High-Efficiency Sunflower Oil Press Machine for Edible Oil Plants

Looking to get the most out of your sunflower seeds? With global demand for high-quality sunflower oil on the rise—especially in China and Southeast Asia—choosing the right oil press machine can make all the difference. A high-efficiency, stable sunflower seed oil press not only boosts oil yield but also ensures premium quality, reduces energy consumption, and integrates seamlessly into your edible oil production line.

In this article, we'll break down how sunflower seed oil press machines work, their key advantages, how to integrate them into your production process, and tips for selecting the right equipment to maximize your investment.

Core Functions and Working Principle of Sunflower Seed Oil Press Machine

In industrial edible oil production, the sunflower seed oil press machine (also called a screw oil press) is the core equipment for physical oil extraction. Its main function is to mechanically squeeze oil from pre-treated sunflower seed kernels, producing crude oil (unrefined oil) and oilcake.

How it works:

Sunflower kernels enter the press and are pushed forward by a rotating screw. As the screw pitch gradually decreases and the pressing chamber narrows, the material is subjected to high pressure. Combined with elevated temperature, the cell structures break down, releasing oil through the press slots, while solid cake is discharged at the outlet.

Modern commercial screw presses generally use a bar-type structure, offering high oil yield, stable operation, and easy maintenance, making them ideal for continuous sunflower seed processing.

👉 ( Oil Press Selection Guide: 3 Key Points to Choose the Right Machine )

Achieving High Oil Yield and Premium Quality in Commercial Production

Oil yield directly impacts profitability, while oil quality affects refining costs and market competitiveness.

Key Measures to Improve Oil Yield

1. Precise Pre-Treatment

• Essential steps include cleaning, de-stoning, crushing, flaking, and steaming/conditioning.

• Dehulling improves kernel oil content, flaking disrupts cell structures, and steaming adjusts moisture and temperature, enhancing oil release.

2. Optimizing Pressing Parameters

• Adjust screw speed, feeding rate, and cake thickness according to raw material characteristics.  👉 ( Energy-Saving Screw Oil Press Solutions )

• Maintain stable pressing chamber pressure to avoid slippage or excessive friction that can degrade oil quality.

3. "Pre-Press + Solvent Extraction” Hybrid Process

• For plants processing over 20 tons/day, pre-pressing removes part of the oil, followed by solvent extraction to recover residual oil.

• This approach can reduce cake residual oil to below 1%, significantly improving overall oil yield.

Ensuring Oil Quality

• Control pressing temperature to prevent oxidation or off-flavors.

• Filter crude oil promptly to remove suspended solids, providing a clean feed for refining.

Pro tip: Stable crude oil quality reduces refining loss and chemical consumption, saving costs in the long run.

Process Integration: From Pre-Treatment to Refining

A high-efficiency sunflower seed oil press machine is a key link in the entire oil production line.

Typical process flow:

1. Pre-Treatment Stage

• Cleaning → De-stoning → Crushing → Flaking → Steaming/Conditioning

• Ensures uniform particle size and loosened cell structure, directly affecting press efficiency and oil yield.

2. Pressing Stage

• Single-stage pressing produces crude oil and oilcake.

• Crude oil passes through a vacuum filtration system before entering storage tanks.

3. Optional Solvent Extraction

• Pre-pressed cake undergoes solvent extraction to maximize oil recovery.

• Pre-Press + Solvent extraction yields high-concentration mixed oil and low-residual oilcake.

4. Refining Stage

• Crude oil undergoes degumming, neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, and dewaxing to produce edible oil meeting international standards.

• High-quality crude oil reduces refining loss and improves product value.

QIE Group Advantage: Offers turnkey solutions from pre-treatment → pressing → extraction → refining, ensuring equipment compatibility, smooth workflow, and optimal energy consumption.

Investment and Equipment Selection Guide

Tip: Large plants are recommended to equip silos (2,500 tons) and crude oil tanks (1,000 tons × 8 units) to maintain continuous production.

Customer Value and Success Stories

QIE Group has successfully delivered sunflower seed oil production lines ranging from 50 TPD to 500 TPD in Russia, Uzbekistan, Africa, and other regions.

Example:

• In a 500 TPD project, optimizing pre-press and extraction integration kept residual oil in cake below 0.8%.

• Overall oil yield and operational efficiency increased significantly, enhancing profitability.

FAQ – Common Questions

Q1: What's the difference between a sunflower seed oil press and a soybean oil press?

A: Sunflower seeds have smaller particle size and higher oil content. Screw design and pressing chamber pressure are optimized for sunflower seeds.

Q2: How can residual oil in cake be reduced?

A: Use “pre-press + solvent extraction,” optimize pressing parameters, and control pre-treatment temperature and moisture.

Q3: What is the equipment maintenance cycle?

A: With durable materials, the press can run 1–2 years continuously without major repairs. Routine lubrication and daily checks ensure stable operation.