If the compression ratio of the livestock and poultry feed pellet mill is too high, it will cause a series of production and quality problems, as follows:
✅ I. Problems caused by excessively high compression ratio and corresponding solutions:
|
Problem |
Cause Analysis |
Solution |
|
1. Pellets are too hard, affecting palatability |
High compression ratio leads to longer compression time of materials in die holes, resulting in excessive density and hard pellets. |
Replace the ring die with a lower compression ratio; appropriately reduce the effective length of die holes. |
|
2. Significant decrease in output |
High resistance for materials to pass through die holes causes difficult discharge and slower pelleting speed. |
Reduce the compression ratio; check raw material moisture (13% is recommended); increase conditioning temperature (80-90℃) to enhance lubricity. |
|
3. High motor load and current |
Increased extrusion resistance leads to higher equipment operating load, which may easily cause tripping or motor damage. |
Reduce the compression ratio; check if raw material particle size is too coarse and appropriately improve crushing fineness; adjust the gap between pressure roller and ring die (0.3-0.5mm). |
|
4. Accelerated wear of ring die and pressure roller |
High compression ratio results in large friction, shortening the service life of equipment wearing parts. |
Use high-quality alloy steel ring die; regularly inspect and replace worn parts; add an appropriate amount of grease or binder to reduce friction. |
|
5. Pellets have cracks or breakages |
Excessive pellet density causes uneven internal and external shrinkage during cooling, leading to cracking. |
Reduce the compression ratio; control cooling speed to avoid rapid cooling; adjust conditioning temperature and time to improve gelatinization degree. |
|
6. Rough pellet surface and high powdering rate |
Despite high compression ratio, insufficient gelatinization of raw materials or improper cutter position results in unsmooth and fragile pellets. |
Increase conditioning temperature (85-95℃ is recommended); adjust cutter position to ensure flat cuts; check if raw material moisture is too low. |
✅ II. Additional suggestions:
- Reasonable compression ratio range: For livestock and poultry feed, the recommended compression ratio is 5:1-8:1, which should be adjusted according to the nature of raw materials (such as corn, soybean meal, wheat bran, etc.).
- Test run verification: When changing raw materials or formulas, be sure to conduct a test run first, observe indicators such as pellet hardness, output, and powdering rate, and then determine the optimal compression ratio.
- Raw material pretreatment: Ensure appropriate crushing fineness of raw materials (1/3-1/2 of die hole diameter), uniform conditioning, and moisture control between 13%-15%.