From Manual to Automatic: Common Mistakes and Correct Paths for Equipment Upgrades in Small and Medium-Scale Palm Oil Processing Plants

From Manual to Automatic: Common Mistakes and Correct Paths for Equipment Upgrades in Small and Medium-sized Palm Oil Processing Plants

In many small and medium-sized palm oil mills in Nigeria, manual operations are still the norm. This situation leads to a series of problems, such as low efficiency, unstable product quality, and high labor costs. For example, a typical small palm oil mill may require 20 - 30 workers for daily operations, but due to human errors, up to 15% of the production batches may not meet the quality standards.

The Role and Advantages of PLC Automatic Control System

The PLC automatic control system can achieve closed-loop management of the entire process from pretreatment, refining to filling. In the pretreatment stage, it can automatically adjust the temperature and pressure according to the characteristics of the raw materials. For instance, it can reduce the labor required in this stage by about 30%. In the refining process, it precisely controls the refining time and chemical dosage, improving the oil quality stability. And in the filling stage, it ensures accurate filling volume, with an error rate of less than 1%.

Matching Logic of Cold and Hot Pressing Processes

Cold pressing is suitable for high - quality raw materials because it can retain more nutrients in the oil. While hot pressing is better for fruit bunches with high moisture content, as the heat can effectively reduce the moisture and improve the oil yield. The control system can intelligently switch between the two processes based on the real - time data of the raw materials. For example, if the moisture content of the palm fruit is detected above 30%, the system will automatically select the hot - press process.

Practical Operation Suggestions

Maintaining the PLC system is crucial for stable operation. Here is a simple daily maintenance list: Check the connection of the sensors every day, clean the control cabinet once a week, and conduct a comprehensive system inspection once a month. When an alarm occurs, the system can display the specific fault information, such as sensor malfunctions or abnormal temperature. As for the energy - saving mode, you can set the system to adjust the power output according to the production volume. For example, when the production volume is less than 50% of the maximum capacity, the system can reduce the power consumption by 20%.

Compliance and Safety

Automation plays a significant role in meeting the international market's requirements for food safety and environmental protection. The PLC system can accurately record every step of the production process, which is convenient for traceability. It also helps to reduce the emission of pollutants by optimizing the production process. For example, through precise control of the refining process, the emission of waste gas and wastewater can be reduced by about 15%.

Are you ready to transform your palm oil mill from manual operation to intelligent control? Let your oil mill shift from relying on human management to system - based control. Click here to learn more about automation transformation solutions!