Harnessing digital-twin technology for performance analysis and energy efficiency in the food industry

Improving energy efficiency in the food sector is critical for reducing emissions and reaching net-zero goals.While raw material production and transportation contribute significantly to emissions in the industry, optimizing energy use during processing remains a key priority.One promising solution, digital-twin technology, creates a digital representation of equipment that integrates plant data for real-time monitoring and optimization.This paper introduces HTRIconnect, an innovative digital-twin technology that links plant data to advanced heat exchanger models for continuous monitoring, with a focus on analysing the impact of fouling on operational parameters.A case study features operational data connected to a detailed model for a Robert-type evaporator, commonly used in sugar refineries.The digital twin enables effective monitoring of performance degradation caused by fouling, and a normalized Brix index is used to evaluate the impact of operating conditions and fouling on sugar juice quality.Additionally, a "what-if" analysis assesses the effectiveness of surface coatings, an emerging technology that can reduce fouling in food processing, and their influence on the operational efficiency of the Robert evaporator.