Pinch Application- Heat Pump Study in a Food Plant

A pinch analysis normally requires a large amount of process information. However, this information usually adds to the overall understanding of the process and utility system. This better understanding of the process during a pinch analysis will not only result in energy savings but also lead to creative ideas to improve product quality. This paper presents the recent results of a heat pump study by TENSA Services with support from the Department of Energy. The objective of the study was to appropriatly place and size the heat pump system in a food plant. A change in the process configuration was recommended as a result of this study to increase the heat pump profitability and to improve the product quality