B3 Research report
Techno-economic Feasibility Study of Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) for improving Energy Efficiency in Meat Rendering
Report at a glance
RACE for Business
Research theme B 3 : Electrification & renewables
ISBN: 978-1-922746-50-4
Industry Report
March 2024
Citation s
Nihill, J., Date, A., Deegan, M., Lappas, P , Leak, J. and Pinches, D. (2024).
Techno-economic Feasibility Study of Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) for improving Energy Efficiency in Meat Rendering
Prepared for RACE for 2030 CRC
Project Partners
Acknowledgements
Project team
RMIT University
• Dr J Nihill
• Dr A Date
• Dr P Lappas
AMPC
• M Deegan
Pinches Group
• D Pinches
A2EP
•
• J Leak
We would like to thank the Industry Reference Group participants from the following organisations: JBS Australia, Teys Australia, Mayekawa Australia, G & K O’Connor, Queensland University of Technology.
Although the IRG members and partners have provided valuable inputs and feedback throughout the project, the findings and recommendation included in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of each individual member.
Acknowledgement of Country
The authors of this report would like to respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the ancestral lands throughout Australia and their connection to land, sea and community. We recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters, and culture and pay our respects to them, their cultures and to their Elders past, present, and emerging.
What is RACE for 2030?
Reliable, Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 (RACE for 2030) is an innovative cooperative research centre for energy and carbon transition. We were funded with $68.5 million of Commonwealth funds and commitments of $280 million of cash and in-kind contributions from our partners. Our aim is to deliver $3.8 billion of cumulative energy productivity benefits and 20 megatons of cumulative carbon emission savings by 2030. racefor2030.com.au
Disclaimer
The authors have used all due care and skill to ensure the material is accurate as at the date of this report. The authors do not accept any responsibility for any loss that may arise by anyone relying upon its contents.
W hat is in the report?
The report explores the technical feasibility of using mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) and/or heat pump technology to offset, or even eliminate, the use of fossil fuel combustion for process heat supply in the rendering process for the meat processing and rendering industry. By shifting from fuel combustion to electrical solutions for heat supply, the associated emissions can be reduced or eliminated by obtaining the electricity from renewable sources. Along with the technical viability of utilising these technologies, the economics are also considered. The overall aim being to provide a foundation for evaluating, planning and implementing future developments aimed at reducing GHG emissions from the meat processing and rendering industries.
Why is it important?
Many industries rely on the combustion of fossil fuels to provide process heat and there is limited scope to reduce GHG emissions from such processes through simple energy efficiency measures. Therefore, either alternative, carbon neutral fuels, or entirely different heat sources will be required if we are to make significant progress towards zero carbon process heat.
In industries such as dairy processing, alumina refining and wastewater recycling, the use of MVR and/or heat pumps have been explored with some success to reduce their reliance on the combustion of fuel for process heat. However, because these technologies rely on recovering heat from a process and upgrading it for re-use, it is not always clear how results from one industry will translate to another. If traditionally risk averse industries are going to consider the sort of major shifts that are required to achieve zero carbon process heat, many small but targeted steps towards identifying and mitigating the risks of further, more significant development are required. That is what this project aimed to do.
What did we do?
The project team consulted with industry to identify key process components/equipment and variations within the rendering industry. Thermodynamic modelling was done for each of these in order to identify likely opportunities for the integration of MVR or heat pumps into the process. With these opportunities identified, the modified processes were also modelled and analysed with respect to the effect that the modifications would have on energy consumption, cost and emissions. The report identified technically viable solutions for converting existing steam heated rendering processes to use a ‘closed loop’ heat supply system built around a combination of high temperature heat pump and MVR units. These modifications would completely remove the need for fuel combustion to provide heat to the rendering process, entirely electrifying the process heat, in addition to reducing the total energy required.
What difference will it make?
This work identified process heat solutions built around MVR and heat pumps that have the potential to both electrify the process heat for meat rendering and to reduce the total energy consumption buy 60-70%. This would result in up to a 75% reduction in emissions under Australia’s 82% renewable energy target compared to existing fossil methane combustion. The system modification cost that would be required to achieve these results are expected have payback periods between 2.5 and 7 years depending on the type of rendering process and the energy price scenario considered. It is expected that this report will lay a foundation of
information and provide impetus for industry to consider more significant and active investigation into these, or other potential solutions for achieving zero carbon process heat.
What next?
In order to further reduce the risk of adoption for the solutions explored in this report, a pilot study for the technology is required. Given the generalised nature of the modelling and analysis in this report however, it is recommended that a more detailed, site-specific feasibility analysis be undertaken prior to a full pilot study.