This is a project regarding a shrimp feed pellet cooler in Thailand. A shrimp feed mill in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand, near Bangkok, was producing premium pellets for black tiger shrimp and whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The pellets contained 10-12% fish oil – essential for shrimp growth and health. The challenge was cooling.
A shrimp feed mill in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand, near Bangkok, was producing premium pellets for black tiger shrimp and whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The pellets contained 10-12% fish oil – essential for shrimp growth and health. The challenge was cooling.
The pellets were exiting the shrimp feed extruder at 85-95°C with the oil distributed throughout the pellet. During slow cooling, the oil migrated to the pellet surface, making them sticky and prone to clumping. The surface oil also oxidized faster, reducing shelf life.
The production manager (let's call him Somchai) explained the problem: "Shrimp feed needs to be water-stable for 2-3 hours. If the oil migrates to the surface, the pellets clump together in the bag and break apart in water. Our old cooler took 20 minutes to cool the pellets – too slow. The oil had time to migrate. We needed a cooler that could bring the temperature down quickly to lock the oil inside the pellet."
The plant was producing 12 tons/hour of 1.2-1.5mm shrimp pellets (small diameter for post-larvae and juveniles). They had an old vertical cooler that was slow and inefficient. Somchai started looking for a shrimp feed pellet cooler that could handle 10-12 tons/hour with rapid cooling.
Name:
shrimp pellet cooler
Country:
Thailand
Date:
2025
Capacity:
Flexible
Model:
SKLF20x20
Main Motor Power:
1.5kW
Cooling Time:
6–15 minutes
Material Temperature After Cooling:
Room Temperature + 3–5°C
From the cooler table, the SKLF20x20 (1.5kW) was selected. Why this model?
Somchai chose the SKLF20x20 to replace their slow vertical cooler. The new cooler would be installed directly after the extruder and dryer.
Thailand is the world's largest shrimp producer. The plant produces:
The pellets are used for:
The SKLF20x20 shrimp feed pellet cooler arrived at the Port of Bangkok (Khlong Toei Port) – Thailand's largest port.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Bangkok is about 7-10 days (very short). The machine was packed in a 40-foot container with:
Customs clearance in Bangkok took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 18% higher than the FOB price.
Installation took two weeks. The old vertical cooler was removed. The new SKLF20x20 was positioned on a raised platform to allow gravity discharge into the bagging line. A concrete foundation (200mm thick) was poured.
The electrical hookup required 380V, 50Hz three-phase (Thai standard). The 1.5kW discharge motor plus hydraulic pack required a 30-amp breaker.
The first test run was with 1.5mm shrimp pellets at 90°C, 12% oil. The cooler was set to 8 minutes cooling time (shortest recommended). Pellet temperature exiting: 31°C (ambient was 28°C). Oil distribution: Uniform throughout pellet – no surface migration. Pellets were free-flowing, not sticky.
After six months of operation, Somchai documented the following results:
Before (vertical cooler – slow cooling, 20 minutes):
After (SKLF20x20 counterflow cooler – rapid cooling, 8 minutes):
Production impact:
Here's what Somchai said after six months (paraphrased from a conversation, translated from Thai):
"Shrimp feed has 12% fish oil. If you cool it slowly, the oil migrates to the surface. The pellets get sticky and clump together. In the water, they fall apart. Our old cooler took 20 minutes – too slow.
The SKLF20x20 changed that. 8 minutes cooling time – fast enough to lock the oil inside the pellet. The pellets come out free-flowing, not sticky. Water stability improved from 1 hour to 2.5+ hours.
The stainless steel construction is essential – fish oil is corrosive. The small pellet size (1.5mm) needs gentle handling – the swing tray discharge is perfect.
Would I recommend this cooler? Yes. For any shrimp feed mill, rapid cooling is essential to prevent fat migration. The SKLF20x20 paid for itself in four months."
Shrimp feed has unique requirements that differ from other animal feeds:
The SKLF20x20 shrimp feed pellet cooler's rapid counterflow cooling locks oil inside the pellet:
Somchai's oil migration testing:
Rapid cooling (8 minutes) is the key.
Shrimp pellets are very small (1.2-1.5mm). The SKLF20x20 handles small pellets with:
Somchai's breakage testing:
Fish oil is corrosive (contains free fatty acids). The SKLF20x20 includes:
Somchai expects the stainless steel components to last 15+ years.
| Cooling Method | Water Stability | Farmer Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Slow (20 min) | 45-60 minutes | Poor – pellets break apart |
| Medium (15 min) | 1-1.5 hours | Marginal |
| Fast (10 min) | 2 hours | Good |
| Rapid (8 min) | 2.5-3 hours | Excellent |
The SKLF20x20 achieves 2.5-3 hours water stability.
The SKLF20x20 feed pellet cooler shipped from Qingdao to Port of Bangkok (Khlong Toei Port), Thailand.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Bangkok is about 7-10 days – very short. The route goes through the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
The machine was packed in a 40-foot container. Customs clearance in Bangkok took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 18% higher than the FOB price.
The truck transport from Bangkok to Samut Sakhon was about 30km – roughly 45 minutes.
For a shrimp feed mill producing high-oil pellets, a counterflow cooler with rapid cooling capability is essential.
Consider the SKLF20x20 if:
Consider a larger model (SKLF24x24) if:
For Somchai's shrimp feed production line, the SKLF20x20 was the right investment. It locked oil inside the pellet (no surface migration), improved water stability from 1 hour to 2.5+ hours, and paid for itself in four months.
If you're a shrimp feed mill producing high-oil pellets, don't compromise on cooling. Slow cooling allows oil to migrate to the surface, causing clumping, oxidation, and poor water stability. Shrimp farmers will reject your feed.
The SKLF20x20 shrimp feed pellet cooler uses counterflow technology to cool pellets from 90°C to 30°C in 8 minutes – fast enough to lock oil inside the pellet. The stainless steel construction resists corrosion. The gentle swing tray discharge prevents breakage of small pellets. The result is free-flowing, water-stable feed that shrimp thrive on.
For shrimp feed producers, the math is simple: rapid cooling = oil locked inside = better water stability = happy farmers = repeat business.
RICHI offers documentation in Thai, rapid cooling guidance, stainless steel options, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your pellet output, oil content, and pellet size for a recommendation. Tell them about your shrimp feed application – they can help you select the right cooler to prevent fat migration and ensure water stability.
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