PRIMO4 - Feasibility and technical study of the use of co2 and ammonia heat pumps to reduce plant water heating energy consumption

Summary

​An opportunity was identified to explore the application of a newly developed energy reduction system which has been successfully employed in food processing facilities overseas – Ammonia Heat Pumps.
It has been shown overseas that the application of heat pumps using existing high stage refrigeration as a heat source reduces the specific energy consumption for heating and cooling by between 37 and 40 % in the case of livestock processing plants without rendering.
This project included a feasibility and technical study, including a business case costing for an Ammonia Heat Pump System to be developed and commissioned at the scone beef processing facility to reduce plant heating costs.
Initial calculations have indicated that such a system would have the potential to reduce the current fuel gas consumption used to heat water by 36 % (Based on heating 600,000 litres of water to 92 degrees c at present butane prices).