Project Background
Konjac is a vital economic crop in Vietnam. Its core component, Glucomannan (KGM), possesses extremely high viscosity and water absorption, making it widely used in food thickening, vegetarian food manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. However, dried konjac chips are high in fiber and toughness. Standard grinders often generate excessive heat, causing material charring or screen blinding, making it difficult to balance output with fineness. To solve this, advanced ultrafine grinding of konjac techniques are required to preserve the material’s functional properties.
A leading food ingredient supplier in Vietnam selected the Epic Powder Air Classifier Mill (ACM) to process dried konjac chips into high-quality 80-mesh fine powder.
Core Customer Requirements
- Precise Particle Size: Stable production of 80-mesh (approx. 180μm) powder to ensure a smooth texture and rapid rehydration.
- Strict Temperature Control: Konjac is highly heat-sensitive; high temperatures destroy polysaccharide chains and reduce viscosity.
- High Purity & Hygiene: Equipment must meet food-grade safety standards and be easy to clean to prevent cross-contamination.
Solution: Epic Powder Air Classifier Mill (ACM Series)
The Epic Powder technical team customized the hammer structure and classification parameters specifically for the fibrous nature of Vietnamese konjac.
1. Core Process Flow
- Classified Grinding: Dried konjac chips enter the grinding chamber via a feeding system and are rapidly pulverized by high-speed rotating rotors.
- Airflow Temperature Regulation: The system utilizes a high-volume induced draft design. The continuous airflow acts as a cooling medium, ensuring the konjac powder is processed at near-ambient temperatures.
- Accurate Screening: By adjusting the speed of the internal classifying wheel, the system automatically intercepts oversized fibrous particles. This precise control is critical for the successful ultrafine grinding of konjac.
2. Technical Advantages
- Anti-Adhesion Design: The optimized internal airflow field effectively prevents high-viscosity konjac powder from accumulating inside the machine chamber.
- Energy Efficiency: Compared to traditional mills, the ACM increases output by approximately 20%-30% at the same energy consumption level.
- Uniform Particle Distribution: The pass rate for 80-mesh is exceptionally high, resulting in concentrated particle distribution and improved stability for downstream products.
Results and Feedback
Following on-site commissioning, the Vietnamese customer’s konjac processing line achieved significant results:
| Performance Indicator | Customer Requirement | Actual Test Result |
| Finished Fineness | 80 Mesh (Pass Rate > 95%) | 100% Pass at 80 Mesh |
| Viscosity Retention | No significant thermal degradation | Viscosity loss < 5% |
| Cleaning Convenience | Food-grade quick-open design | Cleaning time reduced by 40% |
