Location:
103 – 105 Pipe Rd, Leverton, North VIC, 3026
Purpose:
Nufarm Limited develops, manufactures and markets a range of chemicals for the crop protection market, including acids, chlorines, herbicides, salts and esters.
Water Use:
Nufarm’s largest agricultural chemical manufacturing operation, and their global head office, is located at Laverton North. At the site, water is a central component of the chemical manufacturing process and is used in heating processes; which uses gas to heat the water. Cooling processes also utilize the water, and it is used as an ingredient within the final chemical products themselves.
A key part of the chemical manufacturing process at Nufarm involves heating and liquefying solid raw material. Previously this operation involved the use of hot water baths and drums. The use of baths meant a significant amount of water and energy was lost through evaporation. The baths also posed possible safety risks such as scalding, which had the potential to occur when handling drums from the baths.
Implementation:
Nufarm identified and implemented a project to improve the efficiency of the water bath operation by replacing them with enclosed hot box units. This has eliminated the water and energy lost through evaporation and made the units safer for staff.
The hot boxes are vastly more efficient and use only 21 kilograms of steam per hour compared with 127 kilograms per hour, an efficiency increase of 84 percent. This increase in efficiency resulted in a 2.68 million litre per year water saving, and an estimated minimum energy saving of 457MWhr (megawatts per hour) per year. Additionally, this reduction in energy use equates to a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions of at least 42 tonnes per year.
Results:
Water saving of 2.68ML per annum, energy savings 457MWhr (megawatts per hour) per year with estimated greenhouse gas savings of 42 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per year, improved operability and safety due to the enclosed nature of the hot boxes, reduced trade waste discharged to sewer and estimated greenhouse gas savings of 42 tonnes of CO2e per year.
Total Project Cost:
$48,625