Comparative analysis of milling results on the tail-end reduction passages of the wheat flour milling process: Conventional vs. eight-roller milling system

Introduction of the eight-roller mill into the wheat flour milling process significantly reduces the investment costs and overall energy requirements compared to the conventional milling system. However, the conditions for controlled milling are less favorable and could result in deterioration of flour yield and quality. Paper compares milling results obtained using a conventional process and process with an eight-roller mill employed on the tail-end passages of the reduction system. At the same roll gap and under the same sieving conditions, the flour release was lower in the process with the eight-roller mill compared to the conventional milling system. By decreasing the roll gap and increasing the upper size limit (granulation) of flour in the process with the eight-roller mill it is possible to increase flour yield and decrease milling energy consumption per unit mass of flour produced. This can be achieved without deterioration of flour quality as determined by ash content.