Reports

Héðinn's Protein Factory (HPP) and Héðinn's Fish Oil Factory (HOP) / Hedinn protein plant and Hedinn oil plant

Published:

01/09/2014

Authors:

Magnús Valgeir Gíslason, Gunnar Pálsson, Sindri Freyr Ólafsson, Arnljótur Bjarki Bergsson, Björn Margeirsson, Sigurjón Arason, Magnea G. Karlsdóttir

Supported by:

AVS Fisheries Research Fund (R10 084-10 and R12 039-12)

Contact

Sigurjón Arason

Chief Engineer

sigurjon.arason@matis.is

Héðinn's Protein Factory (HPP) and Héðinn's Fish Oil Factory (HOP) / Hedinn protein plant and Hedinn oil plant

The aim of the project was to develop automatic fishmeal and fish oil factories (HPP and HOP). The factories are automatic, environmentally friendly and can run on electricity, steam or residual heat. The production process for fishmeal has been redesigned in many ways. Knowledge of the process control and physical properties of the raw material is based on a traditional fishmeal process, and this knowledge is used as a basis for the development of equipment for processing seafood. Experiments with HPP were divided into two main components: 1) testing of new equipment and production processes and 2) evaluation of material and energy flow in the production process. The main emphasis is on extra raw materials that are created in fish processing for human consumption, such as slag and bones from white fish. Tests have also shown the excellence of the factory for processing flour and fish oil from by-products from shrimp processing, salmon processing and pelagic fish processing, but these raw materials have been used in the production of fishmeal and fish oil for decades and their properties are known. Experiments with the HOP factory consisted of testing different welding times and temperatures during welding, as well as limiting the availability of oxygen to raw materials during processing. The results show that HPP and HOP have the ability to produce fishmeal and describe previously little used raw materials. The quality of the fishmeal and fish oil depended on the quality of the raw material that went into the factory. For a small factory located near a fish processing plant, the freshness of the raw material should not be a problem. Chemical measurements of flour and fish oil showed a low water content in the fish oil and a low fat content in the flour, which underlines that the new equipment used in the factory works as well as expected.

The aim of the project is to develop an automatic fish meal and fish oil factory (HPP and HOP). The factory is automatic, environmentally friendly and runs on electricity, steam or waste heat. The manufacturing process and equipment for fish meal has been redesigned in various ways. The knowledge on the process management and the properties of the raw material based on fish meal processing will serve as a basis for the companies to develop new equipment for the full processing of marine products. Experiments with HPP consisted of two main parts: 1) testing new equipment and manufacturing process and 2) examination of mass- and energy flow through the process. Focus was on by-products from processing fish for human consumption eg viscera from whitefish and bones. Also experiments have been conducted on shell from shrimp and pelagic fish which has been used for fish meal processing for decades with its well-known properties. Experiments with HOP factory consist of testing different cooking time and temperature, in addition to limit accessibility of oxygen to the raw material in the process. The results showed that HPP and HOP can produce fish meal and fish oil from previously little utilized by-products of many species. The quality of the fish meal and oil depended on freshness on the raw material. For a small factory that can be stationed close to a fish processing plant, the freshness of raw material should not be a problem. Measurement of low water content in fish oil and low fat content in the meal, states that the new equipment and process are giving results as hoped.

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Reports

Use of electricity for drying fishmeal / Electric drying of fish meal

Published:

01/01/2013

Authors:

Magnús Valgeir Gíslason, Gunnar Pálsson, Björn Margeirsson, Sigurjón Arason

Supported by:

AVS Fisheries Research Fund (R10 084‐10)

Contact

Sigurjón Arason

Chief Engineer

sigurjon.arason@matis.is

Use of electricity for drying fishmeal / Electric drying of fish meal

The fishmeal industry is an important industry and has been technologically advanced in recent years. High energy is used in the production of products. In order to gain a better grasp of energy efficiency in the process, an energy and mass flow model is set up for the processing of different raw materials and at the same time a better overview of the processing cycle is obtained. The model also helps to make it easier to influence the quality of fishmeal products, through process control. The main goal of the project is to control energy consumption in the production process and especially during drying and to develop electric drying equipment for air dryers. The drying is the last stage of processing in the circuit and the waste dryer from drying is then used later in the circuit. The aim of the project is to use electricity to heat air for drying fishmeal in an efficient way. In this way, it would be possible to achieve the goal of the fisheries sector to utilize only domestic energy in the production of fishmeal, significantly reduce the import of oil for land processing and significantly reduce the formation of footprints. Measurements in the production process were performed for four types of raw materials, to estimate material flows through the factory. Pressure drop over oil heating equipment was measured and is much higher compared to electric heating equipment. The electric heating equipment has proven successful in HB Grandi Vopnafjörður's fishmeal factory, in terms of energy source, energy efficiency, control and maintenance.

The fish meal industry is an important sector and has applied technology in recent years. Fish meal processing is an energy intensive process. For better control of energy utilization in the process energy‐ and mass flow model was set up for processing different raw material, and simultaneously a better overview for the process. The model is a good tool to have influence on the quality of the fish meal products. The main aim of the project was to control energy usage specially for the drying and to develop electric air heating equipment. The drying is the last step in the process and waste heat is utilized on previous stages in the process. The aim of the project is to utilize electricity to heat air for drying fish meal in a cost effective way. By contrast it would be possible to reach the goal for the Icelandic marine sector to utilize exclusively domestic renewable energy for fish meal processing, reduce imports of oil for shore processing and reduce carbon footprint. Measurements in the process were carried out for four kinds of raw material, for evaluation of mass flow through the process. Pressure drop over the oil air heating equipment was measured higher than for an electric air heater. It has turned out that the electric air heater has proved its worth in HB Grandi fish meal factory in Vopnafjordur, in terms of energy source, energy utilization, controlling and maintenance.  

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