Energy Efficiency in Fried Instant Noodle Production Lines: Tips and Strategies

Fried instant noodles are a popular convenience food, and its production process includes multiple energy consumption links such as steam supply, frying and cooling, and power driving. In the face of rising energy costs and increasingly stringent environmental scenario, the improvement of fried instant noodle production line energy efficiency is not only known as energy-saving, but also provides the basis for the enterprise to enhance sustainable development. This paper elaborates the corresponding strategies for improving the energy efficiency of fried instant noodle production line in the aspects of equipment optimization, process improvement and energy management.

Steam system optimization: Reduce heat loss and improve utilization

Steam, as an essential energy in the production line of fried instant noodles, is mainly used for links such as noodles cooking, equipment cleaning, etc. The energy utilization of the steam system plays a direct role in determining the energy consumption of the entire production line.

Thermal insulation of steam pipeline: Steam pipeline will lose a lot of heat energy due to the thermal radiation and convection during transportation. So good thermal insulation treatment of steam pipeline is very important. The insulation layer should be selected with low thermal conductivity insulation material aluminum silicate fiber, rock wool, etc. to ensure that the insulation layer thickness can meet the national standard. Regularly check the insulation layer, repair the damaged part in time and reduce heat loss.

Condensate recycling: After giving off heat energy, the steam will condense into condensate, which still maintains a lot of heat energy. A well-designed condensate recovery system can reclaim condensate water back to the boiler house or hot water system for reuse, thereby cutting down on energy usage immensely. The condensate recovery system consists of condenser, oil-water separator, filter, condensate water tank, softening treatment water tank, etc. [12].

Boiler combustion efficiency optimization: The boiler is the core equipment of the steam system, and the boiler combustion efficiency directly determines the steam production cost. Regularly check the boiler burner, air preheater and other key components to ensure that they are working properly. Applying advanced combustion control technology (oxygen-enriched combustion, automatic combustion control) can improve the combustion efficiency of the boiler, reducing fuel consumption.

The second is energy-saving in the frying system, accurate temperature control technology, the using time is very short, reducing the amount of fuel consumed.

The frying link is the main energy consumption link of the fried instant noodles production line, and the energy consumption of the frying link is mainly manifested in the maintenance of frying temperature and the consumption of frying oil.

The optimization of frying machine structure: Optimizing the structural design of the frying machine, reduce the contact area of frying oil, reducing heat radiation and convection loss. The fryer is insulated well to minimize heat loss. A high efficiency heat exchanger is used to help increase heating efficiency of frying oil.

Application of accurate temperature control technology: Reasons such as PID control, fuzzy control, etc. are used to accurately control the frying oil temperature, so as to prevent a large range of temperature fluctuations. The high temperature will accelerate the oxidation deterioration of the oil, shorten its service life; the temperature is too low, and the frying effect of the flatbread will be affected and the frying time will increase.

Management of frying oil: Establish the management system of frying oil strengthen the management of frying oil, regular inspection of frying oil acid value, peroxide value and other indicators, in time to replace the deteriorated frying oil. Frying oil filter system, applied for filtering of the impurity in frying oil so as to prolong the service life of frying oil. Select superior frying oil which can have a better smoke point, stability, and is utilized more economically.

3、 Power system energy saving: optimized equipment selection, reducing power loss

The fried instant noodle production line power system mainly includes motor, pump, fan, compressor, etc. Energy efficient power equipment along with robust maintenance can significantly reduce power loss.

High efficiency motor for application: The high efficiency and energy saving motor is used, and the energy efficiency level should meet the requirements of national standard. If you want to operate the motor in the long term, you can replace it with a high-efficiency motor to reduce operating costs.

The use of application of frequency conversion speed regulation technology: The use of frequency conversion speed regulation technology to supply equipment that needs to adjust flow, pressure equipment, such as pumps, fans, etc. according to the actual needs to adjust the running speed of the equipment energy waste.

Air compressor waste heat recovery: air compressor in the operation process will produce a lot of heat, you can consider the use of waste heat recovery system, this part of the heat for heating production water or other purposes.

Iv. Energy management and control: Create energy measurement and lean management

Besides technical optimization, energy management and control is another important way to enhance the energy efficiency of the fried instant noodles production line.

Establish energy monitoring system: Establish a sound energy monitoring system to carry out real-time monitoring and recording of energy consumption in each link of production line. Analyze the focus of energy consumption by discovering the links with high energy consumption by using some methods of data analysis tool and formulate targeted energy-saving measures.

Staff energy saving awareness cultivation training: strengthen the staff energy saving awareness cultivation, so that they understand the importance of energy saving, and actively participate in energy saving action. Develop an energy-saving reward system, guide employees to put forward energy-saving suggestions, and reward employees with remarkable energy-saving effects.

Method of implementing lean production: Implement lean production concept, optimize production process, less ineffective operation, reduce energy consumption. Such as optimizing the production schedule to minimize the frequent start-and-stop of the plant; Reduce equipment idling time; Timely shut down idle devices.

In a word, the above work can effectively improve the energy utilization of the fried instant noodle production line, reduce production cost, reduce environmental pollution and achieve sustainable development. Fried instant noodle production enterprises should take energy saving and consumption reduction as a long-term strategy and constantly explore new energy-saving technology and new management methods to adapt to the increasingly strict energy and environment requirements.