion under air resistance. Numerical simulations were performed at two initial velocities (10 m/s and 15 m/s) and five launch angles (10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, 45°). Projectile motion equations with quadratic air drag were solved to determine component trajectories and identify optimal separation conditions. At 10 m/s, separation was minimal at low angles (10°–20°) but improved at 30°–40° due to extended flight time enhancing drag differentiation; 45° produced maximum range but increased kernel-nut overlap. At 15 m/s, 30° yielded the clearest separation: shells landed first, nuts at intermediate distance, and kernels farthest. Higher angles (40°–45°) caused trajectory convergence, reducing separation efficiency. The findings demonstrate that projectile separation governed by quadratic drag is feasible for palm nut processing. A 30° launch at 15 m/s is optimal, providing a scientific basis for aerodynamic design and mechanical optimization. Implementing this approach can significantly increase separation efficiency, reduce kernel loss, and enhance the productivity of palm nut processing operations