Sunflower seed shell pellet machine is a biomass pellet machine that can crush sunflower seed shells and press them into sunflower seed shell pellets. The equipment can produce 6-12 mm biomass pellets with an output of 1-12 tons/hour.

Sunflower seed shells account for about 20%-50% of the total content of sunflower seeds. With the rise of green environmental protection concepts, the utilization of sunflower seed shells has gradually received attention. Studies have shown that sunflower seed shells are rich in cellulose, crude protein, fat and active ingredients, and contain rich resource value.

But how to deal with sunflower seed shells has always been a confusing problem, and direct incineration is obviously not advisable. Now, people have gradually discovered an efficient method for processing sunflower seed shells-making them into sunflower seed pellets.

It is mainly composed of a feeder, a pelletizing chamber, a motor, etc. Just put the crushed and dried sunflower seed pellets into the pelletizer feeder, and the machine will run to squeeze out solid sunflower seed pellets from the outlet.

Sunflower seeds, as one of the major oilseed crops, are increasingly favored for their taste and medicinal benefits. However, sunflower seed shells, often overlooked as a byproduct during processing, hold significant value when repurposed into biomass pellets. Recycling these shells not only generates profit for businesses but also helps alleviate the demand for fossil fuels.

Collection Sources

To begin the production of sunflower seed shell pellets, sourcing the shells is essential. They can be found in:

1. Oil Mills: Shells are typically collected during the oil extraction process.
2. Snack Processing Plants: Pre-shelled sunflower seeds are widely available in stores, providing another source for shells.
3. Traditional Medicine: Sunflower seeds are used in herbal remedies, often combined with other ingredients.
4. Food Supply Chains: Beyond oil and snacks, sunflower seeds are used in various baked goods, ensuring a steady supply of shells.

Manufacturing Process

Once collected, the production process involves several key machines:

1. Sunflower Seed Shell Crusher: Common types include double-feed wood crushers and drop hammer mills for effective grinding.
2. Dryer: Large operations use rotary dryers, while smaller setups may employ airflow dryers.
3. Pellet Machine: The core of the production, using flat die or ring die pellet mills powered by diesel or electric engines.
4. Cooling Machine: Prevents overheating of the pellets, protecting subsequent equipment.
5. Packaging Machine: Typically equipped with a weighing system to ensure uniform packaging of the pellets.

Physical Changes During Production

Throughout the pelletization process, several physical properties of the sunflower seed shells change:

1. Size: The size reduces from 1-3 cm to 3-4 mm after crushing, and then they are formed into cylindrical pellets of various standard sizes (6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm) for optimal combustion.
2. Moisture: Ideal moisture content for forming is 13-18%, but the final pellets typically have a moisture level of 10-13% due to drying during processing.
3. Temperature: The temperature remains stable during compression but can reach up to 85°C when exiting the ring die. Cooling machines bring the final product to room temperature.
4. Density: The density of the pellets varies, initially lower when powdered but increases upon reformation, resulting in heavier pellets for the same volume.

1. Fuel: Like other biomass pellet production materials, sunflower husks can also be recycled into fuel, which can heat the factory furnace and warm people’s own homes.

2 Poultry feed: The high carbohydrate and fiber content in sunflower husk pellets makes them suitable as animal feed, such as horses, cattle, pigs and chickens. However, for balanced nutrition, they should be mixed with other high-protein feeds.

3. Animal bedding: As animal bedding, sunflower husk pellets can provide a more comfortable living environment for your poultry or pets due to their high density and excellent water absorption.

Sunflower husks are a by-product of the sunflower oil extraction process and can be found in large quantities in sunflower oil factories. They are produced in large quantities in southern Russia and Ukraine. Due to their high calorific value, sunflower husks can also be made into pellets for use as biomass fuel. As a biofuel, sunflower husk pellets have been successfully used in power plants in the UK and Poland.

Sunflower husk pellets are biofuels made from sunflower husks. They are compressed cylindrical pellets with an average length of 10 to 30 mm, a diameter of 6 to 10 mm, and a density of 1.2 kg per thousand cubic meters at a moisture content of 8%.

What are the advantages of sunflower husk pellets as biomass fuel?

1. High calorific value: The calorific value of the pellets is 4.3-4.5kW/kg. This value is comparable to coal and 1.6 times higher than wood. When burning 100kg of pellets made of rice husks, the heat released is equivalent to burning 685 liters of fuel oil/500 liters of diesel/479 cubic meters of natural gas, or 1,600 kg of wood.

2. High durability: The durability index of sunflower husk pellets is 18, which means they are harder than olive pomace. Sunflower husk pellets have advantages in fuel uniformity and better transportability.

3. Economical: The cost is relatively low compared to coal, fuel oil and natural gas. Due to the relatively low cost, sunflower husk pellets can be effectively used as solid fuel.

4. Environmental protection: Sunflower seed pellets are an environmentally friendly fuel. The amount of CO2 released when burned is the same as the amount released when the biomass used to produce it decomposes naturally. Therefore, CO2 emissions are zero. Unlike traditional energy sources, sunflower seeds do not release carcinogens or other dangerous substances during storage or burning.