A brief description of the alternatives for soap refining: utilization of roll mills or refining plodders? Here are described pros-cons of the two alternatives. Fabio Binacchi - Binacchi Soap Forum

1. Comparison of
Roll Mills vs Refining Plodders
in soap finishing lines
Binacchi & co, Italy
via Gramsci 84, Gazzada Schianno (VA)
tel. +39 0332 461 354 - mail@binacchi.com

2. 2
BRM ROLL MILLS
Refining is
obtained by
shear action of
rolls rotating at
different RPM

3. 3
BRM ROLL MILLS
• Soap passes through 0.15 mm gap
• Shearing action by rolls at different RPM
• 20 Watt / kg soap
• Excellent refining (like a DUPLEX plodder)
• Excellent to eliminate grittines (hard particles)
• No refining screens to clean (and no line stop)
• Good soap temperature control

4. 4
BRM ROLL MILLS
• Soap passes through 0.15 mm gap
Covering
angle 515°

5. 5
BRM ROLL MILLS
• Shearing action by rolls
at different RPM
• 20 Watt / kg soap
• Excellent refining (like a
DUPLEX plodder)
• Excellent to eliminate
grittines (hard particles)
Covering
angle 515°
30 RPM
80 RPM
150 RPM

6. 6
BRM ROLL MILLS
Total contact area
between soap and cold
rolls: 515°: good
temperature control, no
soap overheating
Covering
angle 515°

7. 7
REFINING PLODDERS
Refining is obtained by forcing soap through
a refining screen

8. 8
REFINING PLODDERS
• Soap passes through a refining screen
50 mesh = 0.30 mm opening
30 mesh = 0.55 mm opening
Courtesy Luis Spitz book

9. 9
REFINING PLODDERS
• 10 Watt / kg soap / plodder
• Refining screens need to cleaned and line is
stopped
• Soap heating
2-4°C per stage with standard plodders
3-6°C per stage with multi-refining plodders and
milling plodders

10. 10
Roll Mill
Duplex Ref.
Plodder
Opening gap 0.15 mm
0.30 mm
0.50 mm
Refining energy 20 W/kg 10+10 W/kg
Refining capacity Higher Lower
Grittiness elimination reduction Higher Lower
Stop of line to clean screens No Yes
Soap temperature control High Poor