Recently, our company has successfully completed the installation and commissioning of a palm kernel shell (PKS) drying line in Malaysia. The project is located in a local palm oil processing region, aiming to process waste palm kernel shells into high-calorific-value biomass fuel, helping our customer achieve a green circular economy.
Equipment Configuration
The drying line features a rotary drum dryer as the main equipment, complemented by a biomass burner, feed conveyor, dust removal system, and electrical control unit. Key features include:
High-efficiency heat exchange: Multi-layered lifting plate structure ensures full contact between the palm kernel shells and hot air, reducing moisture content from 40-55% to below 12%.
High-temperature resistant and wear-resistant design: The drum is made of heat-resistant steel plates, and the lifting plates are fitted with wear-resistant strips to accommodate the high-fiber, hard characteristics of palm kernel shells.
Energy-saving and environmentally friendly: The biomass burner uses palm kernel shells as fuel, paired with a cyclone dust collector to meet emission standards.
Automated control: PLC intelligently regulates feeding rate, temperature, and drum speed, reducing manual labor intensity.
On-Site Installation Review
From foundation acceptance, drum hoisting, to the installation of the transmission system and sealing devices, the technical team overcame challenges such as high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and on-site cross-operations. The entire mechanical installation and no-load trial run were completed within 13 days.
The material-loaded commissioning showed that drying efficiency and output moisture content both met the design specifications. The equipment operated smoothly with no abnormalities such as air leakage or misalignment.
The local palm oil processing industry has long faced the challenge of waste disposal. The rotary drying production line we provided successfully reduces the moisture content of wet palm kernel shells from 40-55% to below 12%, significantly increasing their calorific value so they can be directly supplied to power plants and pellet mills as biomass fuel.
