How a Leading Meat Producer Optimised Production by Reducing Freezer Downtime Using Dehumidification Technology

CHALLENGE

Ice Build-up around the conveyor in a blast freezer was causing serious interruptions to production

SOLUTION

Humiscope designed and installed a Desiccant Dehumidifier to produce and maintain a dry environment.

OUTCOME

Once the desiccant dehumidifier was installed and the optimal humidity level set, the dewpoint in the affected corridor was lowered. This greatly reduced the existing ice through a process called sublimation and prevented any future ice build-up.

ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES

Moisture issues occurred in a fast paced facility on operational equipment in a corridor. The busy working environment and restricted space and accessibility in the corridor produced several challenges.

1. In accessible by forklift or heavy lifting equipment.

SOLUTION - WE took the dehumidifier apart piece by piece in our workshop. Then transported it to the Meat Production Facility and re-assembled it in the space (see video above for all the action!)

2. Difficult to measure the restricted space where a large industrial system needed to fit

SOLUTION - Humiscope organised a third party contractor, Bimtec to take 3D scans of the area. This technology allowed us to get the exact specifications.

3. The blast freezer is an integral part of the production process, meaning there was very limited downtime available for this work to occur.

SOLUTION - We worked weekends!

4. To comply with safe food practices, we were nota allowed to use hot power tools. No welding or grinding

SOLUTION - We used unpowered tools (old school!)

How Dehumidification Technology Helped

With the assistance of the desiccant dehumidifier, the dewpoint in the affected corridor was reduced to reduce the existing ice through a process called Sublimation and prevent any future ice build-up. In removing moisture from the space, this also removed ice from the floor reducing the risk from.

Results, Return on Investment and Future Plans

Part of the project was to monitor the conditions before, during and after installing the dehumidifier.  The aim in doing so was to create a profile of the actual events for the client but also to show the effectiveness of adding the dehumidifier system.

Return on Investment

Prior to dehumidifier installation the humidity in the process freezer consistently sat between 60 - 80%. After installing and commissioning the system, humidity dropped and has remained around 20%.