Small soybean factory: 5-30 t/d hydraulic, dehulled + flaked + conditioned
Reference layout for 5-30 t/d hydraulic soybean line: cleaning + drying (intake moisture 12-13% → 10-11%) → cracker rolls + dehuller (hull 7-9% removed) → smooth-roll flaker (0.25-0.35 mm) → conditioner (70-80°C × 30-45 min) → 200-325 ton hydraulic press × 1-3 units → 200-300 mesh plate-frame filter → settling tank → crude oil to degumming or filtered bulk. Yield 12-16% (600 kg-4.8 t oil/day on 5-30 t/d feed). Cake protein 48-50% (dehulled HiPro meal). Capex Phase 1 ~$50-150k ex-works.
Reference scale: 5-30 t/d
5 t/d feed: 1× 200 ton press, ~1 t/h prep line. 30 t/d: 3× 325 ton press, ~5 t/h prep line. Above 30 t/d, switch to mechanical screw press (continuous) or solvent extraction.
Phased investment
Phase 1: prep line + 1× 200-325 ton press + plate-frame filter (~$50-100k for 5-10 t/d). Phase 2: +press unit + degumming + storage tank ($30-80k). Phase 3: refining train (RBD ~$100-300k).
Workshop footprint
10 t/d soybean line: 250-400 m² workshop, 4 m height (vertical conveyors), 380V/50Hz 100-150 kW, 2-4 operators per shift. + 80 m² meal storage + 50 m² oil tank room.
First-phase decisions
What a 5-30 t/d soybean line must lock in
- Feed condition: whole bean (need full prep line) or already cracked/flaked (skip prep, save 30-40% capex).
- Dehulling: yes (HiPro meal protein 48-50%, +15-25% revenue) or no (commodity meal 44%, simpler line).
- Press class: 200 ton (5 t/d, 1 unit), 325 ton × 1-2 (10-20 t/d), 325 ton × 3 (30 t/d).
- Crude oil endpoint: settling + filtered bulk oil, OR degumming + RBD refining train, OR handoff to refining contract.
- Meal plan: bagged HiPro 48-50% (premium feed), commodity 44% meal, or food-grade soy flour (defat + grind).
Reference layout (10 t/d)
Worked-out 10 t/d hydraulic soybean configuration
- Cleaning + drying: vibrating screen + magnetic separator + destoner + hot-air dryer (intake 12-13% → 10-11% moisture). Capacity 1-1.5 t/h.
- Cracking + dehulling: corrugated cracker rolls (1-2 mm gap, 4-6 pieces per bean) + aspirator (hull 7-9% removed). Capacity 1-1.5 t/h.
- Flaking + conditioning: smooth roll flaker 0.25-0.35 mm + steam-jacketed conditioner 70-80°C × 30-45 min, moisture 10-11%.
- Hydraulic press: 1-2× 325 ton, 80-100 kg/barrel, 30-45 min/cycle. Yield 12-16% bean weight = 1.2-1.6 t oil/day on 10 t/d feed.
- Filtration: 200-300 mesh plate-frame + settling tank 24 h (1000-2000 L). Add 1-5 μm bag for retail bottling.
- Meal handling: cake breaker + 25/50 kg bagger; or hammer mill + sifter for food-grade soy flour.
Questions to confirm next
What output does a 10 t/d soybean line deliver?
Phase 1 budget range for a 10 t/d hydraulic soybean line?
Keep the engineering path moving
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