Extruded pet food is dried and cooled on high-throughput lines, and both the dryer and cooler exhausts carry recoverable heat. Capturing it is a straightforward way to cut energy on a continuous process.
Heat from the cooler can be used to pre-dry or pre-heat the incoming stream, and plate or enthalpy exchangers recover energy between exhaust and process air with minimal complication.
Hygiene is critical: stainless, cleanable surfaces and no taint paths, with separation between meat and plant lines to prevent cross-contact.
Balance the dryer and cooler streams, manage condensate, and validate cleaning. Typical savings are 20-40% with consistent kibble texture and throughput.