On the cover: Whether you’re looking to cut waste, reduce wear or lower your carbon footprint, Extru-Tech Inc. has an environmentally friendly solution.
continued from cover
more dissimilar raw materials, then hydrated and precooked until it reaches a particular moisture level.
If done right, the important step of preconditioning not only promotes cooking in the extruder and eases the conveying of product to the extruder, it also reduces costs associated with extrusion wear and operation.
Figure 1: Energy excellence from enhanced preconditioning
Traditional configuration fill level
Choosing the right preconditioner will save you money and help save the Earth because it will:
■ Provide a homogenous mix, limiting
extrusion surging and off-spec product;
■ Reduce utility costs for steam usage in the
preconditioner; ■ Reduce electrical energy required to
operate both the extruder and the preconditioner;
■ Help reduce wear costs of extrusion
components.
All of these components lead to a reduction
in waste, wear and motor load—which means
a lower carbon footprint, less environmental
contamination and a reduction in CO pollution.
²
Advanced configuration fill level
Proper preconditioning using advanced techniques will reduce electrical consumption by 10%–15% per year, which in turn will reduce your greenhouse gas emission contribution by more than 600,000 lbs. per annum.
The old method of preconditioning—using
a single shaft running at a high speed—does not excel in the areas of retention time, energy transfer and water absorption. Instead, Extru-Tech has enhanced proven preconditioning models (like the traditional
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