How Can Steam Keep Pace with Food Production?

From beverage and convenience food production to rice processing, boiler solutions should be selected according to fuel availability, steam demand and site conditions.

Steam is commonly used for heating, sterilization and equipment cleaning in food processing. However, different products, production line configurations and fuel conditions create different boiler requirements. In addition to rated steam capacity, food manufacturers need to consider steam pressure, fuel supply, equipment layout and routine maintenance.

Three food industry projects completed by ZOZEN Boiler illustrate how gas-fired steam supply, processing by-product utilization and biomass grate selection can be adapted to different production requirements.

Multi-product food production: balancing steam supply and equipment management
Guizhou Haocaitou Food Co., Ltd. manufactures beverages, confectionery and convenience foods, including self-heating claypot rice and self-heating hot and sour rice noodles. These production processes require a suitable steam source. The boiler must meet production demand while supporting convenient operation and maintenance.

The ZOZEN WNS10-1.25-Q gas-fired steam boiler has a rated steam capacity of 10 t/h and has been operating at the plant for five years.

The company selected a ZOZEN WNS10-1.25-Q gas-fired steam boiler with a rated steam capacity of 10 t/h. The boiler has been operating at the plant for five years. According to the customer, equipment configuration, compatibility with production requirements, and ease of daily operation and maintenance were important considerations during boiler selection.

The WNS series features a large furnace design and can be equipped with a flue gas heat recovery system. Automatic controls and safety interlocks also support daily steam supply and boiler management. The specific system configuration can be determined according to site conditions and project requirements.

Rice processing: selecting a boiler based on available fuel
AMRU Rice, a Cambodian rice processor and exporter, generates rice husks during production and requires steam for rice processing. Its boiler solution therefore needed to account for both the available fuel and the plant’s steam demand.

ZOZEN Boiler supplied a DZL3-1.6-SS single-drum biomass-fired steam boiler with a rated steam capacity of 3 t/h. The project was implemented in accordance with the relevant ASME requirements.

The ZOZEN DZL3-1.6-SS single-drum biomass-fired steam boiler uses rice husks as fuel.

The boiler uses rice husks as fuel and combines a chain grate with an appropriate air distribution system to organize combustion. Considering the ash content of rice husks, the combustion, ash removal and auxiliary systems were configured according to the project conditions.

ZOZEN Boiler also provided solution design, transportation guidance, installation and commissioning support, and operator training. These services helped coordinate equipment delivery and on-site installation for the overseas project.

This project demonstrates another boiler selection approach. When a food manufacturer has suitable processing by-products available, these materials can be considered during energy planning. The boiler and auxiliary systems can then be configured according to steam demand, fuel characteristics and site conditions.

Beverage production: matching the grate structure to fuel and project conditions
A food manufacturer in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, operates automated production lines for juice extraction, filling, sterilization and capping. Based on its process steam demand, fuel conditions and construction requirements, the company selected a ZOZEN DZW3.5-1.25-SS biomass-fired reciprocating grate steam boiler with a rated steam capacity of 3.5 t/h.

The equipment has been installed, and commissioning will proceed according to the project schedule.

ZOZEN DZW3.5-1.25-SS biomass-fired reciprocating grate steam boiler installed for a food manufacturing project in Taizhou.

The DZW series uses the reciprocating movement of the grate to move fuel through the furnace. During this process, the fuel passes through preheating, ignition, combustion and burnout stages. According to the actual fuel used in the project, the grate speed, air distribution and combustion system can be designed accordingly.

The sales and technical teams from ZOZEN Boiler also communicated with the customer regarding process steam demand, equipment layout, installation conditions and subsequent commissioning arrangements.

Starting with operating conditions to determine the boiler solution
The three projects involve different products and fuel conditions. Guizhou Haocaitou uses a gas-fired steam boiler, AMRU Rice uses rice husks in a biomass boiler, and the food manufacturer in Taizhou selected a reciprocating grate boiler.

Together, these projects show that boiler selection for a food factory should begin with actual production requirements. Steam parameters, fuel characteristics, installation conditions and operational management all need to be considered.

ZOZEN Boiler focuses on the research, development and manufacturing of industrial boilers, including gas-fired and biomass-fired boiler systems. Food manufacturers can provide information about steam demand, operating pressure, fuel conditions and available space to ZOZEN Boiler for further discussion of boiler selection and system configuration.