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Waste Heat Recovery in the Food and Beverage Industry

Detailed overview of innovation with sample startups and prominent university research

What it is

Waste heat recovery in the food and beverage industry involves capturing and utilizing waste heat generated from various processes, such as cooking, refrigeration, and cleaning, to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. This approach promotes sustainability by minimizing energy waste and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Impact on climate action

Waste Heat Recovery in the Food and Beverage Industry under Industrial Waste Heat Recovery reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. By capturing and repurposing waste heat from production processes, this innovation enhances energy efficiency, minimizes resource use, and mitigates environmental impact, advancing climate action within the sector.

Underlying
Technology

Heat Exchangers: Heat exchangers are the primary technology used to recover waste heat from hot exhaust gases, liquids, or equipment surfaces. Different types of heat exchangers, such as shell and tube, plate, and finned tube exchangers, are selected based on the temperature, pressure, and flow rate of the waste heat stream.
ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) Systems: ORC systems can be used to convert low-grade waste heat into electricity, providing a valuable source of renewable energy for food and beverage processing facilities.
Heat Pumps: Heat pumps can upgrade waste heat to a higher temperature level, making it suitable for reuse in other processes, such as preheating water or air for cleaning or sanitation.
Thermal Energy Storage: Thermal energy storage systems can store excess waste heat for later use, providing a more consistent and reliable heat supply.
Process Integration and Optimization: Food and beverage processing operations can be optimized to maximize waste heat recovery and utilization, reducing overall energy consumption and costs.

TRL : 7-8

Prominent Innovation themes

Industry-Specific Waste Heat Recovery Solutions: Startups and researchers are developing waste heat recovery solutions tailored to the specific needs of the food and beverage industry, considering the unique characteristics of different processes and waste heat streams.
Advanced Heat Exchanger Designs: Innovations in heat exchanger design and materials are improving efficiency and reducing fouling, which is a common challenge in food and beverage processing due to the presence of organic matter and other contaminants.
Hybrid Waste Heat Recovery Systems: Combining different waste heat recovery technologies, such as heat exchangers and ORC systems or heat pumps, can create more efficient and versatile solutions for the food and beverage industry.
Waste Heat Recovery for Refrigeration Systems: New technologies are being developed to recover waste heat from refrigeration systems and use it for other purposes, such as water heating or space heating.

Other Innovation Subthemes

Advanced Heat Exchanger Materials Enhancing Efficiency
Tailored ORC Systems for Food Industry Sustainability
Hybrid Heat Pump Solutions for Versatile Heat Recovery
Sustainable Refrigeration Systems with Heat Recovery
Innovative Waste Heat Utilization in Food Packaging
Energy-Efficient Pasteurization Using Waste Heat
Small-Scale Waste Heat Recovery Solutions
Batch Processing Optimization through Waste Heat Recovery

Related Innovations

Sample Global Startups and Companies

Enertime:
- Technology Enhancement: Enertime focuses on Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology for waste heat recovery in industrial processes, including the food and beverage industry. Their ORC systems use heat from exhaust gases, process streams, or other waste heat sources to generate electricity or produce mechanical work. By harnessing low- to medium-grade waste heat, Enertime’s solutions help improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
- Uniqueness of the Startup: Enertime stands out for its expertise in ORC technology and its focus on waste heat recovery applications in various industries, including food and beverage processing. Their systems are designed to maximize energy recovery from diverse heat sources, providing customized solutions tailored to the specific needs of each customer.
- End-User Segments Addressing: Enertime serves food and beverage manufacturers seeking to improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and minimize carbon emissions. Their waste heat recovery systems are deployed in breweries, distilleries, dairies, and other processing facilities, helping customers optimize energy usage and enhance sustainability.
Calefactio:
- Technology Enhancement: Calefactio specializes in heat recovery systems for commercial and industrial applications, including the food and beverage industry. Their solutions capture waste heat from hot water, steam, or process fluids and use it to preheat water or other fluids for various heating and domestic hot water applications. Calefactio’s heat recovery systems help maximize energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption in food and beverage facilities.
- Uniqueness of the Startup: Calefactio stands out for its focus on heat recovery solutions tailored to the needs of the food and beverage industry. Their systems are designed for easy integration into existing heating and hot water systems, providing cost-effective and sustainable energy savings for customers.
- End-User Segments Addressing: Calefactio serves food and beverage producers, commercial kitchens, and institutional facilities seeking energy-efficient heating solutions. Their heat recovery systems are installed in food processing plants, breweries, restaurants, and hotels, helping customers lower energy costs and meet sustainability goals.
Exergy International:
- Technology Enhancement: Exergy International offers innovative heat exchanger solutions for waste heat recovery and energy efficiency improvement in industrial processes, including food and beverage manufacturing. Their heat exchangers are designed to recover heat from exhaust gases, steam condensate, and process streams, enabling efficient heat transfer and temperature control. Exergy’s solutions help optimize energy usage and reduce environmental impact in food and beverage facilities.
- Uniqueness of the Startup: Exergy International stands out for its advanced heat exchanger technology and its focus on custom-engineered solutions for waste heat recovery applications. Their heat exchangers are designed for high performance, reliability, and durability, meeting the stringent requirements of industrial applications.
- End-User Segments Addressing: Exergy International serves food and beverage companies looking to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in their operations. Their heat exchanger solutions are utilized in food processing plants, beverage production facilities, and dairy operations, providing efficient heat recovery and thermal management solutions to meet the specific needs of each customer.

Sample Research At Top-Tier Universities

Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands):
- Research Focus: Wageningen University & Research is a pioneer in research on Waste Heat Recovery in the Food and Beverage Industry, focusing on developing sustainable and cost-effective technologies to capture and utilize waste heat generated during food processing and beverage production.
- Uniqueness: Their research involves studying the thermal energy characteristics of various food and beverage processing operations, identifying sources of waste heat, and evaluating potential recovery technologies such as heat exchangers, organic Rankine cycle systems, and absorption chillers. They also assess the feasibility and environmental impact of waste heat utilization strategies, considering factors such as energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and resource conservation.
- End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work have applications in food and beverage manufacturing facilities, breweries, dairy processing plants, and fruit and vegetable processing industries. By recovering waste heat for space heating, water heating, and refrigeration purposes, Wageningen’s research helps reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions in the food and beverage sector, contributing to sustainability and resource efficiency goals.
University of California, Davis:
- Research Focus: University of California, Davis conducts innovative research on Waste Heat Recovery in the Food and Beverage Industry, leveraging its expertise in mechanical engineering, thermodynamics, and process optimization to develop novel approaches for recovering and repurposing waste heat streams in food processing facilities.
- Uniqueness: Their research encompasses experimental studies, computational modeling, and techno-economic analysis to evaluate the performance, reliability, and economic viability of waste heat recovery systems tailored to the specific needs and constraints of the food and beverage sector. They also explore integration with renewable energy sources, energy storage technologies, and heat-to-power conversion systems to maximize the value and versatility of recovered waste heat.
- End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work find applications in food drying, pasteurization, sterilization, and refrigeration processes. By harnessing waste heat for on-site energy generation, heating, and cooling, UC Davis’ research supports the transition to sustainable and resilient food production systems, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprint, and improving overall operational sustainability.
Technical University of Munich (TUM):
- Research Focus: Technical University of Munich (TUM) is engaged in cutting-edge research on Waste Heat Recovery in the Food and Beverage Industry, leveraging its expertise in thermodynamics, process engineering, and renewable energy systems to develop innovative solutions for recovering and utilizing waste heat from industrial processes.
- Uniqueness: Their research involves the development of advanced heat recovery technologies, including heat pumps, thermal energy storage systems, and waste heat utilization networks, tailored to the specific requirements and energy profiles of food and beverage production facilities. They also investigate strategies for process integration, heat cascading, and cogeneration to optimize energy utilization and minimize waste heat losses.
- End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work have applications in bakeries, breweries, distilleries, and dairy processing plants. By converting waste heat into useful thermal energy for heating, cooling, and power generation, TUM’s research enhances energy efficiency, reduces fossil fuel consumption, and enhances the competitiveness and sustainability of the food and beverage industry.

Commercial Implementation

Waste heat recovery technologies are being implemented in various food and beverage processing facilities around the world. For example, heat exchangers are commonly used to recover waste heat from ovens, boilers, and refrigeration systems, while ORC systems are being used to generate electricity from waste heat in larger facilities.

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