Soybean Oil Production Line

Yes, QIE Machinery offers comprehensive installation and training services to ensure the optimal performance of your equipment. Our services include:

1.Installation Training:
We dispatch experienced engineers to your site to guide the installation, commissioning, and trial operation of your production line. Additionally, we provide thorough training for your operators to ensure stable and safe operations.

2.Technical Support:
Our dedicated service team is available to assist with any technical inquiries, ensuring your equipment operates efficiently.

3.Regular Return Visits:
We conduct periodic follow-ups to assess equipment performance and address any concerns, ensuring long-term satisfaction.
These services are part of our commitment to providing professional and convenient turnkey engineering solutions, from scheme design and equipment production to installation, training, and ongoing technical support.

Cleaning soybean oil mills to prevent residue buildup.
Lubricating moving parts to reduce wear.
Inspecting dies and rollers for signs of damage.
Checking electronic controls for proper calibration.

Soybean oil production lines are categorized by their daily processing capacity, which dictates equipment size, automation, and output:

• Small-scale: Processes 1 ton to 30 tons of soybeans/day. Uses basic mechanical presses, manual or semi-automated operations, and serves local markets. Ideal for rural or community-level operations.
• Medium-scale: Handles 30–100 tons/day. Integrates semi-automated extraction (screw presses or solvent-assisted methods) and basic refining. Supplies regional markets or small food manufacturers.
• Large-scale: Processes 100+ tons/day. Relies on fully automated solvent extraction (using hexane) for maximum yield, followed by advanced refining (degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization). Produces high-quality oil for national/international markets and industrial use.

• Mechanical pressing: Uses screw presses to physically squeeze oil from soybeans. It is simpler, uses less energy, and avoids chemical solvents. However, oil yield is lower (12–16% for small-scale; 16–18% for large-scale presses) due to residual oil in the meal. Common in small/medium lines focused on "natural" or cold-pressed oils.
• Solvent extraction: Uses food-grade hexane to dissolve oil from soybean flakes, achieving yields of 18–20%. The solvent is then evaporated and recycled. This method is more efficient but requires complex equipment (extraction columns, solvent recovery systems) and strict safety measures (to prevent explosions). Dominant in large-scale lines where high yield justifies higher setup costs.

Cleaning: Removes impurities (stones, metal, dust) via destoners, magnetic separators, and vibratory screens to protect equipment and ensure oil quality.
Conditioning: Adjusts soybean moisture (8–10%) and temperature (60–80°C) to soften seeds, improving oil release during extraction.
Extraction: Either mechanical pressing (screw/expeller presses) or solvent extraction (for higher yield) to separate oil from solids.
Crude oil refining: Removes impurities via degumming (phospholipids), neutralization (free fatty acids), bleaching (pigments), and deodorization (volatile compounds) to produce edible-grade oil.
Oil storage: Stores refined oil in stainless steel tanks with temperature control and nitrogen blanketing to prevent oxidation.
Packaging: Fills oil into bottles, drums, or bulk containers using automated fillers, with labeling for compliance and consumer information.

Energy use varies by scale and extraction method:

• Small-scale (mechanical pressing): 10–20 kWh per ton of soybeans, plus 50–100 kg of fuel (for heating during conditioning).
• Large-scale (solvent extraction): 50–80 kWh per ton, with additional energy for solvent recovery (boilers for steam) and refining (vacuum systems for deodorization).
• Renewable energy integration: Some modern lines use solar panels for electricity or biomass boilers (using soybean hulls as fuel) to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Setup time depends on scale and complexity:

• Small-scale: 1–3 months. Involves installing prefabricated equipment (press, cleaner, filter) and basic infrastructure (electricity, water).
• Medium-scale: 3–6 months. Includes semi-automated extraction, refining units, and permits for handling larger volumes.
• Large-scale: 12–24 months. Requires custom engineering, construction of processing facilities, solvent storage systems, and regulatory approvals for industrial operations.

Nutritional quality (preserving unsaturated fats, vitamin E, and avoiding trans fats) is maintained through:

• Controlled extraction temperatures: Cold-pressed lines limit heat to <49°C to retain nutrients; solvent extraction uses low-temperature evaporation to avoid lipid oxidation.
• Mild refining: Large-scale lines use gentle bleaching (food-grade clay) and deodorization (low-pressure, short-time heating) to minimize nutrient loss.
• Avoiding hydrogenation: Modern lines produce liquid oil without hydrogenation (which creates trans fats), using winterization (cooling to remove solids) for stability.

Small-scale (mechanical): $5,000–$50,000, depending on capacity and automation.
Medium-scale (semi-automated with basic refining): $50,000–$500,000.
Large-scale (solvent extraction + full refining): $1 million–$10 million+.