Combined Heat and Power Food Processing Industry Cargill B.V. - Case Study

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Because their processes require heavy energy use and steam for process heat, the company operates many combined heat and power (CHP) plants at their manufacturing facilities around the globe. The company was researching the best solution for replacing their existing CHP facility at their plant in Sas Van Gent, where starch and starch derivatives are produced. Cargill wanted to replace the aged gas turbine with highly efficient state of the art equipment. The existing CHP plant consisted of a aero- derivative gas turbine generator that was installed in 1983, with a waste heat recovery system that was no longer compliant with NOx emissions regulations. The system was inefficient and, in order to meet the emissions requirements, Cargill was forced to operate the unit at 60% load, resulting in high operating costs. Cargill turned to Solar Turbines for help.