State-of-the-Art Deodorization Tower for Refined Oil Production

Our deodorization process can be customized into continuous, semi-continuous, or batch modes depending on your oil type, production scale, material characteristics, and energy consumption considerations. The general process includes degassing, deodorizing, and cooling steps to ensure the highest quality of the finished oil.

1. Degassing and Heating: Oils are preheated and degassed to remove air before the main deodorization step.
2. Deodorization: Under specific pressures, steam is injected to ensure thorough contact with the oil, leveraging the volatility differences between triglycerides and odorous compounds for effective removal.
3. Cooling: The oil is cooled under vacuum conditions, ready for further processing or packaging.

Yes, with your process capacity and current process operation flow, the oil deodorization system can be properly designed and fit into your process production line in a high compatible way. 

Our advanced deodorization systems are designed to cater to a broad range of oil refining requirements, ensuring high-quality, stable, and flavorful edible oils. If you’re looking to upgrade your refining operations or need more information about how our technology can benefit your specific production needs, we encourage you to reach out.

Our team is ready to assist you with detailed information, customized solutions, and full support through the implementation and beyond.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help optimize your oil refining process and ensure the highest quality of your finished products.

Our innovative combined tower design integrates the best features of both packed and tray tower systems. This hybrid approach allows for the effective removal of fatty acids and volatile odorous compounds in the packed section, which significantly reduces the distillation load on the tray section. Here are the details:

1. Streamlined Process: In our system, most fatty acids and easily volatile odorous substances are removed in the packed section. This setup alleviates the load on the tray section where the oil remains for a significantly reduced duration—typically between 30 minutes to 2 hours. This shortened residence time in the tray section is crucial for improving overall process efficiency.

2. Low Steam Consumption: Due to the reduced load and shorter processing time in the tray section, our new high-efficiency combined deacidification and deodorization towers consume considerably less steam compared to conventional systems. Specifically, the steam usage of our equipment is only about 30% of that used by standard tray towers and is comparable to that of ordinary packed towers, approximately accounting for only 0.5% to 1% of the oil weight.

Advantages for Your Business

• Cost Savings: The lower steam consumption directly translates into reduced operational costs. Our systems are designed to maximize thermal efficiency, ensuring that less energy is used to achieve optimal deodorization results.

• Reduced Environmental Impact: With lower energy requirements, our towers also contribute to a smaller carbon footprint, supporting your company’s sustainability goals.

• High-Quality Product Outcome: Despite the reduced energy usage, there is no compromise on the quality of the deodorized oil. Our equipment ensures that the final product retains its desired sensory characteristics and nutritional values without the risk of over-processing.

We understand that choosing the right deodorization equipment is crucial for the success of your oil refining operations. If you are looking for a system that combines efficiency with cost-effectiveness, our new high-efficiency combined deacidification and deodorization towers present an ideal solution.

For more detailed information on how our equipment can be integrated into your production line, or to discuss customization options that meet your specific needs, please reach out via our contact page. Our expert team is ready to assist you in exploring the most suitable configurations and operational setups for your application.

Send us an inquiry today and let us help you enhance your oil refining process with our advanced deodorization technology.

During the Deodorization and Distillation (DOD) process in edible fish oil refining, a certain percentage of the valuable omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can be lost. This loss primarily occurs due to the high temperatures required in the deodorization step, which can lead to thermal degradation of these sensitive compounds.

The percentage loss of EPA and DHA can vary depending on several factors, including the specific conditions of the deodorization process (such as temperature and duration), the quality of the raw fish oil, and the effectiveness of the process control measures in place to minimize thermal degradation.

Typically, the loss of EPA and DHA during the DOD process can range from 1% to 5%. However, some studies and operational data suggest that under optimized conditions, the loss can be kept to the lower end of this range. Factors such as lower deodorization temperatures (while still achieving the desired quality and safety of the oil), shorter residence times, and the use of vacuum conditions to lower the boiling point and thus reduce the need for high temperatures, can all help in minimizing the loss of these important omega-3 fatty acids.

It’s important for refineries to continuously monitor and adjust their processes to ensure the maximum retention of EPA and DHA, given their significant health benefits and contribution to the value of the final product. Process optimization, including the careful control of deodorization conditions and the potential use of technologies such as molecular distillation, can be key strategies in achieving this goal.

The deodorization and deacidification process of edible oil is meticulously designed to ensure the highest quality of the final product. The outlined process will will submitted for your approval.

Cleaning Procedure for the Fixed Deodorization Column

1. Long-Term Shutdowns: When the deodorization tower is shut down for an extended period, it’s essential to drain all oil from the system and perform a steam clean to remove any residual oil films. This prevents the clogging of the packing material and ensures that no oil residues oxidize and harden on the surfaces.
2. Short-Term Shutdowns: During brief periods of inactivity, keep the tower filled with oil to prevent the internals from exposure to air, which could lead to oxidation and polymerization of the oil.
3. Routine Checks and Cleaning: Operators should regularly inspect and remove any residues from the bottom of the tower. The packing material should be removed, inspected, and cleaned every six months to one year to prevent any efficiency losses due to fouling or blockage.

4. Shutdown and Cool Down: Prior to cleaning, safely shut down the process. Allow the deodorization column and its contents to cool down to a safe temperature to prevent any risk of injury or damage.

5. Depressurization and Draining: Depressurize the column and drain any residual oil. This step is crucial to ensure a safe working environment for the cleaning process.

6. Chemical Cleaning: Utilize a chemical cleaning agent specifically designed for stainless steel (or the material of construction) that does not react adversely with fish oil. Circulate the cleaning solution through the column to dissolve and remove fatty acids, residues, and potential polymerized products. Selection of the cleaning agent should consider its effectiveness in removing the specific types of residues encountered and its ease of removal from the system post-cleaning.

7. Rinsing: Thoroughly rinse the column with purified water to remove any traces of the cleaning agent. Multiple rinses may be necessary to ensure complete removal.

8. Drying: After rinsing, the column should be dried using a warm air flow or vacuum drying to remove moisture, which can promote oxidation if left in the system.

Maintenance Frequency

Ensuring the longevity and efficiency of our high-efficiency deacidification and deodorization towers requires proper maintenance and a keen understanding of how these systems interact with other stages in the oil refining process. These guidelines are designed to help you maintain optimal performance and quality output from your equipment. By adhering to these maintenance practices, you can extend the life of the equipment and maintain the high quality of your refined oil products.

Integration with Refining Process

Deacidification and deodorization are not standalone processes; they are integrally linked with other refining stages, such as bleaching. For instance:

• Temperature Control During Bleaching: The oil should reach approximately 110°C in the bleaching tower and be maintained at 100°C to 105°C during filtration. This control is crucial for preventing thermal degradation or premature oxidation before deodorization.
• Purity of Bleached Oil: It’s critical to ensure that the bleached oil entering the deodorization stage does not contain bleaching earth or excessive amounts of gums, as these can cause fouling and coking within the deodorization tower.

• Regular Inspections: Conduct visual inspections and performance monitoring regularly to identify any signs of fouling, corrosion, or inefficiency that might necessitate cleaning.
• Scheduled Cleaning: The frequency of cleaning depends on several factors such as the quality of the feedstock, operating temperatures, and the presence of catalysts. As a guideline, cleaning should be performed semi-annually or annually, but may need to be adjusted based on operational experience and product quality requirements.

Measures for Preventing Oxidation or Polymerization

1. Inert Gas Blanketing: Introduce an inert gas such as nitrogen into the deodorization column during shutdowns to displace oxygen, thus minimizing the risk of oxidation.

2. Temperature Control: Avoid excessive temperatures during operation and cleaning, as high temperatures can promote oxidation and polymerization of the fish oil.

3. Antioxidants: Consider the use of food-grade antioxidants in the fish oil to reduce the rate of oxidation. These should be compatible with the end product’s specifications.

4. Material Compatibility: Ensure that all materials in contact with the fish oil are compatible and do not catalyze oxidation or polymerization. Stainless steel is commonly used due to its resistance to corrosion and inertness.

5. Rapid Processing: Minimize the time that the oil is exposed to high temperatures and oxygen to reduce the chance of undesirable reactions.

Rest assured that spare parts for all equipment components are readily available for purchase in China. Under normal circumstances, the manufacturing of these components by the factories will takes approximately 50-70 days varing to the specification and quantities.

Given this production timeline, we are confident in our ability to deliver the required spare parts and equipment units within 3 months from the receipt of your PO.

We understand the critical importance of maintaining uninterrupted operations, and we commit to doing everything within our power to ensure timely delivery to minimize any potential disruptions to your production schedule.

Yes, with your project requirement and technical and commercial proposal approval, we will submite corresponding project reference relates to your process for reference. 

Our innovative deacidification and deodorization towers combine the functions of packed and tray towers, offering several advantages over traditional systems:

• Efficiency: They are designed to operate with lower steam usage, reducing operational costs significantly.
• Flexibility: The towers are capable of handling a variety of oil types and qualities, which is especially beneficial for refineries that process diverse oil grades, including high-acid-value oils like rice bran oil, tea seed oil, and certain industrial oils.
• Quality: The system is optimized to produce oil with a lighter color, lower acid value, and minimal refining losses.

To ensure your refining operations benefit from our advanced technology, we invite you to reach out with any inquiries about equipment operation, integration, or maintenance. Our team is ready to provide you with further details and support, helping you to not only choose the right equipment for your needs but also maintain it effectively for years of reliable service.

Contact us today to discuss how our maintenance services and advanced deodorization systems can enhance your production efficiency and product quality.

We are working closely with technical engineers and vendors and offer comprehensive support and maintenance services, including training, technical support, spare parts supply, and preventative maintenance plans to ensure the system operates efficiently over its lifespan.