Degumming Equipment – Oil Refining Hydration Degumming Equipment

Degumming Equipment – Hydration Degumming Solutions for Oil Refining

During the oil refining process, crude oil often contains gum impurities such as phospholipids and proteins. If not removed promptly, these impurities can negatively affect subsequent processing stages and the quality of the final product. Hydration degumming is a common method that utilizes the water-absorbing property of gums by adding hot water or saline to cause coagulation and precipitation, enabling separation. Our company’s range of degumming equipment covers both batch and continuous processes, efficiently removing gums and laying a solid foundation for subsequent deacidification, bleaching, and deodorization.

1.Hydration Tank (Refining Kettle)

The hydration tank is the core equipment for batch degumming and can also be used for alkali refining and settling. The tank body features a cylindrical structure with a conical bottom. It is equipped with a paddle-type agitator with infinitely variable speed control to adapt to different process stages. Heating/cooling coils are installed on the tank walls, allowing for steam heating or water cooling. A water distribution pipe at the top sprays water or lye evenly, while a swing pipe facilitates the extraction of oil from different depths. Foots are discharged from the conical bottom. Multiple hydration tanks are often used in combination for production turnover.

Features: Robust structure, flexible operation, multi-functional, suitable for small to medium-sized oil plants and multi-product switching.

2.Continuous Hydrator

Designed for large-scale continuous production, the continuous hydrator consists of a steam injector and a hydration tank. The steam injector instantaneously and intensively mixes the crude oil with saline, and the mixture enters the hydration tank with sufficient residence time to allow complete agglomeration of gum particles. The equipment has a compact structure and high mixing efficiency, significantly enhancing the automation level of the production line.

Features: Continuous operation, high processing capacity, uniform mixing, suitable for large-scale refining plants.

3.Continuous Settler

The continuous settler utilizes gravity to separate the hydrated oil suspension. The main body is a cylindrical tank with conical top and bottom. Inside, it features a feed distributor and a set of disc-shaped separation plates fixed alternately, forming multiple separation chambers. Gum slides down along the lower plate surface to accumulate at the conical bottom for periodic discharge, while the clarified oil rises and is discharged through an outlet pipe. It can also be optionally equipped with tubular or disc centrifuges to enhance separation through centrifugal force, yielding cleaner oil.

Features: Low energy consumption with gravity settling, stable separation performance; matching centrifuges can further improve oil quality.

Advantages of KMEC Degumming Equipment

Efficient Degumming: Ensures removal rate of phospholipids and other gums ≥90%, reducing the burden on subsequent sections.
Flexible Process: Offers batch, continuous, and combined solutions to suit different capacity requirements.
Durable Material: Parts in contact with materials are made of 304/316L stainless steel, corrosion-resistant, and easy to clean.
Intelligent Control: Optional PLC automatic control system for real-time monitoring of temperature, liquid level, and agitation speed.
Energy Saving: Optimized heating/cooling structure reduces steam and water consumption.

Equipment Type	Processing Capacity	Main Material	Agitation Power	Heating Method
Hydration Tank (Batch)	1 – 50 tons/batch	Stainless Steel/Carbon Steel	2.2 – 15 kW	Steam / Thermal Oil
Continuous Hydrator	0.5 – 20 tons/hour	Stainless Steel	Designed Based	Steam / Electric Heating
Continuous Settler	1 – 30 tons/hour	Stainless Steel	Motorless	Jacket Insulation

Application Areas

Degumming of crude vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, and cottonseed oil.
Pretreatment for animal fat (lard, tallow) refining.
Phospholipid recovery and by-product processing.