Application of Air Source Heat Pumps in Grain Drying
Heat Pump Application in Grain Drying and Storage
Dry storage is a crucial step following the harvest of grain, as important as increasing grain yield. The drying of grain is a critical factor affecting whether farmers can increase their income. The grain harvest season is often affected by prolonged rainy and overcast weather, leading to high moisture content in grains. If not dried and stored in a timely manner, large accumulations of grain can easily become moldy and rot, affecting both income and food security.
Grain drying typically involves two methods: natural sun drying and mechanical grain drying. With rapid industrialization and urbanization, coupled with the migration of rural labor to cities, some areas face a shortage of drying spaces. Consequently, the trend is moving towards replacing natural sun drying with mechanical grain dryers.
Traditional Grain Drying Tower
In developing countries, the heat sources for traditional grain drying machines mainly include electricity, diesel, wood, coal, natural gas, and biomass energy. In China, for instance, in recent years, the prices of coal, diesel, and other energy sources have continued to rise, causing a tightening supply in electricity and leading to occasional power rationing in many provinces. Such situations have, to some extent, increased the cost of grain drying, affecting the normal operation of grain drying activities and delaying the market arrival of new grains. Thus, there is an urgent need for technological upgrades to reduce energy consumption in grain drying and achieve cost savings and efficiency improvements.
Shandong Keling Energy Saving Equipment Co., Ltd. is keenly promoting the application of air source heat pump drying technology to support the high-quality development of the agricultural industry. Compared to traditional fuel and gas grain drying, which are costly, inefficient, and highly polluting, air source heat pump drying offers the advantages of being energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, green, and low-carbon. In certain application cases, air source heat pump dryers can reduce the cost of grain drying by 65-75%. Furthermore, Keling had developed a customizable addition to install a heat recovery system in dryers, potentially furthering this reduction to nearly 85%.
Heat Pump Application in Food Drying
Carbon reduction and achieving zero carbon emissions have become shared developmental goals across various industries. The critical questions of how to reduce energy consumption and emissions, and how to decrease consumption while increasing efficiency, stand as significant challenges for different geographical regions, industries, and corporate leaders.
Keling Energy Saving, a leading enterprise in the heat pump industry, has deeply engaged in the field of heat pumps for nearly two decades, accumulating a wealth of technical and project experience in addressing carbon emission reduction and energy efficiency across different industries. The following case study offers a snapshot of Keling’s heat pump application in the food drying industry.
Anqiu Huatao Food Co., Ltd., a leading enterprise in the food industry in Anqiu City, China, with products sold both domestically and internationally, has faced growing challenges due to its traditional production processes. These traditional processes are often energy-intensive and inefficient, failing to meet the company's needs for refined management. To address this situation, Huatao joined forces with Keling Energy Saving in a collaborative effort.
Keling assembled a specialized team of experts who conducted multiple research visits to the frontline, mapped out existing process flows, held thematic meetings for research, compared different proposals through simulations. As a result, Keling innovatively established an air source heat pump drying + direct expansion heat recovery solution.
This solution, which enhances efficiency without altering the existing production lines, achieves a heat recovery efficiency of over 60% and is expected to save approximately 700,000 yuan in annual operational costs, allowing for the investment to be recouped in just over a year and resulting in significant energy savings. The two companies have reached a strategic cooperation, assisting Huatao Food in transitioning the strategy of its energy uses and sources. Moving forward, Keling will continue its effort in the promotion and application of energy saving, low carbon emission, and energy efficiency in food drying, aiding more food enterprises in strengthening their competitiveness.
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Founded in 2004, KELING Energy Saving specializes in the research, design, manufacturing, sales and installation, and sustainable energy saving solutions of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and systems. With 20 years of experience, expertise, and commitment to high-quality products, the company has positioned itself as a leading manufacturer of HVAC products in China. Please visit our official website for more information on our global custom and energy saving HVAC solutions.
Inquiries: kelingexport@gmail.com