What is a vacuum system in an edible oil refinery?

Vacuum systems provide suitable vacuum conditions for decolourization and deodorization in edible oil refineries. Both are highly critical processes, and a stable and reliable vacuum system plays a crucial role in ensuring high-quality outcomes.

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The temperatures required for an effective decolourization process range from 105' to 110', while for deodorization they range from 240' to 265'. Oil contains a little oxygen, and at these high temperatures, this causes the oil to get oxidized. Oxidation renders oil unusable, rancid with high fatty acid content. However, vacuum conditions prevent oil from being oxidized at high temperatures.

In a batch refinery plant, the deodorizer removes odours and free fatty acids that have been neutralized through alkalization. However, in a continuous refinery, free fatty acids and odours are removed in the deodorizing tower resulting in a better quality product. Reducing the boiling point at vacuum conditions makes it easier for volatile materials to be carried away by steam and deliver better deacidification and deodorization.

Choosing the right vacuum pump for your edible oil refinery: The degree of vacuum required depends on the quality of the crude oil and the end-product specifications. Therefore, your process engineering partner will seek this information from you before recommending vacuum pump specs for your edible oil refinery.

Components of a vacuum system:  A basic vacuum system consists of three parts - a nozzle, a mixing chamber and a diffuser.

The nozzle discharges a high-velocity steam ejector across a suction chamber connected to the equipment being evacuated. Process vapours are drawn along with the steam jet into a Venturi shaped diffuser, which converts the steam's velocity energy into pressure energy, ultimately enabling discharge to the atmosphere.

Ejectors are of four types - single-stage, multi-stage condensing, multi-stage non-condensing and multi-stage with both condensing and non-condensing.

Lower suction pressure is obtained by the staging of the ejectors, and the number of stages depends on the suction pressure needed.

Maintaining your vacuum system to bring about longevity:

There are some basic preventative steps you can take to ensure the longevity of your vacuum system. All of these actions, however, must be carried out in line with the operating instructions in the user manual your technology partner has provided.

1. System leakage: Joints must be leak proof to achieve the desired pressure. Hydraulic and pneumatic tests should be conducted twice a year. Hydraulic tests check for leakages in the system by filling it up with water at high pressure. Pneumatic tests check for air pressure and leaks. These checks address leaks that may have sprung in the pump section, flanges connecting the pipeline or the inspection glasses.
2. Water temperature: Cooling towers should be maintained regularly. Water supplied to the vacuum system comes from the cooling tower at 32'. It is stored in the cooling tower, brought to the desired temperature and then circulated through the vacuum system. Ensure that water temperature in the cooling tower is always maintained at desired levels, or it can result in a failure of the cooling tower.
3. Steam quality: If the steam generated has a higher moisture content, desired results will not be achieved - you can check your boiler to correct this
4. Steam condensing: Clean out the nozzles twice a year during routine maintenance. Check the status of the condenser, the flow and that the baffles are in good working order.
5. Blockages: Check for any blockages in the fins and fans.
6. Electrical and Mechanical parts: Electrical and mechanical parts should be checked daily.

Apart from basic preventative maintenance, please get in touch with your technology partner if your vacuum system is not performing as expected.

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The function of vacuum system in edible oil refinery plant is to provide the vacuum condition for decolorization and deodorization process. The decolorization and deodorization process are the most important sections in edible oil refining process, and the stability and reliability of vacuum system are the main factors to obtain high quality product oil. 

The decolorization pot and deodorization pot of batch type edible oil refinery plant

Generally, the degree of vacuum required for decolorization is about 100 Pa, and the degree of vacuum during deodorization is about 300 Pa to 400 Pa. However, the degree of vacuum required for decolorization and deodorization is depend on the quality of crude oil and the specification of final product oil, so engineers will match suitable vacuum pump for your edible oil refinery plant.

Why need vacuum condition in decolorization and deodorization process? There are two factors.

1.To prevent the oil from being oxidized at high temperature in decolorization and deodorization process.

There is a little oxygen in the oil, and if the temperature is very high, the oil will be oxidized. In edible oil refinery plant, the required temperature in decolorization process is 105-110', and the required temperature in deodorization process is 240-265'.

The decolorization tower and deodorization tower of continuous type edible oil refinery plant

2. To low down the boiling point at vacuum condition, which will make it easier for volatile materials to be taken away by steam, so as to obtain better effects of deacidification and deodorization.

In batch type edible oil refinery plant, the deodorizing pot will mainly remove odors and a little free fatty acid, because the most free fatty acid has been neutralized with alkali in deacidification process. But in continuous type edible oil refinery plant, all of free fatty acid and odors are both removed in deodorizing tower. Of course, the deodorizing tower of continuous type refinery plant has better effect.

In a word, if you want to get high quality product oil, the vacuum system in edible oil refinery plant is necessary. When you buy edible oil refinery machine, you had better take a good look at the configuration in the list, because some manufacturers will attract customers with very low prices, but the edible oil refinery machines they sold are very low configuration.

Henan Doing Company has always been committed to providing customers with high quality edible oil refinery machine. We have finished many edible oil refinery plant project in many countries successfully. Welcome to contact us!

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