PolyCool (Cooling die)

Overview

PolyCool (Cooling die) is a high-performance cooling die designed to be combined with a Bühler extruder to produce wet textured proteins based on soy, pulses, oilseeds and many more raw materials at throughputs of up to 1000 kg/h. The PolyCool 1000 allows a throughput of more than 1000 kg per hour, has independently controllable cooling circuits, can withstand pressure of up to 50 bar, and cools the extrudate down from around 150 °C to below boiling point. The PolyCool 1000 has an electro-polished surface and meets hygienic design standards while the PolyCool 500 delivers a throughput of about 500 kg/h and features a hygienic wing door design for accessibility. The modular PolyCool 350 includes three segments for a production capacity of up to 350kg/h; the PolyCool 200 is a modular flat-channel die composed of two or more segments to produce up to 200kg/h, with segments placed on individual trolleys and a slot size of 150mm x 15mm; the PolyCool 50 provides a throughput of 50 kg/h for research and product development and is designed to mimic meaty and fish-like textures. Patented breaker plates are fitted inside the cooling dies to change the flow pattern of the protein melt and create meat-like fibers and intricate structures, and protein aeration technology injects a gas inside the extruder to generate a microporous structure, producing brighter color, greater volume due to expansion at the end of the cooling die, and adjustable mouthfeel. Produce wet textured products with fish- or meat-like textures from protein sources including soy, pulses, oilseeds, microalgae and insects. Apply different PolyCool sizes across scales: PolyCool 50 for research and product development at 50 kg/h and PolyCool 1000 or PolyCool 500 for medium to large-scale production at about 500 kg/h up to more than 1000 kg per hour. Use protein aeration technology and patented breaker plates to adjust texture, mouthfeel, color and product volume, and test new products, shapes, recipes, textures and technologies in Bühler Extrusion Application Centers.