Bellaex HIO Farm Flaking Solution | Customer Q&A (1)
Q1: What is the difference between the HIO farm flaking system and an SFC flaking line?
Bellaex's Answer:
The main difference is where you use the flakes and whether drying/cooling is included.
In simple terms:
Q2: Can the machine/line run 24 hours continuously?
Bellaex's Answer:
Yes, the line supports 24/7 continuous operation, provided that standard maintenance intervals are followed and operator shifts are arranged properly.
Q3: What is the difference between your "grain/corn flaking solutions" and a "grain/corn flaking machine"?
Bellaex's Answer:
Our "grain / corn flaking solutions" refer to complete process lines, while a "grain / corn flaking machine" refers to a single flaking mill only.
A flaking solution normally includes:
This is a turnkey solution covering the entire process from raw material intake to finished flakes.
A flaking machine only includes:
This is suitable if you already have most of the line and only need to add or replace a flaking mill.
Q4: What energy sources can your flaking line / conditioning system use?
Bellaex's Answer: Our system supports multiple heat sources for steam or thermal energy. In practice, we can adapt the design to the energy that is easiest and most economical for you locally.
Typically, we can work with:
Coal (where allowed by local regulations)
Biomass pellets
Natural gas
Diesel / fuel oil
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)
Electric boiler
Biogas (if conditions are met)
In many markets, the typical operating cost is approximately:
(Exact cost depends on your local energy prices and policies.)
Biogas is possible, but it depends on stable steam generation. As a guideline:
If your biogas system can stably produce around 0.5 TPH (400–500 kg/h) of steam
At around 4 MPa (or according to your process requirement)
Then biogas is a viable option as a heat source.
We can use an electric boiler, but in most regions the running cost is relatively high, so it is usually chosen only when:
Electricity is very cheap or subsidized, or
Other fuels (gas, diesel, biomass) are difficult to obtain or restricted.
Q5: With a dryer, how many days can flaked corn be stored?
Bellaex's Answer:
For on‑farm use (no/full drying): we still recommend using within about 3 days to avoid mold and quality loss.
For commercial sale, drying and cooling to around ~14% moisture can significantly extend storage time, but the exact shelf life depends on packaging and warehouse conditions (temperature, humidity, ventilation, pests).
Q6: How is steam generated? By LPG, diesel, electricity, or other sources? Does the steam generator price change with the fuel type?
Bellaex's Answer:
We support multiple heat sources for steam generation, such as LPG/natural gas, diesel, biomass, and electric boiler.
The equipment price of the steam generator is basically consistent for different fuels; the main difference is in the operating cost, which depends on local fuel or electricity prices.
We can provide reference fuel/electricity consumption (e.g. per 0.5 t steam) so you can compare running costs.
Q7：Why does a higher‑capacity line need more energy/steam? I thought big lines used less steam per ton.
Bellaex's Answer:
For total steam, bigger lines use more. But per ton, large lines can be more efficient.
In short:
