As modern animal husbandry progresses, feed machinery and complete equipment sets have become indispensable in the modern breeding industry. How to select and use the appropriate feed machinery and equipment is an important question within modern animal husbandry. Feed processing equipment is usually selected according to the production scale, the type of products being produced, and the specifics of the production process. Consequently, different feed factories may employ different types of equipment.
1. Classification of Feed Processing Equipment
The basic equipment for feed processing is consistent, and, according to the process flow, it generally includes raw material reception and cleaning equipment, conveying equipment, grinding equipment, batching equipment, mixing equipment, pelleting equipment, extrusion equipment, liquid spraying equipment, ventilation and dust removal equipment, packaging equipment, and a central control system.
- Raw Material Reception and Cleaning Equipment: This typically includes a weighbridge, a pre-cleaning screen, and storage silos.
- Conveying Equipment: Common types of conveying equipment include screw conveyors, bucket elevators, scraper conveyors, belt conveyors, and pneumatic conveying systems.
- Grinding Equipment: This includes magnetic separators, feeders, and grinders. There are many types of grinders, with hammer mills and claw mills being commonly used, as well as ultra-fine grinders for producing a finer particle size.
- Batching Equipment: Generally, electronic automatic batching scales are used. The types of mixers used include horizontal double-shaft (or single-shaft) paddle mixers, horizontal spiral mixers, vertical mixers, and drum mixers for producing premixes.
- Pelleting Equipment: This includes steam boilers, conditioners, pellet mills, coolers, classifiers, and crumblers.
- Extrusion Equipment: Consists of conditioners and extruders; liquid spraying equipment includes storage tanks, vacuum pumps, and flow meters.
- Ventilation and Dust Removal Equipment: Includes exhaust fans, cyclones, and dust collectors; packaging equipment includes bagging scales, sealing machines, etc.
- Central Control System: The central control system is the "brain" of the entire processing operation, where the control systems for various equipment are centralized.
2. Equipment and Process Flow of Medium and Large-Scale Feed Production Lines
2.1 Raw Material Cleaning
The cleaning process involves all the operation units that allow raw materials, which have been inspected and approved by raw material inspectors, to enter the storage silos. In this process, impurities in the raw materials are first removed using cleaning equipment, then the materials are transported to the silos according to plan via reception and demagnetization equipment. The production line equipment includes reception devices (such as discharge pits, platforms, etc.), conveying equipment, pre-cleaning screens, and magnetic selection devices (like permanent magnet drums, permanent magnet rollers, etc.). For the reception of bagged raw materials, this refers to the process where loading and unloading personnel unload the raw materials that have been inspected and approved by the raw material inspectors, and neatly store them in the warehouse.
2.2 Batching Process
The batching process involves weighing the raw materials from the feed bins according to the recipe requirements and conveying them to the feed storage bin. After each type of raw material is weighed by the batching scale, it is transferred to the feed storage bin. The batched ingredients are weighed out from the bin, these weighed raw materials enter the feed bin, and a small amount of material and premix are manually weighed and added to the bin for mixing. The quality of the batching process directly affects the accuracy of the product batching.
2.3 Crushing Process
The crushing process refers to taking the raw materials from the silo that are to be crushed and feeding them into a crusher to be ground into powder, which is then sent to a silo via a conveyor for mixing. The purpose of this process is to control the particle size of the materials. The design efficiency of the crusher determines the production capacity of this process equipment and is also the most energy-consuming process in the production of powdered materials. It is important to constantly monitor and confirm the condition of the hammer blades, screen, current, noise, and crushing path.
2.4 Mixing Process
During the mixing process, the various crushed ingredients are discharged from the mixing bin into the mixer. Oil and fats may be added to the feed inside the mixer via a liquid addition system as needed to ensure uniform mixing of the components and achieve the desired mixing effect. The material discharged from the mixer is the finished product, which is directly sent to the packaging process for packaging and dispatched from the factory. When producing pellet feed, the mixed powder is sent to a bin for pelleting. To ensure the efficiency of the mixer, maintenance personnel must regularly check and service the equipment and periodically test the efficiency of the mixer.
2.5 Pelleting Process
The mixed material from the pelleting bin, after magnetic selection and conditioning, is fed into the pelleting machine's compression chamber, where it is compressed into pellet feed. The pellets are then cooled in a cooling tower, screened through sieving equipment to obtain standard pellets. The magnetic selection equipment must be cleaned regularly to prevent iron impurities from damaging the pelleting machine. During conditioning, the amount of steam should be adjusted according to the requirements of the pellet variety, and the ring die (hole diameter, compression ratio, material, etc.) should be selected based on the quality requirements of the pelleting process. During cooling, the cooling tower should be adjusted according to factors such as variety, indoor temperature and humidity, and season to achieve the proper pellet temperature and moisture content. The adjustment of the cooling tower is based on factors such as variety, indoor temperature and humidity, and season to reach the qualified pellet temperature and humidity.
2.6 Finished Product Packaging Process
Feed is weighed from the finished product warehouse using a packaging scale, filled into packaging bags, then workers insert labels and seal the bags, after which the packaged goods are transported by vehicles to the warehouse for stacking.
3. Guide to Purchasing Complete Sets of Feed Machinery Equipment
- Select equipment based on the type and scale of livestock and poultry
Different types and scales of livestock and poultry feed require the selection of suitable equipment. For example, the feed mixer has a significant impact on the quality of feed mixing, and it is necessary to choose different models and capacities according to the different feed formulas.
- Purchase equipment with advanced technology
Advanced technology can improve the efficiency and quality of feed processing, reduce energy consumption, and thus enhance production benefits. Therefore, it is very important to choose equipment with advanced technology.
- Choose products from reputable manufacturers
Choosing products from reputable manufacturers can guarantee the quality of the equipment and after-sales service, reducing the risks associated with purchasing and using the equipment. Manufacturers with a complete production and after-sales service system should be selected.
- Consider the safety and environmental friendliness of the equipment
The safety and environmental friendliness of the equipment are important considerations. Equipment with safety protection devices should be purchased, and the energy-saving and environmental performance of the equipment should also be taken into account.
- Consider the operating costs of the equipment
The operating costs of the equipment include energy, labor, and maintenance costs. It is necessary to choose equipment with lower operating costs to reduce production costs and improve economic benefits.
4. Precautions for Purchasing Complete Sets of Feed Machinery Equipment
- Equipment selection and installation
When purchasing equipment, it is important to choose the appropriate model and capacity based to actual needs, and attention should be paid to the equipment's installation location and method to avoid reduced operational efficiency due to unstable placement or improper installation.
- Equipment Quality Inspection
When purchasing equipment, it's crucial to carefully inspect the quality of the equipment, especially the important components. It is necessary to meticulously examine the equipment's quality, performance, and appearance to ensure the equipment is reliable and meets production needs.
- After-Sales Service
Choose manufacturers with a comprehensive after-sales service system to ensure that the maintenance, replacement, and upkeep of the equipment can be supported by thorough after-sales service.
- Brand Reputation and After-Sales Service
Select manufacturers and dealers with a good brand reputation and comprehensive after-sales service. Before purchasing, you can understand the manufacturer's credibility and after-sales service through various channels. This can include consulting product reviews, customer feedback, and industry reputation. At the same time, it's beneficial to familiarize yourself with the manufacturer's after-sales service policies and the content of their services to ensure timely help and support during the use of the equipment.
- Equipment Maintenance and Care
After choosing a complete set of feed machinery equipment, it is necessary to operate and maintain the equipment strictly according to the instruction manual and operating procedures. Regularly check whether all parts of the equipment are functioning properly, clean the interior and exterior of the equipment, and promptly replace any damaged parts to ensure the normal operation and lifespan of the equipment.
