The plant pointedly emphasizes the advantages of cogeneration applied to the dairy production chain.
Basic functions of the plant
Latteria Montello combines the art of traditional cheesemaking typical of the Treviso region with the most advanced production chain and energy efficiency technologies. A case in point is its acquisition of a natural gas fueled cogenerator with which to obtain both electricity and thermal energy, all with significant fuel savings and reduction of CO2 released into the environment, compared to a conventional electrical energy production system (such as, for example, a generator without equipment for the recovery of thermal energy from fumes).
About latteria montello
Latteria Montello S.p.A., located in Giavera del Montello (TV), with more than 43 millions of cheese prices produced, is Italy’s leading company in the premium segment of the stracchino cheese market. Giovanni “Nanni” Lazzarin established the company in 1947; the “Nonno Nanni” fresh cheese brand has been on the market for over 60 years. Nowadays, Latteria Montello is run by Nonno Nanni’s children and grandchildren.
The company produces three families of cheeses: stracchino, cheese spreads, and primo sale. Its continuous coagulation production system is among the largest in Europe. Today Latteria Montello products are available nationwide in specialty stores and large retail hypermarkets and supermarkets. They are also available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Belgium, and other countries.
The ecomax® plant
AB engineers installed a modular ECOMAX® 10 NGS cogeneration plant at Latteria Montello.
The cogenerator is housed in a container and has a nominal full load of 1,063 kWe, with cogenerated thermal power equal to 1,154 kWt.
More specifically, 661 kWt originate from hot water thermal recovery, by means of a decoupling exchanger on the cooling circuit of the engine block, while 493 kWt come from exhaust gas heat recovery by means of a smoke tube boiler for the production of steam at 10 bar. The electricity is entirely self-consumed by the factory, with the generator control mode set to “zero exchange” to avoid the transfer of power into the grid. Similarly, all the thermal energy produced is exploited within the production site; the steam is used in the cheese production process, while the hot water is transferred to three different thermal users to:
- preheat the condensate circuit before placing it in the steam boilers,
- heat the plant and production environments,
- produce sanitary hot water.
Once the feasibility plan was approved, the plant was installed and became operational in a few months. Specialized AB personnel took care of the installation making sure not to slow down the factory’s production flow. This technology led to obtaining high performance for all operational parameters, substantially reducing the CO2 released into the environment compared to a conventional electrical energy production system (such as, for example, a generator without equipment for the recovery of thermal energy from fumes).
The cogenerator uses the best available technologies to limit polluting emissions. One type of technology prevents the formation of pollutants by carefully adjusting the carburetion of the engine; another type reduces the carbon monoxide generated during combustion by means of an oxidation catalyst.
Operating performance
AB also designed and built the interconnections with the distribution lines of the Latteria Montello plant site, thus ensuring a perfect synergy with the technologies already in place.
The CHP plant is expected to be used for 4,500 hrs/year; with 100% heat recovery on the hot water circuit fueled with the heat resulting from the cooling of jackets, oil and intercoolers, and an estimated 100% heat recovery from the exhaust gas fueled boiler.
The overall efficiency of the plant exceeds 82%.
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