After several successful projects in its own country, ENGIE Refrigeration is introducing condensation drying technology in France. Two arable farmers near Orléans will be able to dry and store their onions for the first time this season without the outside air.
Onions that rustle a day after harvesting, a drying process that is twice as fast as before. Constant product quality and 80% less energy costs. The specialist in refrigeration technical services fulfilled its promises with several clients in the Netherlands. Bee Custers Arable Farming for example, Mul Zeewolde and Gebr. The inhabitant of Zeeland.
ENGIE's condensation drying system puts an end to unreliable outside air once and for all. By bringing the air in the closed space below the condensation point, moisture is removed and the onions dry. The heat released during the cooling process is used again to keep the onions at the right temperature. In addition, a heat pump makes it possible to heat onions for combating diseases. Condensation drying allows arable farmers to precisely control stable drying and storage conditions. Without gas consumption, chemical germ inhibitors and considerably less CO2emissions.
Us knows us
Such successes do not go unnoticed, especially in the world of ours. Stefan Huijsmans, storage specialist at ENGIE Refrigeration, explains: "We came into contact with various clients on French soil via a French agricultural adviser and a Belgian builder of agricultural storage facilities, Raes Construct, in France. A visit to ENGIE projects in the Netherlands followed, This gave French arable farmers an insight into the technology, and that is how things started to roll in France: Simon Stéphane, a potato and onion grower in Beauce, was looking for modern storage that would ensure that his onions remain of quality.
Quality of the onions is preserved
"The condenser drying installation at Simon was completed at the end of May 2020," says Huijsmans. "We built two cells for the bulk storage of two 600 tons of onions that can later be used for box storage. The installation can dehumidify 600 liters per hour on 236 tonnes of onions, which comes down to more than 5.000 liters per day. Do you want to achieve that with a traditional system, then you are dependent on the weather influences and the installed stove capacity and you have to burn a lot of gas. Not only expensive and environmentally unfriendly, but also risky because of the higher temperatures where bacteria thrive better. With the ENGIE system you can even drying and drying at temperatures, so that products around rotting crops cannot become infected."
Especially with long-term storage, condensation drying can make all the difference in preserving the quality of the onions. Partly because crops may no longer be treated with a chemical sprout inhibitor, there is more life in the product and they give off more moisture. This makes them more sensitive to fungi and bacteria. "The low temperature and stable conditions during the new storage method keep them calm and prevent sprouting. As a result, growers like Simon are now much more in control," says Huijsmans.
More economical and more sustainable
Ferme des Arches was also enthusiastic about the ENGIE system. 45 arable farmers are affiliated to the cooperative in the Beauce region, who grow onions, shallots and garlic, among other things. 1.600 tons of onions are stored here in two new cells, 800 tons in each cell. Huijsmans: "Every hour, our condenser dryer extracts 450 liters of moisture from each cell. With the crate storage, the cooperative can store, process and trade batches of onions more quickly. Gas is no longer required for this and is therefore much more economical. The natural refrigerant ammonia (NH3) in the installation provides the best energetic efficiency. Together with turning off the gas tap, this makes production much more sustainable and energetically more attractive."
Grip on temperatures
With their condensation drying installation, Simon and Ferme des Arches are far ahead of their competition. Huijsmans: "Drying and refrigerated storage without outside air was still a utopia in France. But with the changing climate, the market is increasingly demanding a grip on temperature fluctuations and making the production process more sustainable. And now that the use of chemical germ inhibitors is no longer allowed in Europe, farmers keep their products colder. Onion and potato growers still store their products in a fairly traditional way. Condensation drying is a good storage solution for all these products. In addition, the French government grants an attractive subsidy to sustainable companies. closed system such as condensation drying increasingly attractive."