Introduction
Oil extraction isn't a novelty and neither are oil extraction units. For as long as human civilization has been around, people have been using plant-based oils for culinary, health, and other purposes. Naturally, communities developed and discovered various technologies and equipment to extract oil for their needs. Over time, they also found ways to enhance the efficiency of those technologies and equipment.
In India, ghanis, or stone mills, have been the traditional solution to procure oil. Though time-intensive and of low capacity, this simple oil extraction equipment produces high-quality, healthy oil. Over the centuries, in India and beyond, animal, wind, and water power have also been relied on to extract oil from oleaginous plant materials. In the more recent past, aqueous extraction or the traditional hot water floatation (TWF) method has also been deployed to extract oil from plants.
In recent decades, as the global population has grown exponentially, the demand for plant-based oils has also skyrocketed. In food and other industries like biofuels and oleochemicals, vegetable oils serve as a vital feedstock upon which the nature, quality, and very existence of the final product depend.
To meet this high and still growing demand, today, four main techniques power the operation of most oil extraction units. Mechanical extraction, chemical or solvent extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and steam distillation are tried and tested methods for vegetable oil extraction. They each have their benefits and their pitfalls. Each of them is better suited to different oleaginous materials. And even if you've settled on a method, multiple models of oil extraction units can do the job for you.
As someone who wants to enter the edible oil extraction business, how do you make a decision?
Challenges associated with oil extraction equipment
All oil extraction units are designed to address a fundamental concern: how to obtain the highest possible oil yield while minimising resource use.
While founded on this basic idea, innovations in oil extraction units also seek to address other challenges associated with oil production. Not only do advancements in the industry aim to develop more targeted, appropriate solutions, but they also aim to improve the efficiency of existing oil extraction equipment. Additionally, the perfect oil extraction unit will also prioritise product quality, safety for human consumption, and environmental health.
Most critically, oil extraction units must be tailored to the specific oil-bearing material for which they are intended - in other words, there is no one-size-fits-all oil extraction unit. For instance, some oil crops, though valuable, have a very low oil content; in such a scenario, the best oil extraction equipment will help make the extraction process economical despite the low oil quantities. On the other hand, some oilseeds may have a high oil content, but their physicochemical structure may be such that oil extraction is not straightforward - such a feedstock would require a different approach and different oil extraction equipment.
In the face of such challenges, oil extractor unit price - though important - becomes a secondary concern. The central concern remains to select the right oil extraction unit for the raw material of your choice, the desired product quality, and the conditions of its operation.
Going beyond oil extractor unit price: Parameters to evaluate oil extraction units
Regardless of which specific oil extraction unit you opt for, you can use some general parameters to evaluate its performance and suitability.
Extraction yield: This refers to the quantity of oil obtained from a given quantity of oil-bearing material. It is expressed as a percentage.
Extraction efficiency: Also expressed as a percentage, this parameter refers to the ratio of the quantity of oil extracted to the oil content of (i.e. the amount of oil present in) the oil-bearing material.
Extraction loss: Sometimes, post-extraction, some weight loss cannot be accounted for i.e. after adding the weight of the extracted oil and the residual cake, the total weight is less than the weight of the raw material. This parameter is expressed as a percentage of the total pre-extraction material weight.
Energy consumption: Different oil extraction equipment has different energy requirements, determined by the nature of the process (i.e. the use of steam to generate heat, etc.). Some equipment may be designed specially to reduce the usual energy consumption of a process. Since the cost of energy can quickly add up in the long run, evaluating energy consumption right at the start is always a good idea.
Safety: Safety, both human and environmental, is an important concern in oil production. This is especially the case in processes like solvent extraction which use solvents that may be toxic. Since many oils are used for human consumption, the complete elimination of toxic chemicals is non-negotiable. Ensure that the oil extraction unit you select is equipped with effective and efficient solvent recovery systems.
Waste production: When toxic chemicals are used in the oil extraction process, there also arises the question of what to do with them after they are used. Additionally, some other harmful chemicals and effluents may also be generated in the process. Ensure that your oil extraction unit has an efficient waste management plan. This will not only ensure safety but also compliance with local environmental regulations. Effectively, you need to account for the cost of cleaning up your surrounding environment while budgeting your oil extractor unit price.
Industry best: Oil extraction equipment for different purposes
These top-quality oil extraction units can get you started on your research journey in the oilseeds processing landscape.
Kumar's New Oil-N-Oil Series Oil Expeller: For small and mid-sized mechanical extraction plants, the Kumar New Oil-N-Oil Series Oil Expeller, with fabricated or steel single-cast chamber expellers is a good choice. Not only is it easy to install, but it also has robust construction and low maintenance requirements. Its independent gearbox system has low power demands and ensures that the edible oil produced is never contaminated. All in all, this piece of equipment checks a lot of boxes.
Kumar's CFx Extractor: For solvent extraction with continuous processing, the CFx Extractor is an unparalleled option. Its well-designed miscella circulation leads to efficient solvent-meal contact and consequently, optimum oil recovery. Its efficiency also reduces energy consumption and costs.
Crown DTDC: Equipped with a unique counter-current flow, low horsepower requirements, and automatic level control, the Crown DTDC oil extraction system has a patented vapour recovery system that lowers steam and solvent use.
Dox Extruder: The Anderson Dox Extruder combines two functions in one. As its name (Dry Oilseed eXtruder - Dox) suggests, this system doesn't use steam during the oilseed cooking process. This streamlined system shears, cooks, and dries seed materials, replacing costly stacked cooker/dryer systems.
Despite the diversity of oil extraction equipment available on the market, finding one perfectly suited to your needs isn't always possible. At Kumar Metal Industries, our OM Innovation Centre is designed to plug that very gap. Our dedicated research team is constantly innovating for our clients, developing perfectly tailored solutions to meet their specific oil extraction requirements.
As you embark on your journey to select the best oil extraction unit for your business, we hope this quick guide gave your efforts direction. For more tailored advice and unrivalled turnkey solutions, reach out to us today. We've already helped over 500 customers set up versatile and operationally profitable plants across 74 countries. We can help you, too.
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Setting up a new plant? How to choose the most sustainable edible oil extraction machine
Best practices for building a profitable solvent oil extraction plant
Preparing for oil extraction: The importance of an oil seed cleaning machine
