Implementation and long term experiences with a continuous hygienisation process in food industry - - a case study

Publication date: Available online 22 February 2019Source: Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process IntensificationAuthor(s): D. Wöss, M. Ortner, J. Mensik, R. Kirchmayr, A. Schumergruber, T. PröllAbstractA three tonne/hour batch-type hygienisation process for animal waste was replaced by a fully continuous process including heat integration. The plant is embedded into a pig abattoir including an anaerobic digestion (biogas) plant and gas-engine-based combined heat and power (CHP) production. Pre-heating is done in a series of four tube bundle apparatuses with heat transferred from the hot treated animal waste leaving the hygienisation plant. A closed water loop is used for heat transfer in this heat recovery arrangement. After pre-heating, the feed passes a second series of four tube bundles operated with heat from the biogas CHP plant in order to meet a target temperatutre of 72° C at the inlet of the continuous hygienisation section. The material leaving the tube section is finally cooled in a series of four tube bundles and provides heat for pre-heating the feed before it is directed into the biogas plant. The process was started up in 2011 and monitoring results are be presented from 2011-2016. With the implementation of the continuous process, energy consumption of the hygienisation step was reduced by 64% for thermal and by 69% for electric energy.Graphical abstract

Source: Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification - February 23, 2019 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research