Instrumentation in vegetable oil processing

The importance of instrumentation to control properly all processes in the manufacture of vegetable oil is now well accepted. Instrumentation and controls in oil processing can reduce manpower requirements, improve yields, improve quality, reduce energy usage, reduce regrade or rework, and allow reduction in inventories. The best instrumentation system for a particular operation is one that utilizes or takes into account the latest technologies, consistent with the total process involved, the level of sophistication required, and one that takes into account both the mechanical process and the chemistry of the process. This paper deals primarily with instrumentation improvements in existing plants, and several examples of proper selection and installation of instrument systems are given. Each example deals with choices that give the best control with the minimum of maintenance and the minimum of operator input. The use of a digitally controlled volumetric dry feeder for the automatic ratio control of bleaching clay to oil flow in a continuous bleaching system is described. The proper sizing of automatic caustic to oil ratio systems, including the use of digital blending for caustic control is discussed. A review of refinery loss monitoring systems is given. The advantages of automation of filtration systems by the use of automatic sequence control of filter cycle and cleaning cycle is explained. The importance of instrumentation maintenance in the success of automated systems is stressed. Presented at the 73rd AOCS annual meeting, Toronto, 1982. An erratum to this article is available at .