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MANUFACTURE AND EVALUATION OF A SINGLE‐PASS ROTARY COOLER FOR AQUATIC FEED PELLETS
Author(s) -
KADDOUR OSAMA,
ALAVI SAJID
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of food process engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.507
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1745-4530
pISSN - 0145-8876
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4530.2008.00291.x
Subject(s) - pellets , pellet , environmental science , tray , pulp and paper industry , materials science , molding (decorative) , mechanical engineering , composite material , engineering
Cooling is one of the most important post‐processing operations in the production of extruded aquatic feed pellets. In this study, a rotary pellet cooler of simple design was manufactured, and the effect of different operating parameters on the final quality of extruded floating and sinking aquatic feed (low density 0.538 g/cm 3 , medium density 0.789 g/cm 3 and high density 0.915 g/cm 3 ) was investigated. The cooler parameters that were studied included air suction velocity (2.32, 3.76, 4.35 and 5.87 m/s), cooler horizontal angle (10, 15, 20 and 30°) and turning speed (5, 10, 15 and 20 rpm). Results indicated that the most effective operating range for these parameters was 3.76–4.35 m/s, 10–15 rpm and 10°, respectively, which led to a cooling efficiency of 72.8–74.5%, and good quality aquatic feed pellets with 8.3–9.1% output moisture content, 0.0% molding percentage after 2 months of storage, 0.1–0.8% losses and 0.8–1.7% unpelleted mash.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS An effective cooling system for extruded aquatic feed pellets can significantly reduce the energy costs involved in drying for long‐term storage and also minimize product losses during postprocessing operations. Counterflow rotary coolers provide very efficient drying and separation of unpelleted mash. The counterflow rotary air cooler that was designed, manufactured and tested in this study will be very useful for small‐scale industries involved in the production of both floating and sinking aquatic feeds, and can lead to greater efficiencies and cost‐effectiveness. The cooler performance was systematically evaluated, and the results are relevant to all coolers of similar design.