Supercritical CO2 Extraction Machine
At present, the development of supercritical CO2 extraction equipment has the following characteristics: serialization:
- Small CO2 extraction machines for laboratory CO2 extraction process test devices are 100mL, 250mL, 500mL, 1000mL, 2000mL (1 LB), 5000mL, etc.
- Medium and large industrial CO2 extraction machines are available in 10L, 20L, 50L, etc.; medium-sized units are available in 100L, 200L, 300L, 500L, 1000L, etc.
- Large industrial supercritical CO2 extraction machines include 1.2m3, 6.5m3, 10m3, etc.
CO2 extraction vessel and CO2 extraction machine
There are two ways to consider the definition of a small CO2 extraction machine, basically based on the definition of the CO2 extraction vessel, because the CO2 extraction vessel essentially determines the properties of the supercritical extraction machine, such as the diameter-to-height ratio of the CO2 extraction vessel The difference determines whether the extraction material suitable for the CO2 extraction machine is solid or liquid; the manufacturing method of the CO2 extraction vessel determines the extraction capacity of the CO2 extraction machine. Read More: CO2 Extraction Vessels: 4 Basics, 6 Special Requirements, 7 Important Parts, 4 Key Design Requirements
9 Differences Between the Industrial and Small CO2 Extraction Machine
Difference 1: The capacity of the CO2 extraction vessel
Before 2011, the definition of a pressure vessel in China was defined as 25L, and the CO2 extraction vessel was smaller than 25L as a small pressure vessel. Therefore, it is generally recognized among Chinese supercritical CO2 extraction machine manufacturers that a single extraction vessel is less than 25L supercritical CO2 extraction machine It is a small CO2 extraction machine;
The difference between small and medium-sized CO2 extraction machines in practical applications is 5000mL because the laboratory usually uses small supercritical CO2 extraction machines with a capacity of 5000mL or less for extraction tests.
Although the CO2 extraction container fundamentally determines the use and extraction capacity (capacity) of the CO2 extraction machine, there are still many differences between small-scale CO2 extraction machines and medium and large industrial CO2 extraction machines (hereinafter referred to as industrial CO2 extraction machines) point.
Difference 2: CO2 extraction vessel cylinder structure
In the internal definition of supercritical CO2 extraction machine manufacturers, the difference between modern small supercritical CO2 extraction machines and industrial CO2 extraction machines is the volume of 100L. This is defined by the manufacturing process of the CO2 extraction vessel, because the supercritical CO2 extraction vessel with a volume of less than 100L generally adopts this structure, and usually adopts a single-layer forged cylinder structure, and industrial CO2 extraction vessels of 100L and above usually use multiple layer-wrapped constructions.
Difference 3: Sealing device for CO2 extraction vessel
When the object of supercritical CO2 fluid extraction is a solid material, the batch operation is adopted. If a single CO2 extraction vessel is used, it takes more than one hour to raise the temperature, increase the pressure and cool down, and several hours to circulate. In order to improve production efficiency, a semi-continuous operation mode in which two or more extraction vessels are connected in parallel can be adopted, that is, when one extraction vessel is working, the other can be unloaded and loaded, and the lid of the extraction vessel should adopt a quick-opening structure to save auxiliary equipment Operating time, stabilize the composition of the extraction stream, so as to achieve the purpose of improving product quality.
Intermittently operated supercritical CO2 extraction vessels need frequent material replacement operations, and it takes a lot of time to open and close the top cover of the vessel. Therefore, the use of fast switching devices can reduce operating time and improve production efficiency.
The sealing device of the quick switch device is an important part of the supercritical CO2 extraction vessel, and the normal and continuous operation of the CO2 extraction vessel depends to a large extent on the perfection of the sealing structure and the reasonable selection of sealing pressure materials.
Small CO2 extraction machines usually use the following four sealing devices
- Internal screw plug sealing device
- Triangular gasket and O-ring sealing device
- Line contact type sealing structure
- External plug sealing device
Sealing device equipped with industrial CO2 extraction machine
- Clamp type sealing device
- Tooth-type quick-opening sealing device
Difference 4: CO2 extraction pump
- Small CO2 extraction machine: piston compressor, diaphragm compressor, or high-pressure plunger pump;
- Industrial CO2 extraction machine: high pressure plunger pump.
What is CO2 extraction pump?
In the supercritical CO2 extraction process, it is first necessary to cool and pressurize the CO2 gas with low relative molecular weight to liquefy it, which is convenient for pipeline transportation. Compressors and high-pressure pumps can be selected as booster equipment for supercritical CO2 fluid extraction. The main machines used in the device are: compressors, pumps, transformers, etc.
Read more: CO2 Extraction Pumps: Top 9 Technical Features, 5 Advantages
Difference 5: CO2 gas recovery
The inevitable gas loss is one of the necessary losses in the CO2 extraction process.
In the process flow of CO2 recovery cycle extraction, the CO2 extraction machine with a separate gas recovery system can recover about 70% of the gas. Due to the manufacturing cost and use cost, small CO2 extraction machines are often not equipped with separate gas recovery systems, and industrial CO2 extraction machines are often standard.
Difference 6: Back pressure valve
In the supercritical CO2 extraction process: the liquid CO2 is pressurized by the CO2 extraction pump and enters the mixer. After being filtered by the second stage filter, the fluid is heated to the set temperature through the heat exchanger, and the supercritical CO2 fluid enters the CO2 extraction container. Inside, and in contact with the pre-loaded pretreated raw materials, the components dissolved in CO2 enter the CO2 separation vessel with the supercritical CO2 fluid, and the CO2 and pre-separated materials are separated by changing the temperature and pressure of the separator.
In this process, the pressure of the CO2 fluid needs to be adjusted to obtain the expected CO2 extraction, and a back pressure regulating valve is required.
- Small CO2 extraction machines usually use a manual back pressure regulating valve;
- Industrial CO2 extraction machine: manual back pressure regulating valve or automatic adjustment pneumatic back pressure regulating valve.
Difference 7: Valve
- Small CO2 extraction machines usually use manual valves;
- Industrial CO2 extraction machines: manual valve or automatic valve.
Difference 8: Fuselage design
- Small-scale CO2 extraction machines usually use a small frame-type combination design. In order to make the experiment and the extraction process intuitive in China, metal panels are often added to the frame and the process flow chart is drawn on the panel, and various operating valves and instruments are arranged. And PLC touch screen, which is conducive to the safe operation of CO2 extraction.
- Large-scale industrial CO2 extraction machines usually use a rack platform design to meet the height and equipment support requirements due to the volume of the CO2 extraction container.
Difference 9: Control System
The automatic control of supercritical CO2 fluid extraction can make the equipment run stably and reliably, with high equipment control precision, high extraction rate of products, convenient operation, energy saving of about 30%, and overall performance improvement.
- Small CO2 extraction machine: SCM control system, industrial computer control system
- Industrial CO2 extraction machine: industrial computer control system, CNC control system
Final words
She small CO2 extraction machines device can be used as a pilot device and used in laboratories, small-scale production, and household CO2 extraction machines. Medium and large industrial CO2 extraction machines can be used for pilot tests and production of medium-volume products, and to the application and popularization direction development.
BIT’s Industrial CO2 Extraction Machine Standard Parameter Table
Models | Capacity liter | Extraction Capacity (24 hours/kg) | Work Pressure (MPa) | Extraction Vessels Number | Separation Vessels Number |
P-10D | 20(10L×2) | 27.5 | 50 | 2 | 2 |
P-30D | 60(30L×2) | 82.5 | 45 | 2 | 2 |
P-50D | 100(50L×2) | 137.5 | 40 | 2 | 2 |
P-30F | 120(30L×4) | 165 | 40 | 4 | 3 |
P-50F | 200(50L×4) | 275 | 40 | 4 | 2 |
P-50S | 300(50L×6) | 412.5 | 40 | 6 | 3 |
I-150D | 300(150L×2) | 412.5 | 40 | 2 | 3 |
I-150T | 450(150L×3) | 787.5 | 40 | 3 | 3 |
I-200T | 600(200L×3) | 1050 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
I-300T | 900(300L×3) | 1575 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
I-500D | 1000(500L×2) | 1375 | 35 | 2 | 3 |
I-500T | 1500(500L×3) | 2625 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
I-600T | 1800(600L×3) | 3150 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
R-1000D | 2000(1000L×2) | 2750 | 35 | 2 | 3 |
R-1500D | 3000(1500L×2) | 4125 | 35 | 2 | 3 |
R-1000T | 3000(1000L×3) | 5250 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
R-2000D | 4000(2000L×2) | 5500 | 35 | 2 | 3 |
R-1500T | 4500(1500L×3) | 7875 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
R-3000D | 6000(3000L×2) | 8250 | 35 | 2 | 3 |
R-2000T | 6000(2000L×3) | 10500 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
R-3000T | 9000(3000L×3) | 15750 | 35 | 3 | 3 |
Read More: CO2 Essential Oil Extraction Equipment, Industrial Extractor
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