ExtraHeat recovers wasted farm energy

ExtraHeat, a new system from GEA Farm Technologies is proven to save wasted energy on dairy farms.

The natural temperature of milk taken direct from a cow is between 32⁰C-34⁰Cwhich needs to be refrigerated to 3⁰C- 4⁰C.

Bulk tank refrigeration works by extracting calories from the milk via a compressor unit which then vents the extracted energy to the atmosphere as wasted heat.

With bulk milk tanks on dairy farms of anything up to 30,000 litres each and in a number of cases more than one tank per farm, the amount of energy extracted and then wasted is considerable!

The ExtraHeat system recovers some of this energy and uses it to pre-heat the water that is needed to wash through the milking parlour equipment after use, where best practice dictates washing with hot water two times per day.

Ambient tap water temperatures are usually between 14⁰C- 20⁰Cand bore hole water can be as low as 9⁰Cdepending on the time of year. The ExtraHeat system can increase the temperature up to 50⁰C- 60⁰C, thereby reducing electricity bills by as much as 50%, recovering wasted energy and at the same time helping the environment.

The simple installation is fitted between the compressor and a heat recovery holding tank, prior to being fed into an installed water heater.

Cost savings will vary according to prevailing energy prices and individual consumption profiles but the company estimates that each system will pay for itself within 3-4 years.

This latest innovation is part of a programme of new technologies being introduced by GEA Farm Technologies, already well known and respected for its WestfaliaSurge™range of dairy parlour systems andHoule™range of slurry handling and farm equipment.

For more information visit www.geafarmtechnologies.com or contact:

David Wenner, GEA Farm Technologies, 30 Tanners Drive, Blakelands,Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK14 5BN, Tel: +44 (0)1908 589616,

Fax: +44 (0)1908 589650 or email: david.wenner@geagroup.com