Technical evaluation of a roll-type extrusion pellet mill for animal feed production

Abstract

The study dealt with the design and technical evaluation of a pellet mill developed in the Philippines that utilizes the roll-type extrusion method of producing powder materials of different mixtures into pelleted feeds and driven by a 2 Hp electric motor. It is comprised of a feed hopper, pelleting chamber, pellet roll, die plate, discharge chute and frame. As the pellet rolls rotated, force is also applied creating rearrangement of the particles in order to fill the voids or holes of the die plate. The machine can produce 1.272±0.009 kg/min or about 76.32±0.54 kg/hr of pelletized feeds. It is an efficient, portable and user-friendly machine that can convert a kilo of mash feeds by 97.87±0.596%. The pellets produced have a 4-mm diameter with a length and weight of 10.667±0.667 mm and 0.138±0.005 g, respectively, while the moisture content after sundrying was 25.467±9.744% and the total solids was 74.533±9.744%. In addition, the pellets produced had a bulk density of 0.510±0.015 g/cc, pellet durability index of 95.77±0.596% and a percent fine of 1.8±0.115.