As part of its compliance with a PepsiCo corporate mandate on resource conservation, the Quaker Oats Bridgeview Division food-manufacturing plant has installed two Miura Boiler LX200 gas-fired steam boilers to reduce fuel and water consumption, increase energy efficiency, and cut emissions. The 400,000 sq. ft. facility, located just west of Chicago, is where Pasta Roni and Rice-a-Roni are made. Steam from the two Miura boilers is used for manufacturing and for heating the plant during winter months.
âThe efficiency of the Miura boilers has enabled us to realize a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption, which amounts to a savings of approximately $80,000 a year,â states Terry Hronec, Facility Engineer at the Bridgeview Division. âThe two 200-h.p. Miura boilers are so efficient that weâve eliminated two older fire-tube boilers, a 750- and a 300-h.p. unit.â
âThe recovery time of the Miura boilers is also very fast,â Hronec adds. âPeople donât believe me when I tell them that itâs two minutes. Then I bring them out here, pull out a stopwatch, hit the START button, and they see that within two minutes the boilers are up to 135 psi â online and running.â
Miura boilers produce steam in just five minutes (or less) due to their exclusive âonce-throughâ design, a revolutionary advance that provides fast response and high in-service operational efficiency. This Miura-exclusive technology also produces BHP outputs comparable to much larger units, but with far less water consumption and a more compact footprint, which can reduce new construction costs and better utilize existing boiler-room space.
âWe poured a concrete pad and put in the necessary piping and valves for a third Miura boiler, which we will use as a back-up,â Hronec notes. âThe pad for our three Miura boilers is actually smaller than the footprint for the one 300-h.p. boiler weâre removing. Plus, we now have space to walk around the boilers, and the room is a lot cooler than it was with the old fire-tube boilers.â
In addition to their increased energy efficiency and smaller size, Miura boilers also feature a âgreenâ design that reduces harmful emissions such as nitrous oxide (NOx). Miura Boilerâs gas-fired/Low-NOx LX Series steam boilers are designed to eliminate 75 percent of the harmful emissions of standard gas-fired boilers. Miura Boilerâs LX Series steam boilers also deliver a Low-NOx rating of 20 ppm (standard gas-fired boilers, however, produce pollutants at a rate of 80 ppm).
âThe low NOx output is another great benefit,â Hronec says. âAnd we have an Economizer on the stack of both Miura boilers, which is also a plus. It pre-heats the make-up water coming back to the boilers, which further increases their efficiency.â
System monitoring and diagnostics are also integral to Miura boilers. A panel on the front of Miuraâs LX and EX boilers presents instant, easy-to-read status information about multiple monitoring points measured by the boilersâ built-in BL Mirco Controller Boiler Control System. Should a problem arise, the system identifies it and suggests a solution in plain, descriptive English. Featuring simple, intuitive programming and operation, the system is easy to set up, program, and operate. Boiler operations can also be monitored via an Online Maintenance System with a âsliding window featureâ that records events four seconds before they occur for quick identification and correction.
âThe manufacturer of these boilers really thought ahead,â Hronec states. âWe have the capability of monitoring the boilers anywhere from a PC. The system stores data and you can pull reports off of it. It tells you what the gas consumption is, how many therms are being generated, and itâs constantly monitoring the conductivity of the water, which is very important. And as far as our steam usage goes, we can monitor how often itâs running low fire, high fire, and directly coordinate that with our production schedule. When we see a trend in gas consumption we can directly correlate that with how many pounds of steam we use. Itâs all good information.â
âMiura boilers are fantastic,â Hronec concludes. âMiura Boiler has its act together. Iâm very impressed with them. They really did their homework in designing these steam boilers.â
Miura Boiler was founded in 1927 and has grown to become one of the largest industrial steam boiler manufacturers in the world. In 2009, Miura opened a new U.S. manufacturing facility in Polk County, Georgia. For more information on Miura boilers, call in the USA 1-888-309-5574. In Canada call 1-800-666-2182. Visit Miura online at www.miuraboiler.com.