Aquatic shrimp and crab feed puffing machine

Aquatic feed puffing machine

The aquatic feed puffing machine is a specialized equipment that converts powdered raw materials into porous particles through high-temperature and high-pressure extrusion technology. It is mainly used to produce floating, sinking, and slow-release aquatic feed (such as fish, shrimp, and crab feed). Its core advantages lie in improving feed utilization, sterilization effect, and palatability.

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Table of Contents

• Aquatic feed puffing machine
• Detailed introduction of seafood shrimp and crab feed puffing machine
• Equipment characteristics and working principle
• Equipment classification and technical characteristics
• Typical equipment models and production capacity
• Applicable scenarios and mold design
• Application Cases and Advantages
• What factors should be considered when purchasing a puffing machine for seafood shrimp and crab feed?

Detailed introduction of seafood shrimp and crab feed puffing machine

The aquatic shrimp and crab feed puffing machine is a core equipment designed specifically for the production of feed for crustaceans such as shrimp and crab. It improves the nutrient absorption rate, water stability, and palatability of the feed through high-temperature and high-pressure processes.

Equipment characteristics and working principle

Core function: The puffing machine squeezes materials through screws, and under high temperature (90-130 ℃) and high pressure (25-100 kg/cm ²) environments, combined with mechanical shear force, gelatinizes starch, denatures proteins, and forms a porous structure. After the material is suddenly depressurized and expanded through the mold hole, it can be made into floating or sinking particles to meet the bottom feeding needs of shrimp and crabs.

• Floating feed: high puffiness (bulk density 425-621g/L), floating time can reach more than 2 hours, reducing water pollution.
• Settling feed: By adjusting the expansion degree (1.13-1.88) and designing the mold holes, slow or rapid settling can be achieved to adapt to the feeding habits of shrimp and crabs.

Structural composition: Typical equipment includes motors, reducers, screw conveyors, expansion chambers, conditioners, coolers, discharge ports, and automation control systems (such as variable frequency speed regulation and differential conditioners). Some high-end models, such as the Wenger twin-screw puffing machine, adopt a modular design that supports quick replacement of screws and templates.

Equipment classification and technical characteristics

Classified by structure

• Single screw puffing machine: Suitable for conventional floating shrimp and crab feed, but with high requirements for starch content in the formula (≥ 20%), it is easily restricted when processing low sugar or small particle size (such as 1.0-4.0mm) feed, making it suitable for small-scale farmers.
• Double screw puffing machine: avoids material backflow, stable die pressure, suitable for complex shrimp and crab feed processes (such as low sugar, high protein formulas), with lower particle variation coefficient.

Classified by process

• Wet puffing: requires steam conditioning (conditioning temperature 80-95 ℃) to improve starch and protein plasticity, with higher nutrient conversion rate, suitable for high value-added shrimp and crab feed.
• Dry puffing: relies on mechanical friction to generate heat, does not require steam, and is suitable for small-scale production.

Typical equipment models and production capacity

Applicable scenarios and mold design

Applicable materials

• Starch based: The formula has a starch content of ≥ 20% (higher for smaller particles) to support the expanded skeleton. It needs to be finely ground to 98% and sieved through an 80 mesh sieve, with a maximum particle size of ≤ 0.3mm.
• Protein and oil: Fish meal and soybean meal are based on protein, and 1-3% spray oil is added to improve palatability. The sinking material needs to be adjusted to a moisture content of 30-33% to enhance adhesion.

Shaped particles

• Floating material: expansion degree 1.5-1.9 times, bulk density 425-621g/L, floating for ≥ 12 hours;
• Settling material: expansion degree 1.0-1.2 times, bulk density ≥ 550g/L, mold pore area 550-600mm ²/(t · h) for slow settling (0.5-1.2cm/s).

mould design

• Aperture matching: 0.4-0.6mm cutter for diameter ≤ 2.5mm, 0.6-1.2mm cutter for diameter ＞ 2.5mm, with an angle of 3 ° -5 ° between the blade and the template;
• Wear resistant modularity: Made of 38 chromium molybdenum aluminum alloy steel material, with large aperture templates (diameter 2.5-4.0mm) used for sinking materials, quickly replaceable to adapt to multi specification production.

The aquatic feed puffing machine can also be used for the following animals: poultry (chickens, ducks); Livestock (pigs, cattle); Freshwater fish (grass carp, mud carp, tilapia); Special aquatic products (yellow croaker, California bass, trout); Pets (dogs, cats, foxes, minks); Amphibians (frogs); Ornamental fish (goldfish, etc.); Other aquatic products (eel, catfish).

Application Cases and Advantages

Using different models of puffing machines according to different customer needs to demonstrate on-site machine testing results to customers.High temperature puffing makes cheap proteins such as feather powder easier to digest, reducing formula costs. Reduce feed waste by 30-50% and improve water stability (dissolution rate ≤ 5%).

What factors should be considered when purchasing a puffing machine for seafood shrimp and crab feed?

• Equipment type (demand and cost requirements for single and double screws)
• Puffing effect (particle forming rate ≥ 99%, floating rate 100%, water resistance of sinking material ≥ 3 hours)
• Raw material adaptability (starch ≥ 20%, ultrafine grinding to 80 mesh, oil spraying 1-3%)
• Energy consumption and maintenance (high or low energy consumption, attention should be paid to the wear resistance of vulnerable parts)
• Production demand (wet process requires steam conditioning, dry process relies on friction heat generation)
• After sales service (manufacturer’s technical team, installation support, and maintenance)

The aquatic shrimp and crab feed puffing machine meets diverse needs from household farming to industrial production through differentiated design (such as twin-screw structure, modular template) and process optimization (tuning parameters, spraying technology). In the future, with the deep integration of intelligence and environmental protection technology, equipment will be more efficient and energy-saving, helping to promote the sustainable development of aquaculture.