Grass pill production
(græspille produktion) |
Denmark
2002
|
Grass pills are produced by
cooking, drying and pressing fresh grass. Grass pills are used as feed for horses and
cattle.
Process description
The
present data refer to grass pill production in DanGrønt
(Ringkøbing) where the main processes are following: 1) grass
produced by local farmers is transported to the factory by
trucks,
2) grass
is cooked (70-80°C) and pressed until a dry matter content of 30%, 3)
the press liquid is evaporated in a two step evaporator until a dry matter
content of about 35%, 4) concentrated press liquid and pressed grass is
mixed, 5)
the mixture is dried in a rotating continuous oven (heated with coal or
gas, 800°C at entrance), 6) steam and grass from the oven is separated
in a cyclone, 7a) steam is returned to the evaporator and used as heating
source in step 3, 7b) the dried grass is grinded and sieved (6-8 mm sieve)
and pressed into grass pills in a pressing machine, 9) grass pills are
cooled with air and stored for distribution the market.
Condensate
from evaporator (step 3) is returned to local farmland through a network of pipelines. Nutrient content of
condensate is low and the
product does not displace any fertilizers.
Transportation of grass from field to factory (average approximately 20 km) is performed by
trucks.
Data collection and treatment
Data have
been derived from DanGrønt's
(Ringkøbing) green
account (2003). Raw material input is a combination
of grass and lucerne, but since there are only small differences in processing
of grass and lucerne all input has been considered as grass.
Technical scope
All
production processes at the factory as well as administration and product
storage are included. Distribution of condensate on local fields is included.
Grass transportation to the factory is not included.
Representativity
DanGrønt
is among the largest producers in Europe (Danish
market around 80%). The factory in Ringkøbing is one out of three
factories in DanGrønt producing grass pills. The factory in Ringkøbing is
solely producing feed pills
whereas the two other factories (Ølgod and Ribe) are producing dried hay in
addition. Production data for hay and pills cannot be separated at Ølgod
and Ribe production facilities and specific data on pills could therefore only be
derived from Ringkøbing. The factory in Ringkøbing is modern and
extraordinary heat efficient, and the factory's heat consumption is probably
about 40% lower than a
Danish average (rough estimate by employee). On the other hand additional electricity is used to achieve
heat savings (primarily due to pumping for heat reuse) and electricity
consumption is probably about 10 % higher than a Danish average (rough
estimate by employee).
Validation
No comparable data sets have been found and
data have not been validated.
Inputs and outputs
Inputs
and outputs associated with grass
pill production
are shown in the table
below. Data are provided per
ton of grass
pills (8-10%
water content) at
the gate of the factory.
|
|
Unit |
Quantity |
Inputs |
Fresh grass (~ 20% dry matter) |
ton |
5.0 |
|
Heat1) |
MWh |
1.4 |
|
Electricity |
kWh |
190 |
|
Water |
liters |
53 |
|
Diesel oil2)
|
liters
|
7.6
|
Outputs |
Products |
|
|
|
Grass pills |
ton |
1.00 |
|
Condensate |
m3 |
1.8 |
|
|
|
|
1) heat value of fuel (mix of coal and natural gas), 2) for
internal transportation at plant (trucks etc.).
Location
in database: Material/food
from industry/From feed industry/Grasspills |
References
DanGrønt
(Ringkøbing) green
account (2003).
Administrative information
Data URL: http://www.lcafood.dk/processes/industry/grasspillproduction.htm
Version no.: 1.00
Author: Per H.
Nielsen, The
Institute for Product development.
Data entry:
Data have been entered in this format by Per H. Nielsen.
Data completed: April,
2004.
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