Cocopeat is a fibrous residue of coconut shell processing, with a loose texture, slender and elastic fibers, and a water content usually ranging from 80% to 90%. بعد الجفاف, the fiber integrity needs to be preserved (to meet core uses such as cultivation substrates and horticultural media). Dehydration equipment needs to balance dehydration efficiency and fiber protection, and belt presses have more advantages compared to other dehydration equipment. Belt presses dewatering machine, screw presses, and centrifuges are common dehydration equipment, but for the characteristics of coconut coir, the advantages of belt presses are more prominent. The specific comparison is as follows:
1. The belt press dewatering machine has stronger protection for cocopeat fiber and almost no damage
Belt press dewatering machine: Dehydration is carried out through “filter belt bearing+gradient extrusion” (gravity pre dehydration → low-pressure extrusion → high-pressure extrusion), with uniform extrusion force and “flexible contact”. The friction between the filter belt and cocopeat fibers is small, and only the gap water is discharged through pressure, without tearing or cutting the slender fibers.
بعد الجفاف, cocopeat still maintains a loose fiber structure with almost unchanged porosity, fully meeting the requirements of horticultural substrates for “water retention and breathability”.
Screw press: It relies on the rotation of a spiral shaft to push cocopeat, generating squeezing pressure through a “gradually shrinking chamber”. The fibers are easily sheared and entangled by the spiral blades, causing some long fibers to break into short fibers, and even forming “fiber clumps”, damaging the porous structure of coconut coir and reducing its subsequent use value.
Centrifuge: It separates water by centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation (usually 1000-3000r/min). Cocopeat fibers are thrown towards the inner wall under the action of centrifugal force, which can easily cause fiber breakage due to violent collisions and friction. علاوة على ذلك, slender fibers may wrap around the centrifuge rotor, resulting in equipment loss and fiber structure damage.
2. The dehydration process of the belt press dewatering machine is continuous and stable, مع قدرة معالجة كبيرة, suitable for mass production
Belt press dewatering machine: adopts continuous feeding, جفاف, and discharge mode. Cocopeat enters the equipment at a constant speed through the conveyor belt, and the dehydration process is uninterrupted. A single device can process 2-20 tons of coconut coir per hour, which is suitable for the large-scale production needs of cocopeat processing enterprises.
Screw press: It belongs to a semi continuous equipment and needs to be shut down in stages to clean the residual cocopeat (fiber easily entangles the spiral shaft) in the spiral chamber. The actual effective processing capacity is only 60% -70% of the belt type, which is difficult to match large-scale processing scenarios.
Centrifuge: requires batch feeding, centrifugation, and unloading. The processing capacity of a single batch is small, and the machine needs to be stopped during unloading, resulting in low overall efficiency. It is only suitable for small-scale experimental dehydration and cannot meet industrial production requirements.
3. The moisture content of the belt press dewatering machine after dehydration is more stable and has strong adjustability
Belt press dewatering machine: By adjusting parameters such as filter belt tension, extrusion roller pressure, and operating speed, the moisture content of cocopeat after dehydration can be controlled for subsequent packaging and storage (stable moisture content can avoid local mold growth).
Screw press: The dehydration pressure depends on the speed of the spiral propulsion. If the cocopeat fibers are unevenly distributed (locally loose or compact), pressure fluctuations are likely to occur, resulting in a difference in moisture content of 10% -15% (partially too dry, partially too wet) within the same batch of cocopeat.
Centrifuge: The moisture content is affected by the rotational speed, centrifugation time, and feed amount. If the feed is uneven (cocopeat is loose and prone to accumulation), insufficient or excessive centrifugation may occur, resulting in poor moisture stability (fluctuations can reach more than 15%), and excessive centrifugation will further damage the fibers.
4. Belt presses dewatering machine are not easily clogged, have high operational stability, and low maintenance costs
Belt press dewatering machine: Cocopeat has a loose texture and large gaps between fibers. It uses a mesh filter belt (usually with a pore size of 1-3mm). During dehydration, water is quickly discharged through the pores of the filter belt, and the fibers are not easily blocked by the filter belt (even if there is a small amount of residue, it can be automatically washed by the filter belt cleaning device), without frequent shutdown for cleaning. The equipment structure is simple (the main components are filter belt and extrusion roller), and maintenance only requires regular replacement of the filter belt (with a service life of 3-6 شهور), with low cost.
Screw press machine: Cocopeat fibers are slender and easy to wrap around the spiral shaft and the inner wall of the screen, requiring frequent shutdown and manual cleaning (at least 1-2 times a day). This not only affects efficiency, but may also cause excessive load on the spiral shaft due to winding, increasing motor losses.
Centrifuge: Cocopeat fiber is prone to entangle the rotor or block the outlet, and entanglement under high-speed rotation may cause equipment imbalance, increased vibration, and even pose safety hazards;
And the cocopeat after centrifugation adheres to the inner wall in a clustered form, making unloading difficult and requiring manual assistance, resulting in high maintenance costs.
