PH-79-12-2 -- Geothermal Absorption Refrigeration for Food Processing Industries PDF

The application of geothermally-driven absorption refrigeration to food processing applicationscan be an economical alternative to vapor compression systems. The Western United States presentsa unique opportunity for the use of geothermal energy in food processing due to thegeographical proximity of defined moderate temperature [</=300°F (149°C)] geothermal resourceareas, agribusiness centers, and existing transportation networks. This relationship isshown in Fig. 1 for the five contiguous Western-most states.

An engineering and economic study was conducted for the Department of Energy, Division ofGeothermal Energy, under Contract EY-76-C-03-l3l9, to determine the feasibility of applyinggeothermal absorption refrigeration to food processing industries (1). Based upon energysavings potential and the associated economic benefits, the more promising food processingindustries identified were those producing frozen potatoes, freeze-dried products, and meatpacking products.

This paper emphasizes three aspects of the overall study. First, the unique requirementsfor geothermal resource integration with conventional absorption systems are discussed.Secondly, the performance of candidate geothermal absorption refrigeration systems is summarized.Thirdly, the results of the economic trade-offs for the selected food processing applications are presented.