Midfield Meats wanted to reduce the company’s environmental impact and have the capability to use electricity generated on site at the highest efficiency, thus minimising its dependence on uncertain energy markets.
The cogeneration project was engineered, constructed and commissioned by SDA Engineering Pty Ltd (SDAE), a specialised power generation and cogeneration engineering firm.
Engineering director of SDAE Leon Daych says that a feasibility study revealed the opportunity for a 1.5 megawatt (MW) gas-fueled generator to supply some 70 to 80 per cent of the plant’s electricity consumption while meeting nearly all hot water demand by making use of the engine’s waste heat.
The project has achieved an emissions reduction equivalent of approximately 9,600 tonnes of CO2 per annum by installing an MWM TCG2020V16 gas engine generator running on natural gas. MWM Sales Manager Simon Helps says the TCG2020V16 engine has electrical efficiencies above 42 per cent.
Article continues below…In combination with full use of the waste heat from jacket water, lube oil, intercooler circuit and exhaust gas, the overall energy efficiency of the cogeneration system has reached 89 per cent.
The project has also reduced maximum demand and improved stand-by power supply capability during power outages.
Since commissioning in April 2009, the abattoir has enjoyed an operational availability of more than 98.5 per cent during the continuous shifts that run from Monday to Saturday, 24 hours a day.
The cogeneration plant is fully automated and designed for unmanned operation with one quarterly service scheduled on weekends in order to minimise downtime. Remote monitoring for early diagnostics is provided via internet-modem from SDAE and MWM offices.
MWM’s Managing Director David Sparano says the project is a great example of a partnership in delivering economic and environmental value to the customer.
Analysing the results of this project, the Operations Manager of Midfield Meat International Mr Andrew Westlake said it had almost halved the site’s emissions.
