Food & Beverage Asia June/July 2020

48
PROCESSING AND PACKAGING
Powering the F&B industry with gas turbines
Cogeneration with gas turbines
like those produced by Solar
Turbines is recognised as
the way to improve overall
process efficiency in the
food market. The technology provides a
“reliable source” of electrical energy at a
low cost, helps minimise production losses
in case of a grid blackout and reduces
carbon footprint.
Also known as Combined Heat and
Power (CHP), cogeneration enables the
simultaneous generation of electrical and
thermal power from a single fuel source.
The addition of a waste heat recovery
boiler to a gas turbine generator set allows
the recovery of heat from the gas turbine’s
exhaust for steam, hot water, thermal oil
or chilled water production. The electricity
produced can be used in the factory or
exported to the grid.
Some advantages of cogeneration with
gas turbines include secure local energy
supply; emissions reduction, contributing
to global environmental improvement;
improved energy efficiency; reduced overall
gas consumption and electricity costs; and
increased reliability and availability.
Industrial gas turbines are crucial to
cogeneration deployment. Mid-sized
turbines, which have few rotating parts, are
known for their robustness, fuel flexibility,
and ability to absorb or reject sudden load
demands. They are simple to maintain
and operate, requiring no lubricating oil
consumption, offer less downtime and
increased availability, and can be replaced
at the time of overhaul or end of life.
According to Solar Turbines, gas turbines
can convert up to 60% of fuel energy
into high-temperature, clean exhaust gas
suitable for a wide range of applications.
Since gas turbine exhausts contain a
significant amount of oxygen, postfiring
systems can be fitted to adjust
heat production according to process
requirements.
In places where grid power is unavailable
or unstable, gas turbine generator sets can
support the continuous operation of an
industrial plant. Solar Turbines packages,
for example, can accept or reject loads
up to 80% of nominal, making them ideal
for starting up and supporting industrial
operation.
Powering the future
For more than 65 years, Solar Turbines
has designed and manufactured products
essential to powering industries and
communities. Headquartered in San Diego,
California, this wholly owned subsidiary
of Caterpillar offers an extensive line of
gas-turbine-powered compressor sets,
mechanical drive packages and generator
sets – products that help meet the growing
demand for energy, playing a crucial role
in power generation projects and the
development and production of oil and
natural gas around the world.
Solar Turbines manufactures the family of
mid-sized industrial gas turbines, ranging
from 1-23 megawatts. The company
revealed that more than 16,000 Solar
units currently operate in more than 100
countries, and have accumulated in excess
of 3 billion operating hours.
In the food industry, Solar has successfully
installed more than 150 units worldwide,
mainly in categories such as grain mill
products, roasted coffee, dairy products,
flavouring extracts, oil and oil seeds,
chocolate and cocoa products, breweries,
bottled and canned soft drinks, food
preparation, cane sugar refinery, and wet
corn milling.
Power Generation Module (PGM)
Solar’s modular concept for gas
turbine generator sets is optimised for
transportation and minimises civil works,
resulting in shorter installation and
commissioning times and reducing overall
costs.
An example of Power Generation Module (PGM) equipped with Titan70 gas turbine
PGM Scope:
• Package Ventilation Filters
• Turbine Air Inlet Filters
• Package Exhaust
• PGM Core Module
• Inlet Fans
FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA JUNE / JULY 2020