Feed extruder is a kind of equipment that puffs various raw materials through high temperature, high pressure and shearing action. It is widely used in feed processing in livestock, poultry, aquatic products and other fields. However, in the long-term operation process, the extruder is prone to the common fault of "blocking", which not only affects the production efficiency, but also may cause equipment damage and increase maintenance costs. So, what should I do if the feed extruder is blocked? This article will explain in detail the four aspects of blockage cause analysis, emergency treatment steps, daily preventive measures and operating skills to help users solve this problem efficiently and safely.
During the production process, if the feed extruder has the following situations, it can usually be judged as a blockage phenomenon:
There is no material at the discharge port or the amount of material is significantly reduced;
The main machine suddenly increases the operating load, or even overloads and stops;
The temperature of the motor and electronic control system rises or alarms;
Raw materials are accumulated at the discharge port and cannot be discharged;
There is obvious abnormal noise or equipment vibration.
Once these phenomena are found, the machine should be stopped and checked immediately to avoid causing more serious equipment damage.
Raw material problems
Unstable moisture content: raw materials that are too wet or too dry may lead to poor expansion and block the discharge port.
Uneven raw material particle size: large particles are easy to block the pores of the mold.
Excessive fiber content: if high-fiber raw materials such as wheat straw and cotton husk are used, it is easy to cause blockage of the material channel.
Material mixed with foreign matter: impurities such as stones, iron filings, and plastics enter the extrusion cavity, which will hinder the normal flow of materials.
Operational errors
Feeding too fast: the feeding speed is too fast, exceeding the equipment load, resulting in the accumulation of raw materials and blocking the feed port.
Starting without preheating: feeding before the mold and spindle reach the normal working temperature, the material is not fully expanded and is easy to form blocks.
Sudden power outage or parking: the raw materials are not cleaned out of the machine cavity in time, and after cooling, they condense into blocks and block the screw and die head.
Equipment failure
Severe wear of the screw: the feeding efficiency is reduced, the raw materials stay in the machine cavity for a long time, and are easy to stick together.
The die hole is blocked or damaged: the material cannot be discharged smoothly, forming back pressure.
Abnormal spindle speed: The motor or inverter failure causes the speed to be slow, and the feeding amount does not match the extrusion speed.
When the equipment is blocked, the following steps should be followed for quick and safe treatment:
Stop the machine and cut off the power immediately
To ensure personal and equipment safety, the emergency stop button should be pressed immediately to disconnect the power supply to prevent the equipment from continuing to operate and aggravating the blockage.
Disassemble the die head and check the screw
Open the mold assembly and use tools to slowly clean the accumulated material or hard blocks. If the screw is found to be stuck and the mold hole is seriously blocked, it can be removed and the residue can be cleaned with a steel brush or cleaning fluid.
Check the raw material status
Observe whether the raw material is damp, has too many adulterants or uneven particles, and replace or re-screen the raw material if necessary.
Check the motor and transmission device
Make sure the motor is not overloaded and burned, and the transmission belt, gear, and coupling are not loose or broken. Repair or replace if necessary.
Reassemble and test run
After the blockage is eliminated, reassemble the equipment, run the empty machine for 2-3 minutes to confirm that there is no abnormality, then add a small amount of material to test the machine and observe whether the discharge returns to normal.
Raw material pretreatment
Control the moisture content of the raw materials: keep the moisture content within a reasonable range (such as generally controlled at 12%-15%).
Uniform crushing of raw materials: crush to a suitable particle size to avoid uneven coarseness and fineness affecting the extrusion efficiency.
Remove foreign matter: use magnetic separators, vibrating screens and other impurity removal equipment to prevent hard objects from entering the machine cavity.
Correct start-up and shutdown operations
Preheat before starting: Especially for wet extruders, it is necessary to preheat to the set temperature before feeding.
Correct start-up sequence: start the main machine first, then gradually feed the material to avoid sudden blockage.
Clear the cavity before shutting down: Use an appropriate amount of dry material to clean the inside of the equipment before shutting down to prevent the residual material from cooling and hardening.
Regular maintenance and maintenance
Cleaning the holes of the mold: The mold should be disassembled and cleaned regularly to keep the discharge smooth.
Check the clearance and wear of the screw: ensure that the screw pushes the material normally and prevent material accumulation.
Lubricate the transmission system: prevent the stable operation from being affected by jamming and tooth jumping.
Operator training
Improve the operator's understanding of the equipment structure and operation process;
Be familiar with the judgment and treatment methods of blocking to avoid misoperation;
Be able to adjust parameters according to the raw material conditions, such as feeding speed, spindle speed, etc.
Purchasing feed extruders with reliable quality and reasonable structure is an important prerequisite for reducing blockage. It is recommended to evaluate from the following aspects:
Brand reputation and experience: give priority to manufacturers verified by the market;
Whether it is equipped with anti-blocking devices: such as automatic back pressure adjustment, temperature control protection and other functions;
Whether the after-sales service is perfect: Blockage is a common fault, and whether the manufacturer can provide timely technical support is particularly important.
Although feed extruder blockage is common, it is not unsolvable. As long as users strengthen management in raw material processing, equipment maintenance, operating specifications, etc., and master basic emergency handling skills, they can effectively reduce the frequency of blockage, extend the service life of equipment, and improve feed production efficiency. As a professional feed equipment supplier, we recommend that users optimize the operating process from the source, choose stable and reliable equipment models, and create an efficient, continuous, and low-fault feed processing system.
If you need to buy feed extruders, or encounter specific problems during use, please feel free to contact us, a professional feed equipment company, to provide technical support.
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