In the global edible oil market, sunflower oil holds a significant position due to its health - friendly properties and wide - ranging applications. This article delves into the complete process of sunflower oil pressing, focusing on the technical features and equipment improvement directions of four key steps: cleaning, shelling, screw pressing, and filtering.
The cleaning process is the first step in sunflower oil pressing. It aims to remove impurities such as soil, stones, and plant debris from sunflower seeds. High - efficiency vibrating screens and air separators are commonly used in this stage. For example, a well - designed vibrating screen can remove up to 95% of large impurities. Advanced cleaning equipment also reduces the wear and tear on subsequent processing equipment, extending their service life.
After cleaning, the sunflower seeds need to be shelled. The shell accounts for about 20 - 30% of the weight of the sunflower seeds. Removing the shell can improve the oil yield and the quality of the final product. Modern shelling machines use a combination of mechanical impact and airflow separation. In a medium - sized oil mill, a high - performance shelling machine can achieve a shelling rate of over 90%, with a kernel breakage rate of less than 5%.
The screw pressing stage is the core of sunflower oil production. It involves applying pressure to the sunflower kernels to extract the oil. Different types of screw presses are available, and the choice depends on the scale of production. For small - scale oil mills, a single - stage screw press may be sufficient, while large - scale operations often use multi - stage screw presses. A well - calibrated screw press can increase the oil yield by 2 - 5% compared to traditional methods. In a real - world case, a large oil mill in Europe increased its daily oil output from 50 tons to 60 tons after upgrading its screw pressing equipment.
The final step in the process is filtering. The crude oil obtained from pressing contains various impurities, such as solid particles and gums. Filtering removes these impurities to improve the clarity and purity of the oil. Plate - and - frame filters and vacuum filters are commonly used. A high - quality filter can reduce the impurity content in the oil to less than 0.1%, ensuring the oil meets the industry standards.
Different scale oil mills have different requirements for process parameters and automation levels. Small - scale oil mills usually have limited budgets and production volumes. They may choose semi - automated equipment to reduce costs. For example, a small - scale oil mill may use manual feeding in the pressing process, which can still achieve a relatively stable oil yield. Medium - scale oil mills often require a certain degree of automation to improve efficiency and product quality. They may invest in automated cleaning and shelling equipment. Large - scale oil mills, on the other hand, demand high - level automation to handle large - volume production. They use fully automated production lines that can operate 24/7 with minimal human intervention.
Automation plays a crucial role in the sunflower oil pressing industry. Automated equipment can precisely control process parameters such as temperature, pressure, and speed. In a large - scale automated oil mill, the oil yield can be increased by 3 - 6% compared to non - automated operations. Moreover, automation ensures consistent product quality. For example, automated filtering systems can maintain a stable impurity removal rate, resulting in a more uniform oil quality.
Energy consumption and maintenance costs are important factors in the sunflower oil pressing industry. To reduce energy consumption, oil mills can use energy - efficient motors and optimized process designs. For example, using heat recovery systems in the pressing process can save up to 20% of energy. In terms of maintenance cost control, regular equipment inspections and preventive maintenance can reduce the frequency of breakdowns and extend the service life of equipment. Adopting green and environmentally friendly concepts in the production process not only reduces costs but also meets the growing market demand for sustainable products.
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