Efficient water use not only conserves a critical resource but also helps businesses reduce costs and comply with environmental regulations. Therefore, methods for minimizing water consumption in manufacturing are important for saving costs, improving sustainability, and improving a business’s overall operational efficiency.
Heat and Control recently introduced its Cascade Water Recirculation solution at PACK EXPO 2024 in Chicago. The solution promises to reduce fresh water consumption for raw produce preparation processes and improve the ability to achieve water sustainability targets.
Water-efficient technology is a key strategy for reducing water consumption. Upgrading to modern equipment that uses less water can dramatically lower overall water use. In addition, streamlining operations to minimize waste and improve production flow also helps to lower water consumption.
Furthermore, technologies like closed-loop water systems, which recycle water within the process, can also reduce the need for freshwater intake. These systems not only can save water but also can reduce energy consumption and operating costs.
According to Heat and Control, Cascade Water Recirculation is a design methodology that looks holistically at the raw produce processing area to significantly reduce freshwater consumption. Instead of feeding freshwater separately to unit operations, the process water management design feeds cleaned, recirculated water to specific unit operations.
The flow delivers a clean slipstream of water fed into the overall system in a cascading style. It can help food processors achieve up to a 75% reduction in freshwater consumption.
The technology consists of the Slice Wash Support Module (SWSM) and the Process Recirculation Support Module (PRSM) used for raw produce/root vegetable handling at the beginning of the process line, potatoes, carrots, beets, and more.
The technology showcased can be adaptable to a wide range of vegetable processes and waste management applications, filter and hydrocyclone debris from recirculating water and apply cleaned water into the process, improve capture of value-added waste such as starch, allow minimal active water, or be fully customizable to meet processing requirements. Other features are waiting for patent approval like KleenFlow (KFLO) and Hydrocyclone Bundle.
