LCI Lecithin Drying
LCI Lecithin Drying
Up to 1980, evaporators were primarily used in soybean plants processing 500-1200 short tons per day, equating to 225-500 kg/hr of dry gums and requiring 2-6 m2 evaporators. Non-GMO applications now use up to 10 m2 evaporators, while Latin American applications use up to 26 m2 evaporators.
Wet gums typically contain 30-50% water. Prior to 2000, dry gums required moisture content of less than 1%, but current standards demand less than 0.5%, often reaching below 0.2%.
GMO applications were standard until 2000. Non-GMO applications, often involving non-soy oilseeds like sunflower, require special evaporator specifications and are generally smaller in capacity.
Most evaporators are vertical, offering the lowest heat history, while horizontal ones may achieve lower moisture in a single stage. Future research includes side-by-side testing.
This process separates water from dry gums/oil using indirect heat transfer, mechanical agitation of a thin product film, and vacuum. It features short residence time and an open low pressure-drop configuration, allowing continuous processing of viscous and heat-sensitive products without degradation.
Batch Advantages: Not sensitive to incoming moisture, good color, and low dry gum moistures possible.
Batch Disadvantages: Long processing times, limited capacities, high operator supervision, and risk of entire batch damage from process upsets.
Continuous Advantages: High capacities, good color, low dry gum moistures, low operator supervision, minimal off-spec product with upsets, and lower peak utility usage.
Continuous Disadvantages: Higher installed cost for low capacities and sensitivity to feed fluctuations in one-stage operations.
Current standards demand dry gums moisture as low as 0.2%, non-GMO capability, online adjustments for acetone insoluble and acid number, environmental compliance, and high capacities.
The design basis includes a 69 mt/day dry basis with a feed rate of 4423 kg/hr. The heating temperature is set at 162°C, product temperature at 110°C, steam pressure at 5.5 bar, vacuum at 50 mmHg absolute, and rotor speed at 12 m/sec.
Catalog excerpts
Innovations in Continuous Lecithin Drying
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Capacity • Up to 1980, most evaporators sold were for Soybean plants processing 500-1200 short tons/day. • This = 225-500 kg/hr dry Gums. • This = 2-6M2 Evaporators
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History Capacity • Non-GMO applications use up to 10 M2 Evaporators • Latin American applications use up to 26 M2 Evaporator
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Moisture Contents • Wet Gums are normally 30-50% Water. • Dry Gums requirements were <1% prior to 2000. • Current requirements are <0.5% and often <0.2%.
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GMO • GMO applications were normal until 2000. • Non-GMO are normally smaller capacities. • Non-GMO applications are often from non-soy oilseeds, such as sunflower. • Special evaporator specifications are required for Sunflower.
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Evaporator Orientation • Most are vertical, but some are horizontal. • Vertical-Lowest Heat History • Horizontal-Potentially lower moisture in single stage • Future R&D-Side by side testing.
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What is Thin Film Evaporation? • Thin-Film Evaporation separates water from Dry Gums/Oil using: • Indirect heat transfer • Mechanical agitation of a thin product film • Vacuum
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What is Thin Film Evaporation? • Short residence time • Open low pressure-drop configuration • Allows continuous, reliable processing of • viscous materials • heat sensitive products without degradation.
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Batch-Advantages •Not sensitive to incoming moisture. • Good Color • Low Dry Gum Moistures Possible
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Batch-Disadvantages • Long Batch Processing Times • Limited Capacities • High Operator Supervision • Process upsets damage entire batch.
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Batch vs. Continuous Continuous-Advantages • High Capacities • Good Color • Low Dry Gum Moistures Possible • Low Operator Supervision • Minimal Off-spec Product w/ Upsets • Lower Peak Utility Usage
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Batch vs. Continuous Continuous-Disadvantages • Installed Cost-For low capacities • Sensitive to feed fluctuations (one stage operation
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• Dry Gums Moisture-as low as 0.2% • Non-GMO Capable • Acetone Insoluble and Acid # Online Adjustments. • Environmentally Compliant. • High Capacities
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Design Basis 69 mt/day dry basis Feed Rate 4423 kg/hr Moisture 35% Temperature 80°C AI 68 AV 20 Oil added to feed Evaporator Bottoms 19 kg/hr
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• Feed rate - 4423 kg/hr • Heating Temperature - 162°C • Product Temperature - 110°C • Steam Pressure - 5.5 bar • Vacuum - 50 mmHg absolute • Rotor Speed - 12 m/sec
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Water Cleanu
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