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Nwafor Chinonso Jude, Ife (2026)

22/12/2025

CRUSHING PLANT (EXPELLERS) 🏭

Crushing plant is a plant that uses expeller machines to extract oil from palm kernel (PKN).

The kernel must be dry and contains low moisture for the processing to be more effective and to avoid high moisture content in the crude palm kernel oil (CPKO).

The elevators lifts the kernels from the ground level to the upper chamber, through the help of conveyor, to avoid the kernel being stored at a point. The chamber is attached to the expeller machines. (Image 3)

The kernel will be dropping into the expellers from the chamber and it will be crushing it to extract the oil and bringing out cake (PKC) as residue.

The palm kernel cake (PKC) is transferred to the second press through the help of conveyor and elevator for further pressing.

The cake after second pressing still contains like 12% of oil is sent to Solvent Extraction Plant for further extraction of oil, and can also be sold off as animal feed.

The crude palm kernel oil is sent to the screening tank to sieve the oil from impurities. From screening tank the oil will be pumped to filter press machine for final filtration and to bring out light yellow filtered crude PK Oil.

The oil will be pumped to storage tank before sending it to Refinery for refining. 🔥

Note: At this point the oil is not edible for consumption due to high fatty acids content which can put your health at risk. It must be refined to NAFDAC/SON standard before consumption.

The End. 📍

CPKO: Crude Palm kernel oil
PKC: Palm kernel cake
PKN: Palm kernel
RPKO: Refined palm kernel oil

Last image: Filter press machine

# 👷❤

11/12/2025

Cooling Towers 💧🏭

A cooling tower is a mechanical or natural draft heat rejection device that maximizes the contact between water and air in a compact space.

Water flows down through a "fill" while air moves across or against it, facilitating rapid evaporative cooling. The cooled water is collected in a basin at the bottom of the tower.

Hot water from industrial process is pumped into the top of the cooling tower.

The water is sprayed through nozzles onto a material called "fill," which breaks the water into smaller droplets and increases its surface area.

Fans pull cool air into the tower, or natural convection pulls air upwards through the tower. As the water and air mix, a small portion of the water evaporates. The process of evaporation absorbs a significant amount of heat, cooling the remaining water.

The cooled water is then pumped back to the source (plant) to absorb more heat, and the cycle repeats.

Cooling Ponds 💧
A cooling pond is a large, shallow body of water that acts as a heat sink. Warm water from an industrial process is pumped into the pond and allowed to cool through evaporation, convection, and radiation over a large surface area before being recirculated.

Hot water from industrial processes (refineries, solvent plants) is pumped into the pond.

The large surface area of the pond allows heat to escape into the atmosphere via evaporation, convection, and radiation.

Once cooled, the water is drawn back into the plant to absorb more heat, requiring makeup water for evaporative losses.

But in some edible oil Refineries or Solvent Extraction Plants, cooling tower and cooling ponds are being used all together for effective cooling.

Water from the cooling tower enters the cooling pond before pumping it back to the system to absorb more heat.

This process is the most common application and very effective in water cooling. 💯

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06/12/2025

STEAM LEAKEAGES 💨

Steam leakages are a common, costly, and potentially dangerous problem in industrial systems, and are primarily caused by corrosion, mechanical stresses (including thermal expansion and contraction), and the deterioration or failure of components like seals and gaskets.

Leaks most commonly occur in high-stress areas or where components are joined:
*Pipe fittings (threaded or flanged connections)
*Valves (gland packing and internal seats)
*Steam traps
*Boiler tubes
*Pumps and seals etc.

The root causes of these leaks are generally related to material degradation, system design, and operational issues:

*Corrosion of pipes and fittings: Exposure to moisture, oxygen, chemicals, and fluctuating temperatures causes metal deterioration, leading to thinning walls, pitting, and eventually cracks or holes where steam escapes. Poor water quality and inadequate treatment are major contributors to corrosion.

*Thermal expansion and contraction: Steam systems cycle through heating and cooling, causing components to expand and contract. This puts significant stress on joints, gaskets, and connections, which can lead to fatigue, loose fittings, and broken seals over time.

*Mechanical stress and vibration: Movement from pumps, equipment vibration, or physical impact can fatigue pipe walls and loosen connections. Improper installation also contributes to ongoing mechanical stress.

*Deteriorated or worn components: Gaskets, seals, valve packing, and internal parts (like valve seats or steam trap mechanisms) degrade with age and use due to high temperatures and pressure changes.

*Poor installation and maintenance practices: Using incorrect materials (e.g, inappropriate seal material), improper pipe sizing, or inadequate insulation can lead to leaks. A lack of regular inspection and maintenance allows minor issues to escalate.

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30/11/2025

Today is the last Sunday of the month of November ⛪🤗

We glorify the name of the Lord for all the good things He has done for us.

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things". Psalm 107:8-9.

So today we danced unto God in gratitude as we always do. 🙌
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord". Psalm 150:6

"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom". Psalm 145:3

"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds". Psalm 9:1

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker". Psalm 95:6.

The dances of these women reminded me when I was in Owerri, I was attending St. Patrick Chaplaincy government house. ⛪

How our Owerri women danced that very day eeh, 😊 it was on 31st night, a lot of them danced more than David in the bible 😂

It made me to Love Owerri environment, truly there's Joy in the presence of God 💯🤗

Praise God no matter the circumstances.
Happy Sunday Everyone ⛪❤❤

30/11/2025

When I saw these pictures I remembered when a Rev. Father visited our Parish under Onitsha Archdiocese few years ago to solicit for assistance.

He came from Kafanchan in Kaduna diocese.
He narrated how Churches were been attacked, how priests and other men of God were being kidnapped on daily basis.

He mentioned that some men of God started owning licensed guns for their safety. Because the attack was much that period. But no matter what the church of God must Live 💯 Col. 3 vs 13-14

It made me to remember the Jos Christmas eve bomb blast inside church and I've been wondering if we have no right to choice of religion in this country.

May God help us and protect us always 🙏

Happy Last Sunday of the Month ⛪

29/11/2025

ACCIDENT IN WORKPLACE 🏭 💔

So we started production earlier this week, we were divided into two shifts (Day and Night)

We were deployed to another plant (Refinery) as our own plant (Solvent Extraction plant) is not in production at the moment as an assistant operators.

My colleague got involved in an accident due to the operational errors from the core operators.

The oil pipeline containing an oil at the temperature of 250 degree celsius which is times two of a boiling water (100 °c) burst open due to high pressure in the pipeline.

There was no proper material balance from the operators which input supposed to be equal to output. But the input was higher than output, thereby causing too much pressure on the pipeline.

Unfortunately one of my colleagues on duty was working on an equipment close to the economizer before the explosion. Hot oil splashes on his body as he fell down while trying to escape the incident.

He was rushed to the hospital as the case was declared emergency. To God be the glory he survived it but was badly affected. 😢

This is a man who left his family to work but never returned the same to his family.

This is the reason why you should take your safety very serious anywhere you find yourself.

Although some circumstances cannot be averted but we will keep on trying our possible best. 💯

SAFETY FIRST ☝

# 🏭👷❤

29/11/2025

Differences between Thermal Oil Boilers and Steam Boiler 🏭💧🔥

1. Operating Principles

Thermal Oil Boilers: Operate on a single-phase principle, where the thermal oil remains in liquid form throughout the heating cycle.

Steam Boilers: Operate on a two-phase principle, where water undergoes a phase change to steam. This provides high energy density but requires careful management of pressure, condensate return, and water quality.

2. Heat Transfer Mechanisms

Thermal Oil Boilers: Use the high thermal capacity and stability of oil to transfer heat efficiently without the pressure concerns of steam systems.

Steam Boilers: Transfer heat through the latent heat of vaporization, offering high energy density but necessitating careful pressure management.

3. Thermal Efficiency

Thermal Oil Boilers: Typically operate at about 85% efficiency. However, they avoid energy losses from phase changes, making them more efficient in real-world applications.

Steam Boilers: Can achieve up to 95% combustion efficiency but face energy losses from blowdowns, condensate return, and high-temperature radiation.

4. Temperature and Pressure Capabilities:
Thermal Oil Boilers: Provide temperatures up to 350°C (660°F) at low pressures (3-5 bar).

Steam Boilers: Can produce superheated steam up to 540°C (1000°F) but require high pressures (15 bar or more) to achieve these temperatures.

5. Maintenance and Operational Requirements
Thermal Oil Boilers: Require regular oil quality checks and replacement every 5-10 years.

Steam Boilers: Demand rigorous water to prevent scaling and corrosion. They also require frequent maintenance of condensate systems and pressure components.

6. Safety Considerations
Thermal Oil Boilers: Operate at low pressures, reducing the risk of failures. However, they require fire safety measures to manage potential oil leaks.

Steam Boilers: Operate as high-pressure vessels, necessitating robust safety systems and certified operators to mitigate risks. Etc

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29/11/2025

THERMAL OIL BOILER AND STEAM BOILER 🏭💧🔥

What Are Thermal Oil Boilers? 🔥

Thermal oil boilers use thermal oil as a heat transfer medium in a closed-loop system. Unlike steam boilers, they operate without a phase change, allowing for precise temperature control and lower pressure operation.

The thermal oil absorbs heat in the boiler, transfers it to the point of use, and then returns to the boiler to repeat the cycle.

These systems are ideal for applications requiring consistent high temperatures without the risks associated with high-pressure systems.

************************************
What Are Steam Boilers? 💧

Steam boilers generate steam by heating water to its boiling point. The steam carries thermal energy to the point of use, where it condenses back into water.

Steady topping of water is required in this type of boiler to avoid explosion or damaging of the tubes unlike the Thermal Boiler.

In Conclusion: Steam Boilers make use of water to produce steam while Thermal Boilers make use of oil to heat up the vessels in the plant (refinery) at high temperature and return back to the boiler for more heating. 🔥

Both boilers make use of fuel (woods, kernel shell, coal, etc) as a means of combustion. 🔥

Image 1: Thermal Boiler
Image 2: Steam Boiler

# ❤

29/11/2025

BOILERS 🏭

What is a Boiler?
A pressure vessel that provides a heat transfer surface (generally a set of tubes) between the combustion products and the water.

There are different types of boilers, in Edible Oil Refinery Operations we make use of two types of boilers which is Thermal Oil Boiler and Steam Boiler.

To be explained in the next post...

# 👷

29/11/2025

SAFETY IN YOUR WORKPLACE 🏭

SAFETY is paramount in a workplace. In fact make it your priority. 💯

One of my colleague died few weeks ago after a conveyor trapped his feet.

He is part of a maintenance team working at the crushing unit. He was carrying out his usual maintenance duty on one of the expeller machines. 🔩🛠

Unfortunately his feet was trapped in a working conveyor, despite wearing a safety boot, he was still badly injured.

The management rushed him to the hospital for emergency care. He was later discharged and left disabled. 😢

He died few weeks after at his house because he never resumed duty till we hear of his demise. He now left his wife a widow and his children fatherless while looking for their daily bread.

This is the more reason you should take your safety serious. 💯

Be safe for yourself 📍
Be safe for your family 📍
Be safe for your parents.📍

SAFETY FIRST ☝

-cares # ❤

15/11/2025

FINAL FILTRATION ⏳🏭

After the final cooking of the oil (Deodorization), oil passes through the economizer to bring down the temperature first.

Note that the oil coming out from the Deodorizer is above 250 degree celsius, economizer will crash it down to 45 - 50 degree celcius before sending it to polishing filters for final filtration.

An oil polishing filter is a fine-filtration device used to remove microscopic contaminants and other trace impurities from oil to maintain its quality.

It is basically stainless steel with filter bag/net inside for proper filtration.

After filtration the pure refined oil is sent to oil tank farm for proper storage and ready to be sold out or bottled in bottling section.

That's the end of the process of pure Edible Oil Refining.

-oil-refining # 💧

13/11/2025

DEODORIZER 🏭
A deodorizer is a crucial piece of equipment in an edible oil refinery that removes unwanted volatile compounds, such as those causing unpleasant odors and flavors, from oil through high-temperature steam distillation.

This is the final major processing step in refining, resulting in a bland, stable, and high-quality oil by vaporizing impurities under high heat and vacuum conditions.

It is a high-temperature, low-pressure (vacuum) vessel where live steam is injected into the heated oil.

The steam acts as a carrier to vaporize and strip out volatile components, including free fatty acids, aldehydes, ketones, and other flavor- and odor-causing substances.

The process is conducted at high temperatures (200-260degree °C) and under a vacuum to ensure efficient removal of impurities without significant degradation of the oil.

It consists of six chambers and oil passes through the whole chambers for proper and final cooking of the oil to give a desired result.

-oil-refining #

Nwafor Chinonso Jude

22/12/2025

11/12/2025

06/12/2025

30/11/2025

30/11/2025

29/11/2025

29/11/2025

29/11/2025

29/11/2025

29/11/2025

15/11/2025

13/11/2025

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