DETERMINING THE WEIGHT OF OIL EXTRACTED WITH A SCREW PRESS USING A STRAIN GAUGE SENSOR, HX711 MODULE, AND ARDUINO

Abstract

This research presents an automated system for quantifying oil extracted from a screw press, leveraging a strain gauge sensor and HX711 module in synergy with the Arduino platform. This innovative setup measures the target mass of extracted oil, wherein the collected data is further processed by an Arduino microcontroller. User-defined measurement parameters, such as specific oil mass, dictate when the system terminates the screw press operation. Hitting the set oil mass triggers the Arduino microcontroller to halt the press, allowing for the conservation of raw materials and energy, and consequently ensuring product quality consistency. Conversely, if the desired mass value remains unreached, the extraction continues until fulfillment of target outcomes. This approach optimizes press use, manifesting in maximum efficiency and selectivity in the production process. It demonstrates how such a control system can automate measurement and production supervision, thus fostering optimal screw press operation. The article suggests the solution for integrating Arduino, HX711 module, and strain gauge sensor to measure the weight of the oil extracted through the screw press. The strain gauge and HX711 module were programmed within the Arduino Integrated Development Environment, enabling the accurate measurement of extracted oil mass and data transference to the Arduino controller. A housing bracket 3D model for the strain gauge and HX711 module within the existing screw press was also created using 3D modelling and subsequently printed and implemented. This aids reliable sensor fitting and ensures system stability for oil mass measurement. This study demonstrates the potential for implementing this advancement within pre-existing press infrastructures with minimal changes. Our methodology offers prospective enhancements in quality and efficiency, notably within the oil production domain.