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New way of drying shrimp feed

This article is published in Aquafeed: Advances in Processing & Formulation Vol. 12 Issue 2 2020

New Way of Drying Shrimp Feed

In a modern shrimp feed pelleting process increasingly more liquids are added into the mash feed. This in combination with long-term steam conditioning is increasing gelatinization and water stability for better end-product quality. Recipe cost optimization can be limited if there are drying capacity restrictions. In a lot of situations, moisture removal with only cooling is not enough anymore and an extra drying step is required. Moisture control is more and more crucial for quality and cost price reasons.

In traditional shrimp feed processing, there is a separate machine for drying and cooling, the products are dropped from the pellets mill/post conditioner into the dryer for moisture removal, then into the cooler to cool down the product with ambient air. Moisture control is done by checking the product after the dryer and corrections by measurements of finished product moistures. The process is shown in figure 1.


Figure 1. Traditional dryer and cooler flow chart


Figure 2. Combination of the dryer and cooler flow chart

Integrating drying and cooler in one solution

New in the market is the carousal dryer and cooler combination, with a unique solution for both energy efficiency and precise moisture control.

Optimizing moisture control is a lot easier if the retention time is short and the dryer and cooler have a first in first out (FIFO) principal. Plus the moisture can be controlled directly after the cooler so the impact of more or less water evaporation in the cooler is already taken care of in the total moisture control cycle. Therefore integration of the dryer and cooler into one compact machine with a FIFO discharge principal like the carousel dryer will give an outstanding control performance. The flow chart is shown in figure 2.

The carousel working principle

The complete unit consists of an upper drying zone and a lower cooling zone. The product comes in through a rotary seal and going round in the dryer. After nearly one revolution, the product is gently discharged and mixing onto the next lower tray. This process is repeated until the product is discharged from the drying zone into the cooling zone and the product drops from the last tray into the outlet. Where a rotary seal is avoiding air leaking.

Ambient air is cooling the product, filtering, and heating is used as drying air for the upper section. Because of the multiple tumbling and optimal air use in the round dryer, the drying process is extremely efficient resulting in a low exhaust air temperature. Figure 3 indicates the products and airflow scheme.


Figure 3. Dryer cooler combination product and airflow scheme.

Improving product moisture control

Managing the temperature and moisture content of the finished product is the main task for the drying and cooling process. However, when the feed is overdried this causes material loss as well as extra energy consumption. When the feed is too wet the product will have a higher risk of quality degradation and mold growth.

A carousel dryer is working according to the first in first out (FIFO) characteristic. Having the product circling round in a steady and controlled airflow all the products will get the same heat treatment and retention time. Combine this with a unique and easy control system, providing real-time monitoring and modification of the drying parameters such as drying air temperature air volume, and retention time.

Because the carousel dryer is giving a uniform and constant moisture level the target average moisture can be optimized saving energy and saving raw materials. Figure 4 shows the moisture uniformity comparison between the carousal dryer and traditional dryer


Figure 4. Moisture uniformity comparison between the carousel dryer and traditional dryer

Figure 5. Dryer cooler combination layout

Improving energy efficiency

The drying and cooling process accounts for a significant part of the overall energy consumption, rising energy costs, and sustainability awareness regarding energy consumption have driven feed manufacturers to request further support to improve their drying and cooling functions. To maximize energy efficiency we have to look into:
1) Maximum use of warm product energy
2) Minimize the amount of water evaporation
3) Minimize energy loss with the exhaust air.

By using the cooling air as makeup air into the dryer we reuse the product energy and limit the amount of exhaust air. Due to the high drying efficiency, the exhaust air temperature is also low reducing the loss of energy by the already low exhaust air volume. Low exhaust air volumes will also reduce the cost of odor treatment if required.


Reducing the space required

Process improvement or an upgrade in capacity is asking for the introduction of new equipment into the facility. Space limitations have to be overcome.

The carousel dryer is already more compact than a normally used dryer, the dryer - cooler combined design has even more space requirement advantages as shown in figure 5, in the limited available space the cooler was positioned high in the building. The carousel dryer-cooler positioned under the post conditioner is avoiding the hot product transport and a lot of air ducting.

Potential savings

For example, using cooling air to make up air for the dryer. Assume the the temperature differential between the ambient and cooler exhaust air is 25°C you save up to 30 kg/t steam. At the same time, you will reduce the amount of exhaust air by 50%, reducing odor treatment cost significantly if required.

Getting a better moisture control for example 0.5% is saving not only about 10 kg/t steam consumption in the dryer but even more important saving 0.5% raw materials cost and have a 0.5% higher output capacity.

albert_wang

Graduated from National Taiwan Ocean University Food Science Department earning the title of Master of Science (MSc.) Albert has a strong background in science and used this science-based approach to deliver knowledge to Customers. Yearly experience in sales, technical, and marketing departments, added with continuous communication with the Customer gives him the knowledge in feed machinery and its operations.