Application · Food & Plant Protein
TVP / Textured Plant Protein: 150–500 kg/h
Textured vegetable protein is a fibre-alignment problem: soy or pea flour is hydrated, cooked and then stretched through a cooling die so the protein sets in layers instead of puffing. A reference textured plant protein page from Kerke.
TVP Textured Plant Protein — workshop photo 1, Kerke workshop, Nanjing
TVP Textured Plant Protein — workshop photo 2, Kerke workshop, Nanjing
TVP Textured Plant Protein — workshop photo 3, Kerke workshop, Nanjing
TVP Textured Plant Protein — workshop photo 4, Kerke workshop, Nanjing
TVP Textured Plant Protein — workshop photo 5, Kerke workshop, Nanjing
TVP Textured Plant Protein — workshop photo 6, Kerke workshop, NanjingQuick answer
TVP (texturized vegetable protein) is produced on a food-grade twin screw with L/D 24–32, water injection and a cooling die, at 100–600 kg/h. This sits inside our food extrusion capability, but soy protein texturization is a formulation-led process — we validate your recipe on the lab line before quoting a production line.
Workshop photos and a running video — shot on our own lines, not stock images.
What sets the limit
Protein flour and water are mixed to a defined ratio, cooked under controlled shear, then passed through a cooling die where the fibre structure sets. Die design and cooling rate define the texture.
| Parameter | Value / range |
|---|---|
| Products | TVP, HMMA, soy protein texturization |
| L/D | 24–32 |
| Injection | Water / steam, precise ratio control |
| Die | Cooling die for fibrous structure |
| Output (reference) | 100–600 kg/h |
| Model | KTE-36B, KTE-50B, food-grade build |
Output figures are measured on the reference material stated above. Filler grade, bulk density and moisture move output by ±15% — that is why every quotation we issue is tied to a trial report.
Process flow, step by step
- FeedingLoss-in-weight dosing of polymer and filler; side feeder or liquid injection where the formulation needs it.
- Melting and dispersingScrew geometry with 45°/90° kneading blocks; barrel profile set by the polymer.
- DevolatilizationVacuum vent at −0.06 to −0.09 MPa removes moisture and volatiles before the die.
- Pressure build-upThrottle or discharge section stabilises die pressure; a melt pump where gauge control matters.
- Pelletizing and packingdie-face or strand pelletizing, see the pelletizing page; then centrifugal dryer, vibrating screen and bagging.
Equipment configuration
| Stage | Equipment | Why this choice |
|---|---|---|
| Main machine | Lab Equipment & Send-Your-Material Trials | Architecture follows the filling level and the mixing duty, not the required tonnage. |
| Screw geometry | Building-block elements, W6Mo5Cr4V2, bimetallic liner | Wear package for abrasive filler; mixing blocks only where dispersion demands them. |
| Feeding | Loss-in-weight feeder, side feeder where needed | Recipe accuracy: ±0.5% short term on the weighed component. |
| Pelletizing | Pelletizing system | Chosen by polymer and filler ceiling — water contact is the deciding column. |
| Downstream | Centrifugal dryer, vibrating screen, bagging | Fines below 2% and moisture below the specification of your downstream process. |
Output by model
| Model | Screw dia. (mm) | Speed (rpm) | Motor (kW) | Torque (N·m) | Output (kg/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTE-20B | 21.7 | 500 | 4 | 2×30 | 2–15 |
| KTE-25D | 26 | 500 | 7.5–11 | 2×85 | 5–20 |
| KTE-36B | 35.6 | 500–600 | 18.5–22 | 2×210 | 20–100 |
| KTE-36D | 35.6 | 500–600 | 22–37 | 2×352 | 20–150 |
Three mistakes that cost the most
1. Treating TVP as a machine-only purchase: the die and cooling profile are product-specific.
Treating TVP as a machine-only purchase: the die and cooling profile are product-specific.
2. Water ratio drift makes the texture either crumbly or rubbery.
Water ratio drift makes the texture either crumbly or rubbery.
3. Die temperature drifting during the run
Die temperature drifting during the run — the texture sets at the die, and uncontrolled die heat turns one recipe into stringy or crumbly product within a shift.
FAQ
Do you have references for TVP?
Our references are in puffed food and cereal. For TVP we run a lab trial first and quote only after the texture target is confirmed — we will not claim a reference we do not have.
What is the minimum trial quantity?
20 kg of protein blend is enough for a lab run on KTE-36B.
What output can you guarantee for this application?
The reference band is 100–600 kg/h, measured on the stated material. We quote a guaranteed figure only after a trial on your own material, because filler grade, bulk density and moisture move output by ±15%.
Can we run our material before ordering?
Yes — send 25–50 kg. We return pellets, a running video and a report with temperatures, screw speed, feeder settings and output per hour. The trial is free; you cover the freight.
What is the delivery time?
30–45 working days for standard configurations, 45–70 for custom screw geometry and ODM work. Voltage and frequency are built for the destination country.
Where these numbers come from
Parameters are taken from the Kerke product parameter table and the product master data sheet, and cross-checked against commissioning records for lines in the same application. Formulations and temperature windows are typical industry values, not a recommendation for your specific compound — every figure marked reference must be confirmed on a material trial before it becomes a contractual number.
Reviewed by the Kerke process team, Nanjing. Page updated 6 November 2026.
Send 25–50 kg and we run it on our lab extruder: pellets, running video and a capacity report back in 3–7 days.
Textured plant protein — the short version
Note on textured plant protein: the numbers above are reference ranges from Kerke's own trial runs, not catalogue promises. Screw geometry, wear package and pelletizing method are set on the trial bench first, so the output you compare is the output you get. If your grade is not in the tables, send it — the closest configuration is usually a change of screw set, not a different machine.
Related on this site: Machine range: KTE-50B to 135D · Pelletizing methods compared · quotation and free trial · Wikipedia: Masterbatch