Frequently Asked Questions
What does Energrow do?
What seeds work with the Energrow extruder?
How much oil does the Energrow press extrude?
How many Metric Tonnes (MT) can be processed in one year using the EE3700?
What can the soybean meal be used for?
Will the Energrow system work for me?
Can I come and see this system for myself?
What electrical costs will I expect?
How much does an Energrow system cost?
What is the life expectancy of this machine? What are my expected yearly maintenance costs?
How does an Energrow System help me save or make money?
What can the vegetable oil be used for?
Why use vegetable oil instead of diesel?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of running straight vegetable oil (svo) run vehicles?
What is the difference between bio-diesel and straight vegetble oil (svo) as a bio-fuel?
What does Energrow do?
Energrow designs and builds oil expellers and production systems for cold-pressing oil seeds. The Energrow system, apart from producing meal also produces vegetable oil (a value-added product) which can then be used as a fuel for diesel-run machinery and generators. The agriculture industry is a major user of electricity; Energrow ’s aim is to help make the farmer a producer of that energy.
What seeds work with the Energrow extruder?
Although the Energrow press is intended for use of soybeans, it can also be used to press other oil seeds such as canola, flax, sunflower seed, rapeseed, linseed, sesame seed, mustard seed, and similar seeds.
How much oil does the Energrow press expel?
The amount of oil extracted depends greatly on the type of seed used as well as its chemical and physical properties. This includes how the seed is pre-processed. For soybeans, on average, the press will process approximately 1 Tonne of raw soybeans per day, expel about 100L of oil.
How many Metric Tonnes (MT) can be processed in one year using the EE3700?
The outputs are based on type and quality of the seed that is being used. The press has the capacity to process approximately 1 MT of raw seed in 24 hours, however it would be good to assume 5 to 10 days of down-time per year for factors such as maintenance, repair, unit relocation, etc. Therefore, in one year, the maximum you would likely be able to process would be 355 MT of seed.
What can the soybean meal/pellets be used for?
There are a surprisingly wide variety of uses for soybean meal:
As a feed supplement, rich, full-fat soybean meal can be used to supplement the nutrition plan of ruminants such as cows, horses, goats and llamas. It can also be useful for animals such as pigs, chickens and even fish as a valuable feed. Depending on how much oil is extracted, it can also act as a protein supplement.
Will the Energrow System work for me?
The Energrow System, although applicable for a wide range of seeds and applications, may not work for everyone. Its environment, capacity, and intended use play key roles in deciding if it is to offer sufficient savings to its user. To see if an Energrow press and/or system is suitable for your needs, please complete an online break-even analysis.
Can I come and see a running system for myself?
Of course, we welcome all who are interested to come and have a look at our demonstration facility located in Newton, Ontario. Please call in advance to book a tour time. There is also a video available on this site for your viewing pleasure demonstrating a larger scale facilities' application of Energrow technology. Please click here to view the video.
What electrical costs will I expect
The Energrow EE3700 runs using 220V (1 or 3 phase) power and is driven by a variable speed motor. It is very energy efficient, requiring approximately $10- $12 CAD of electricity to process one tonne of raw seed in a 24 hour period.
How much does an Energrow system cost?
The costs of an Energrow system depends on the options selected and the degree of automation required by the end user. Energrow aims to minimize the costs that its customers face and encourages incorporating existing farm materials into the system when possible. Please contact us for additional information.
What is the life expectancy of this machine? What are my expected yearly maintenance costs?
The Energrow press life expectancy depends greatly on how the press is used and maintained. Improper use can significantly reduce the lifespan of the machine. Under normal conditions, one can expect to spend a minor amount of time cleaning to maintain the unit. The wear components are expected to last a minimum of 2-3 years, while the main components should last a minimum of 10-15 years depending on application. The parts can be purchased new or you can take advantage of the Energrow replacement program in which refurbished components can be exchanged to minimize cost. All Energrow products are covered by a limited one-year product warranty.
How does an Energrow System help me save or make money?
| |
Meal Production |
|
Oil Production |
|
|
Saving Opportunities |
|
|
• Buying meal at retail
• Soybean roasting costs
• Transportation costs
• Processing/storage fees
|
|
• Buying diesel at retail
• Diesel fuel consumption
• Transportation costs
• Feed energy supplements
|
|
|
|
Income Opportunities |
|
|
• Sale of excess meal produced
• Custom processing (GMO, Non-GMO, Organic markets)
• Milk/Weight Gain in Cattle
|
|
• Sale of excess oil produced (industrial lubricant, fuel, organic food, animal feed markets, etc.)
• Milk/Weight Gain in Cattle
|
|
|
NOTE: There is a higher value in expeller processed meal than solvent extracted meal due to energy and natural nutrient content.
What can the vegetable oil be used for?
Vegetable oil has a wide variety of practical industrial purposes. Some examples are:
- SVO - Direct Fuel, raw or blended with diesel
- Biodiesel base stock
- Lubricant
- Cooking oil/organic foods
- Animal feed energry supplement
- Candlemaking
Why use vegetable oil instead of diesel?
Our world has become increasingly dependent on fossil fuel, a non-renewable resource. The use of fossil fuels is steadily increasing as our increased use of combustion engines increase. This burning of such fuels has dramatically increased the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere. Concerned individuals understand that it cannot continue like this for much longer. One needs to promote environmentally friendly and alternative energy sources. Every individual can make a difference and save money while doing it!!
The inventor of the diesel motor, Rudolf Diesel, actually did not initially run that motor using diesel, but other fuels like vegetable oil! At that time, diesel didn’t exist, yet the fossil fuels industry quickly recognized the invention and produced a suitable fuel to run from the motor. Offering a cheaper price and the availability of a convenient, world-wide network of gas stations suppressed all other forms of fuel that were environmentally friendly.
Diesel is not as an efficient fuel as one might think:
As a crude oil distillate, which for millions of years has been bound in raw oil, it releases among other chemicals, CO2 into the atmosphere when burned.
*
With the introduction of Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD), non-compatible fuel systems are suffering unexpected and dramtic lubrication failures. The lubricity of vegetable oil is far superior to ULSD diesel and can offset the use of other, expensive fuel additives.
*
It harms our flora and fauna when it finds its way into the ground or water systems
The advantage of diesel is that its flash point is substantially lower than that of vegetable oils, a decisive factor to the ignition performance of diesel motors. Diesel also maintains its fluidity longer than vegetable oil in colder temperatures. Yet for these disadvantages, there are solutions which Energrow provides in the conversion process of standard built diesel driven vehicles to be run off of vegetable oil. With rising fuel costs, this new source not only proves to be more environmentally friendly, but a substaintial cost saving!
What are the benefits/disadvantages of running straight vegetable oil (svo)?
Upon conversion, your vehicle or generator can run off of all well known plant and animal oils and fats. All bio-fuels, like foodstuffs, are CO2 neutral, free of sulphur and poisons to the environment. Bio-fuels only produce a fraction of the pollutants that mineral diesels produce. Bio-fuels are renewable, relying on solar energy that has for millions of years acted as energy an carrier for nature. It can now replace fossil fuels used in any diesel run engines.
Benefits of vegetable oil run vehicles:
- CO2 neutral
- Economical, cheaper than diesel
- Excellent system-energy efficiency (from raw "crude" to refined product)
- Sulphur-free
- Protects crude oil resources
- 100% biodegradable
- Non-hazardous for ground, water, and air in case of a spill
- Low fire hazard (flashpoint > 220°C)
- Practical to refuel at home
- Easy to store, more ecological than bio-diesel
- A chance for the farming community and agriculture
Disadvantages of vegetable oil run vehicles:
- Loss of space and/or vehicle load capacity due to additional fuel storage
- Loss of manufacturer guarantee in new vehicles for use of an alternative fuel
- Motor oil needs to be replaced more often in a direct injection engine as a safety precaution to avoid build-up
- Currently no public network of filling stations are available, must refuel at home
What is the difference between bio-diesel and straight vegetable oil (svo) as bio-fuels?
The answer is best described with the following link:
http://www.ufop.de/downloads/Vehicles_Biodiesel.pdf
Do you have a question that this page doesn't answer? Please send it to us.
|