(press release)

Northwest Potato Processor, WA

Direct Contact LLC installed a Hydrothermal Recovery (HTR) system consisting of gas-liquid and liquid-liquid indirect heat exchangers, in addition to a 3.5-foot diameter direct-contact heat exchanger. The direct-contact unit takes 330°F exhaust from the plant’s deep-fryers (air, water, and oils,) transferring the energy via an indirect heat-exchanger to a propylene glycol loop that is used for building heating, drying processes, and elsewhere in the plant. The HTR recovers nearly 7 million BTU/HR and effectively scrubs oils from the fryer flue gases before sending them downstream for further waste handling.

Inflow to the large induction fan feeding the HTR system.

Direct-contact water being pumped to heat processes.

Mid-Atlantic Confectioner

The DCLLC HTR vessel.

Glycol and process water pumps.

Our installation in Virginia was notable for several reasons. The system was installed in a tight area, surrounded by production operations. The 4.5-foot diameter direct-contact heat exchange vessel was designed in two pieces, with a flange in the middle, so that it could be assembled in place, after snaking it through the rest of the facility and cutting a hole in the roof to accommodate the exhaust pipe. In addition, this system has both direct and indirect heat exchangers, with back-to-back, hot air exchangers upstream of the direct-contact unit transferring energy to both water AND ethylene glycol. The system recovers 3.5 million BTU/HR.

Back-to-back flue-to-fluid heat exchangers (covered with insulation) transfer heat from flue gas to both glycol and boiler make-up water loops.