{"id":698,"date":"2025-11-11T16:15:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T16:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project59\/?post_type=case_studies&p=698"},"modified":"2025-11-11T16:15:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T16:15:21","slug":"feed-drying-arla-foods-denmark","status":"publish","type":"case_studies","link":"https:\/\/heatpumpingtechnologies.org\/project59\/case-studies\/feed-drying-arla-foods-denmark\/","title":{"rendered":"Feed drying, Arla Foods, Denmark"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Arla Foods<\/a>, a global dairy cooperative, is dedicated to leading in both value creation and sustainability in dairy production.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Spray drying required to create milk powder is one of the most energy-intensive processes in dairy production and a significant contributor to CO\u2082 emissions. At Arla\u2019s milk powder factory in Svenstrup, Denmark, the challenge was clear: decarbonize without compromising on production or profitability. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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To address this, Arla partnered with GEA to find an innovative solution. Together, they achieved the world’s-first integration of GEA\u2019s AddCool\u00ae high-temperature heat pump system into an operational spray dryer. Unlike conventional electric heat pumps that use steam or water as a heating agent, the new heat pump at AKAFA uses CO2 for both heating and cooling. This enables efficient operation even at the high temperatures up to 120 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The solution has reduced the demand for natural gas for heating primary air by 59%, and has cut CO\u2082 emissions in the first year alone by 1,500 tons. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Heat pump technology<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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GEA AddCool\u00ae is a single stage, transcritical CO\u2082 heat pump solution for spray dryers, allowing dairies and other food processing industries to substantially improve process efficiency (up to ca. 50% less energy consumption) and support the decarbonisation of the food production facilities (from 50 to 80% reduced carbon footprint).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The heat pump technology uses semi-hermetic piston compressors and effectively draws waste energy from the dryer, other processes at plant level, or from the external air, as an efficient way of generating the hot air for the spray dryer. The AddCool\u00ae technology uses CO2<\/sub> as refrigerant, can be used as retrofit solution and generates additional cooling capacity that can be channelled to elsewhere in the plant, if required.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The system is validated by T\u00dcV and complies with ISO 14021 standards. It is compatible with various spray dryer models.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Heat pump assisted spray drying (Source: GEA<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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A video on the GEA heat pump installation at Arla Foods is to be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Benefits for Arla<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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