This project concerns a small shrimp feed belt drying machine in Ecuador. A small shrimp hatchery feed mill in Guayaquil, Ecuador, was producing micro-pellets for whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) post-larvae. The pellets were tiny – 0.5mm to 1.5mm diameter – and contained 12-15% fish oil.
This project concerns a small shrimp feed belt drying machine in Ecuador. A small shrimp hatchery feed mill in Guayaquil, Ecuador, was producing micro-pellets for whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) post-larvae. The pellets were tiny – 0.5mm to 1.5mm diameter – and contained 12-15% fish oil.
The challenge was drying. The small pellets were delicate and oil-rich. High-temperature drying caused the oil to migrate to the surface, making the pellets sticky and prone to clumping. The oil also oxidized faster, reducing shelf life.
The production manager (let's call him Javier) explained the challenge: "Shrimp post-larvae need micro-pellets that are stable in water and don't leach oil. Our existing hot air dryer was too aggressive. The pellets would clump together, and the oil would oxidize within weeks. We needed a gentle, low-temperature dryer that would preserve the oil integrity."
Name:
shrimp feed dryer
Country:
Ecuador
Date:
2025
Capacity:
0.3-0.5 tons/hour
Model:
DHG-400
Main Motor Power:
40+0.55*4+0.55 KW
belt width:
0.8m
Low temperature:
50-60°C
The mill produces about 2,000 tons annually of micro-pellets for shrimp hatcheries across Ecuador – the world's largest shrimp exporter.
Javier looked for a small-scale, gentle drying system that could handle 0.3-0.5 tons/hour of oil-rich micro-pellets. He found the DHG-400 belt dryer from RICHI.
From the belt dryer table, the DHG-400 (electrically heated) was selected. Why this model?
Javier chose the electric model because their facility had reliable electricity. The DHG-400 runs on 40kW – manageable for their operation.
Ecuador's shrimp hatcheries produce billions of post-larvae annually. Javier's mill produces:
Pellet specifications:
The challenge is that small, oil-rich pellets are:
The DHG-400 arrived at the Port of Guayaquil – Ecuador's largest port.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Guayaquil is about 35-40 days (via Panama Canal). The machine was packed in a 20-foot container with:
Customs clearance in Guayaquil took about 6 days. Total landed cost was about 25% higher than the FOB price.
Installation took two weeks. Javier's team prepared a concrete foundation – the DHG-400 is about 6 meters long. They poured a 150mm reinforced slab.
The electrical hookup required 440V, 60Hz three-phase (Ecuador uses 60Hz). RICHI provided a 60Hz-compatible motor. The 40kW heater required a 100-amp breaker.
The first test run was with PL10-PL15 micro-pellets (0.6mm diameter) at 24% moisture. The pellets were spread on the belt (layer thickness 15mm). Belt speed was set to 25 minutes per layer – total drying time 125 minutes (2.1 hours) across 5 layers. Air temperature: 52°C. Output moisture: 9%. No clumping. Oil stable.
After six months of operation, Javier documented the following results:
Before (hot air dryer – 75°C, 1.5 hours):
After (DHG-400 belt dryer – 52°C, 2.1 hours):
Production output:
Quality improvements:
The machine cost delivered approximately $22,000 USD (about €20,000). Payback period was about 6-8 months based on reduced product loss and customer retention.
Here's what Javier said after six months (paraphrased from a conversation, translated from Spanish):
"Micro-pellets are tiny and oil-rich. High-temperature drying was destroying them. The oil would migrate to the surface, making the pellets sticky. They clumped together in the bags. Customers complained.
The DHG-400 changed that. 52°C is the perfect temperature – hot enough to dry, cool enough to keep the oil inside the pellet. No clumping. No oil oxidation. The pellets flow freely.
The 5-layer belt gives us 2 hours of gentle drying. The pellets don't move – they just sit on the belt. No breakage. No fines.
A few operational notes: The layer thickness should be 15mm for micro-pellets – thicker layers trap moisture. The belt speed is critical – too fast and they're under-dried, too slow and they over-dry. We check moisture every hour. The belts need daily cleaning – oil residue builds up.
Would I recommend this machine? Yes. For any shrimp hatchery feed mill, low-temperature belt drying is essential for oil-rich micro-pellets. The DHG-400 paid for itself in eight months."
Shrimp micro-pellets have unique challenges. Here's why 52°C and belt drying work:
Oil migration prevention: Fish oil migrates to the pellet surface above 60°C. Surface oil makes pellets sticky (clumping) and prone to oxidation. At 52°C, oil stays inside the pellet.
Oil oxidation: High temperatures accelerate oil rancidity. Peroxide value (measure of oxidation) increases exponentially above 60°C. At 52°C, oxidation is minimal.
Pellet integrity: Small pellets (0.5-1.5mm) are fragile. Tumbling dryers cause breakage. Belt dryers keep pellets stationary.
Clumping prevention: Sticky pellets clump together. Low-temperature drying prevents surface oil, so pellets remain free-flowing.
Javier's lab results:
| Drying Temperature | Oil Migration | Peroxide Value | Clumping | Shelf Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75°C (hot air) | Significant | 8.0 meq/kg | 18% | 2-3 months |
| 65°C | Moderate | 5.0 meq/kg | 8% | 4-5 months |
| 52°C (belt dryer) | Minimal | 2.5 meq/kg | <2% | 6-8 months |
The DHG-400's 5-layer design allows extended drying at low temperature:
Total drying time: 2.1 hours. The low, consistent temperature prevents oil migration.
For micro-pellets, layer thickness affects drying:
Javier's team uses a spreading gate to maintain 15mm layer thickness. They check it hourly.
Standard belt mesh (2-3mm openings) would allow micro-pellets (0.5-1.5mm) to fall through. The DHG-400 comes with fine mesh:
The fine mesh keeps all pellets on the belt.
Javier tests peroxide value weekly:
The low-temperature belt dryer produces stable oil that doesn't rancidify quickly.
The DHG-400 shipped from Qingdao to Port of Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Guayaquil is about 35-40 days. The route goes through the South China Sea, past Singapore, across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal, and down the Pacific coast of South America.
The machine was packed in a 20-foot container. Customs clearance in Guayaquil took about 6 days. Total landed cost was about 25% higher than the FOB price.
The truck transport from Guayaquil to the mill was short – about 15km, roughly 30 minutes.
After six months of running the DHG-400, Javier shared several observations:
RICHI provided several services that helped Javier get the DHG-400 operational:
For a small shrimp hatchery feed mill producing oil-rich micro-pellets, low-temperature belt drying is essential.
Consider the DHG-400 if:
Consider a larger model (DHG-500) if:
For Javier's shrimp hatchery feed mill, the DHG-400 was the right investment. It prevented oil migration (clumping reduced from 18% to <2%), extended shelf life (2-3 months to 6-8 months), and paid for itself in 6-8 months.
If you're a shrimp hatchery feed mill producing micro-pellets, don't use high-temperature dryers. Heat causes oil migration, clumping, and oxidation. The result is sticky pellets that hatcheries reject.
The DHG-400 small shrimp feed belt drying machine operates at 52°C – well below the oil migration threshold. The 5-layer design provides 2 hours of gentle drying. The fine mesh belt (0.8mm) prevents pellet loss. The result is free-flowing, stable micro-pellets that hatcheries trust.
For shrimp feed, the math is simple: low temperature = no oil migration = no clumping = longer shelf life = happy hatcheries = repeat business.
RICHI offers documentation in Spanish, 60Hz motors, fine mesh belts, temperature guidance, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your pellet size, oil content, and capacity for a recommendation. Tell them about your shrimp feed application – they can help you select the right dryer and temperature settings for optimal oil stability.
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