Field Reports
Steam boilers save time and money for ingredient processor
The equipment provides the exact pressure and temperature to run processing equipment while meeting NOx emission standards.
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| This Miura LX-150 was installed at RFI Ingredients to provide steam to dry cereal grasses, make liquid extracts and provide the right steam for heating, fermentation, pasteurization and liquid blending processes. Source: Miura. |
RFI Ingredients, a provider of custom extracts and nutritional supplements, touts its slogan “From Field to Formula.” RFI’s commitment to its slogan is seen in its sourcing of raw materials from its own sustainable farms and a global network of growers and other providers. Precision is essential for RFI’s processing of these carefully gathered ingredients, which is why the company recently purchased three LX-150 gas-fired, on-demand steam boilers made by Miura. One boiler was installed at RFI’s Loveland, CO facility; two more were recently delivered to the company’s Broomfield, CO plant.
“When we originally researched boilers, we knew we needed one that could maintain a level, consistent steam pressure during normal operation as well as from a cold start,” explains Ryan Ricketson, RFI plant manager. “We use steam to heat our dual-drum dryers, in which we dry cereal grasses such as wheat, barley, oat and alfalfa. Steam is also used for the heat exchangers in the heating loops used for making liquid extracts and the fully jacketed tanks used for fermentation, batch pasteurization and/or liquid blending. As a result, the pressure of steam versus its temperature must be very precise for what we do.”
Miura boilers are microprocessor controlled for precise operation and employ a once-through, fin-tube design that heats a smaller volume of water more efficiently than traditional fire-tube boilers, which can result in an annual savings of 20 percent in energy costs. “You can shut down the boiler at the end of the day, turn it on the first thing next morning, have a quick recovery time and be up to full steam, and it will run all day,” adds Ricketson.
“As a new company that had never used a boiler, we did a lot of research before we bought our LX-150s,” explains Ricketson. “Miura boilers have a seven-year warranty. Had we chosen a traditional fire-tube boiler, the warranty would have been good for maybe 30 days—or at most, a year. Also, Miura’s footprint is so compact, we were able to build a much smaller boiler room, which gave us more production space for larger blenders and other equipment.”
The boilers generate reduced levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) compared to standard boilers. “Colorado has strict emissions rules, and that is another reason why these boilers are so important to us. You don’t see a giant plume of gas coming out of the stack on our roof,” says Ricketson.
Further contributing to its green, energy-saving performance is the unit’s BL micro-controller boiler control system. It monitors multiple operating points and provides operational status on an easy-to-read, built-in control panel.
“Any time I have had a caution or warning, the boiler has clearly defined what it was. I can call out a repair tech and provide a diagnosis of the issue before he or she is even on site,” says Ricketson.
The BL micro-controller boiler control system can also be accessed via the Internet using Miura Online Maintenance (MOM) for remote monitoring and diagnostics. MOM comes standard with every Miura boiler.
For more information: Mike Algermissen, 972-386-7848, mike.algermissen@miuraz.com
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