Continuous Solvent Extraction Plant

Preparation of oil-bearing material prior to its extraction is often underestimated by many processors. To achieve the best results in solvent extraction, the way in which the raw material is prepared is almost as important as the extraction equipment itself.

The feed stock should have a particle size small enough to enable the solvent to reach right up to the core, but not so small as to constitute fines. It should have fairly uniform particle size to pack well in the extractor, form a homogenous bed, and possess good percolation characteristics.

Too-big pieces result in high residual oil content in meal. Too-small particles or fines lead to poor percolation and channelling, resulting in poor plant performance.

Fully conscious of the importance of proper preparation, SPARKTECH have developed a complete range of preparatory equipment suited for each type of raw material.

For Soyabeans, Sunflower, Rapeseed, Salseed, Ricebran etc. SPARKTECH offers total expander system with squeezomatic cage, Drier Cooler, Conditioner, and Conveying Equipment.

Machine and internal components are highly rugged in construction due to quality workmanship and optimized metallurgy. Drier cooler of Horizontal type with M.S. fabricated body and S.S. Perforated Tray complete with hot air radiator and blowers.

Capacity: Expanders available in various models from 100 to 500 Tons with pulley as well as gear box driven system.

Advantages: Increases production of existing plants. Reduces solvent & steam consumptions. Consistent results of oil contact in D.O.C. Lower retention of solvent in meal due to high porosity. Can process high oil bearing materials without expellers. Elimination of fines.

Expeller Cakes: Handled by Cake Breaker and Roller Mill. Two pairs of spiked rolls in special alloy break large pieces, further broken in Roller Mill using special corrugated rolls.

Soyabeans: Requires cracking, cooking and flaking. SPARKTECH Cooker is a multistage vertical vessel with steam heated bottom plates. Hydraulic Flaker produces quality flakes of 0.25-0.3 mm thickness.

Ricebran: A powdery material requiring SPARKTECH pelletizing machine for producing porous pellets with good percolation characteristics.

Horizontal model with articulated band conveyor assembly receiving material from the Feed Hopper at very slow predetermined speed. Conveyor moves over rails inside the Extractor on specially constructed sprockets.

Series of Spray breakers for perfect spray of solvent on the moving bed. Band Conveyor acts as filter bed for eliminating fines, complete with rotary brushes & mesh cleaning system.

Drive: Single piece Hollow shaft gear box with 0.05 rpm output, avoiding Big Gear and pinion arrangement. Variable frequency drive allows finite speed adjustment and data-logging.

Construction: Single piece miscella hoppers with no joints. All body plates sandblasted and Zinc base epoxy primer coated. Factory pre-fabrication ensures quality. Bed height limited to 1.5m reducing miscella channelling.

Desolventiser Toaster: Vapor tight construction in carbon steel with stages having jacketed bottoms for indirect heating. Hollow shaft steam connections facilitate injection through moving blades ensuring highest contact ratio between sparge steam and meal.

Distillation: Miscella fed through vapour economizer to first Evaporator. The Economizer Unit effectively utilizes heat of vapours from the DT, reducing steam consumption. System operates under very high vacuum and lower temperatures ensuring good quality oil.

Recuperation: Uncondensed gases pass through fine spray of cold mineral oil absorbing traces of hexane vapour. SPARKTECH Recuperation system ensures practically NIL escape of hexane to atmosphere.

Conditioning: Extracted meal at around 100 deg. C is cooled in a ventilated conveyor. In the Humidification unit, desired quantity of water is metered and finely sprayed on the material.