While conditioning is a process that has kept the attention of the modern feed milling industry for some time now, the pelleting process of press meal is a subject that is no longer considered to be very important.

1. Digital Re-print - May | June 2011
Conditioning as part of the pelleting process
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2. FEATURE PUB85x254-T5X 28/01/10 14:22 PageFEATURE
1
Conditioning
as part of the pelleting process
The main concern when using the ripen- International BV in
ers in the feed milling industry is contamina- the Netherlands
tion but when much longer conditioning is able to position
times (that is >4 minutes) are required, the the conditioner
beside the Long
There are other
ways to bind
ripeners are still a valid option.
As already stated the conditioning proc- Time Conditioner
mycotoxins…
ess is about optimisation and therefore the (LTC).
time factor is mainly determined by the The second
conditioning temperature and the formula- concern is the
T5X
tion. The temperature level can be varied control of the
according to the retention time in order to pelleting process
avoid destructive effects on the nutrients in because the long
the feed (that is protein de-naturation). retention time
The global go-getters at Van Aarsen are ready and willing to assist in optimising Whereas the formulation has an influence leads to a delayed
processes, resulting in higher returns and more ease in operation on the retention time meaning that the opti-
mum availability of nutrients in the feed can
reaction of the
pellet press on
much more than
by Harold Schroijen, Van Aarsen International, The Netherlands
be reached as well as optimising the physical
quality of the pellets.
changed variables.
This complicates
a Toxinbinder
Recently other aspects have had to be the matter even
W
hile conditioning is a process or extruder techniques are being used. In the well as the feed composition are of great taken into account due to consumer con- further due to the
that has kept the attention of conventional conditioning process, only time, importance. cerns, for instance salmonella. Also this fact that the pel- T5X has four major actions :
the modern feed milling industry humidity and temperature are applicable. Steam quality and steam quantity control needs to be considered and treated in the let mill cannot be
for some time now, the pelleting process of Whereas in the past the aim of condition- are subjects enough alone to warrant further conditioning process. fed directly from T5X binding components have been
press meal is a subject that is no longer ing was to optimise the pelleting process, discussion, however, in many practical cases, Therefore, the new generation of con- the retention time selected in a sophisticated “in vivo”
considered to be very important. nowadays it is much more the intention to steam quality and steam control are subjects that ventional conditioners (without using pres- screw. model. Mycotoxins do not pass through
optimise the nutritional and physical quality are not usually given the attention they need in sure) are focussing on the variables time, Some suppli- the intestinal wall.
It needs to be understood that feed of the feed. order to optimise the conditioning process. temperature and humidity where time is ers therefore use
T5X stimulates the production of specific
milling is about the balance between the When using the variables in the conven- As temperature and humidity are strongly maximized to four minutes at temperatures small intermedi-
natural detoxication enzymes to catalyse
different processes being used. tional conditioning process, it should first related, the actual variable available in a con- of approximately 85 degrees Celsius and ate bins between
As one process is linked to another, it is need to be understood that temperature ventional conditioning process is time. capacities of up to 20tph. the retention the elimination of the mycotoxins.
difficult to discuss only one process without and humidity are related as steam is gener- It should, however, be kept in mind that These types of conditioners should guar- time screw and T5X powerful antioxidants inhibit free
having to take another into consideration. ally used to increase the temperature of the the conditioning process is an optimisation antee a ‘first-in, first-out’ while also guaran- the pellet press radicals and prevent cells' membrane
The following is a discussion of two proc- press meal. and not a maximzation. Where single con- teeing retention time. The principle is rather with a feed-
from degradation.
esses, which interact frequently with one Furthermore, there is also a maximum ditioners were a common choice for quite a simple as generally the feed is brought up ing screw for
another and also with all the other processes level of humidity of the press meal in order number of years, now double and even triple to the required temperature by means of the pelletpress T5X stimulates the non specific immune
used in feed milling. to avoid blockages of the pellet press. conditioners are being used prior to the steam and subsequently transferred into a below the bin, system to strengthen animals
Conditioning In general it can be said that the maxi- pelleting process. Conditioning times lasted, large screw conveyor in which the speed leading possibly
Conditioning is a process in the feed mill- mum percentage of steam that can be added in most cases, less than a minute and more of the mash is determined by a frequency to contamina-
ing industry, which takes place from intake to the press meal is approximately maximum importantly these types of conditioners did controller. The screw conveyor is steam or tion as well as
to out-loading. five percent and for each percentage of dry not guarantee the ‘first-in, first-out’ principle. electrically heated and insulated. loss of tempera-
However, in many cases when referring steam added, the temperature of the press For many years, the only conventional So, by means of the filling degree and the ture. Once again
to conditioning, it is the treatment of press meal will increase by approximately 15 conditioning process that could guarantee frequency (at a certain pitch of the screw), more height is
meal prior to the pelleting process that is degrees Celsius. a given time and that extended a maximum retention time can be guaranteed. For those required and
meant. Of course, the steam quality is influential retention time of one minute, while also involved with feed milling practises, it is well control becomes Additives & difference
Conditioning of press meal is a process and the above mentioned values are only guaranteeing ‘first-in, first-out’,were ripeners; known that there are a few concerns. even more to
with the variables time, humidity, tempera- applicable when a good quality steam is a kind of cooking vessel which has been in Firstly, the height of installation for this maintain due to
ture and pressure. Pressure is only used in being used. Besides steam quality, the influ- the feed milling industry for over 20 years new generation of conditioners is not the use of buffer a brand of the B.P. 394 - 56 009 VANNES Cedex - FRANCE
unconventional processes where expander ence of the humidity of raw materials as and in many varieties. often available. For this reason, Van Aarsen bins. group Neovia@evls.net
18 | may - June 2011 Grain &feed millinG technoloGy Grain &feed millinG technoloGy may - June 2011 | 19

3. FEATURE
Europe & International Uncoated Fine Paper Corrugated Bags & Coatings
holes or the open area
surface (OAS) and the
wall thickness of the
die including possible
counter-drill.
When discussing
capacity, using the same
Reap the Benefits!
formulation and the
required pellet quality, Customised industrial bags for quick filling and
Food Industry protection of your filling goods.
reliable
the die surface of the
Automotive Building & Chemical Creative Farming & Household Industrial Medical & Office & Pet
Industry Construction pellet millIndustry(with the Industry Agriculture Industry Paper & Packaging Pharmaceutical Printing Paper Ind
Industry same OAS) and the die Industry Industry Industry Industry
thickness are the major
factors influencing capacity.
These together with the
drive installed, determine
the KW per cm2, which
is a factor to be consid-
ered when researching the
operational costs.
Practical trials carried
out under 100 percent
identical circumstances,
have indicated that differ-
ences in operational costs
among different types of
pellet mills can vary up to
EUR50.000 per year which
ng
are, of course, significant r presenti
Window fo tively
figures but realistic never- g ood attrac
the filling ge
le dosa
theless. and simp
Van Aarsen pellet mills 2
are well know for their
design criteria, a huge die
surface and low die speed
so that an acceptable Hygienic
1 chniques
In order to avoid this, Van Aarsen has difference can be explained by formulation, capacity is reached while still maintaining closure te
integrated a feeding device in the Long Time die specifications and the required pellet focus on pellet quality (which is also influ-
Conditioner, facilitating the control and the quality. Also a proper conditioning process enced by the retention time of the press
required height is easily a few less meters. All influences the output of the pellet mill. meal in the die).
these features have been integrated into one However, the figures above are based on This, of course, combined with an inter-
conventional conditioner, which is called the the same conditioning process. mediate drive allowing the possibility to
‘Conditioner LTC’. Of course, the pellet mill has a number change die speed relatively easily (changing
For a standard control a PLC is integrated of variables that can be used to optimise the a small pulley) without installing frequency
into the pelleting line control system and for process. These variables vary from speed of controllers for the generally larger drives
a more sophisticated control a PressM@ the die to hydraulic roller adjustment and used on pellet mills.
nager, the Van Aarsen pelleting line automa- should only be used when the influence of Furthermore, large roller diameters cre-
tion based on remote I/O with intelligence these options are thoroughly understood by ate a small angle between the die and the
(meaning the system is capable of achieving the operating personnel. roller, which compacts the feed smoothly
even higher goals than a well-trained pellet This practical know- how could also be before forced it into the die.
mill operator). delivered by an intelligent pelleting line auto- Of course, variables differ when using the
mation system such as PressM@nager. This pellet mill for traditional-, untraditional- or
Pelleting system is capable of combining the different aqua- feed but the principles remain the
After conditioning of the press meal variables in order to optimise the process. same. As circumstances differ constantly,
either the mash is cooled when heat-treated However, before continuing the pelleting only general guidelines can be provided
mash is required (for instance breeders) or, process, a small note needs to be made except for when detailed information is avail- 6
Reliable
in most cases, the pelleting process starts. about the dies being used. able and a custom-made solution given by through
protection
The pelleting process also has an effect As dies of reputable suppliers are gen- those in the feed milling industry with both lves
sealable va
on the nutritional as well as the physical qual- erally all of the same material, which is feed on the ground. able
4 r 5
Compact
3
Compost Suitable fo
ity of the feed. Experience has shown that it completely hardened, difference is generally t
dimension
s bags with fo od contac
is not only the capacity of the pellet mill but found in the open area surface - OAS (that able film
biodegrad
the formulation, die specifications as well as is, the number of holes), which, of course, is More inforMation:
the required pellet quality are also aspects related to the capacity of the pellet mill. Van Aarsen International BV
that should be taken into account. Therefore when comparing dies, the PO Box 5010, Heel, NL-6097
Where a Van Aarsen C900 is produc- aspects that need to be considered are the ZG The Netherlands
ing 45tph in South America, the same types of material to be used, the hardness SOLUTIONS.
Tel: + 31 475 579444
machine is capable of reaching a capacity and whether surface hardening or complete Website: www.aarsen.com FOR YOUR SUCCESS.
of 18tph in a Dutch environment. The big hardening will be used, the number of
www.mondigroup.com
20 | may - June 2011 Grain &feed millinG technoloGy

4. This digital Re-print is part of the May | June 2011 edition of Grain & Feed Milling Technology magazine.
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May 2011
• See the full issue
• Choosing the right
Hazard Monitoring
System
• Visit the GFMT website
In this issue:
• Contact the GFMT Team
• Conditioning
• Synthesis of
as part of the animal feed
pelleting process
formulation
techniques:
Linear and Non-Linear
model
• Pelleting: • Pellet
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