What makes the feed float in the extruded feed pellet mill?

 

 

Anyone who raises fish and shrimp knows that floating feed makes it easier to observe feeding behavior than sinking feed – you can see the fish and shrimp scrambling for it after scattering the feed, without having to guess how much they've eaten. The key equipment for producing floating feed is the extruded feed pellet mill. Many people wonder: why does feed from a regular pellet mill sink, while feed from an extruded pellet mill floats? The answer lies in its core feature, which stems from "how to make the feed lighter."

 

 

1. High-Temperature Heating: Softening and Gelatinizing Raw Materials The extrusion pellet mill's barrel has a segmented heating device (such as an electric heating element or steam jacket), capable of raising the temperature to 110-160℃. When raw materials such as corn and soybean meal enter the barrel, the high temperature gelatinizes the starch (becoming as viscous as cooked rice porridge) and denatures the proteins, laying the foundation for subsequent gas production. If the temperature is insufficient (below 100℃), the starch gelatinization is incomplete, making it difficult to generate bubbles later.

 

2. High-Pressure Extrusion: Extracting Gas from Raw Materials The screw thread inside the barrel is designed with a very dense pattern, generating strong pressure on the raw materials during rotation (up to 3-8 MPa, equivalent to 30-80 atmospheres). Under this high pressure, the moisture in the raw materials turns into supersaturated vapor, and the small molecules produced by starch gelatinization also release gases (such as carbon dioxide). These gases are firmly "locked" within the viscous raw materials, forming a high-pressure gas mass.

 

3. Instantaneous Pressure Reduction: Allowing Gas to "Expand into Bubbles" When the high-pressure raw material is extruded from the die at the end of the barrel, the pressure instantly drops from several MPa to atmospheric pressure-similar to opening a cola bottle and the bubbles suddenly bursting out. The gas cluster within the raw material also expands rapidly, forming numerous tiny bubbles (only 0.1-0.5 mm in diameter) inside the granules. After cooling, these bubbles become fixed within the granules, resulting in a particle density of 0.8-0.9 g/cm³ (the density of water is 1 g/cm³), allowing it to float on water.

 

 

 

 

 

MIKIM boasts extensive experience in poultry feed pellet production lines, significantly reducing the incidence of poultry diseases. Its equipment is not only widely used across various industries domestically but also exported to Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America, earning a high reputation internationally. This global presence not only demonstrates the adaptability and competitiveness of its products, but also demonstrates the company's experience in adapting to diverse market standards and logistics conditions, enabling it to provide a stable supply chain for its overseas customers. Whether serving large domestic farms or cross-border feed companies, MIKIM can leverage its global service network to ensure a consistent, high-quality experience.

 

For more information on process flow design, equipment layout, factory construction plans, individual equipment pricing, or turnkey project proposals, please feel free to contact us!!!

 

 

 

1. What is the price of the Pellet feed extruder?

The price ranges from approximately $5,000-$36,000

2. Do you provide maintenance services for your customers?
Yes, we offer comprehensive after-sales maintenance services to our customers.

 

 

 

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