Frilli, which recently became part of Omnia Technologies Group, is a leading company in the design and manufacture of distillation plants for the production of neutral, absolute and distilled alcohols.
Active since 1912, the company stands out for its expertise in manufacturing industrial equipment, supplying plants and revamping existing installations, offering complete assembly, commissioning and training services.
In the context of the current climate challenges, Frilli has developed an innovative solution for whiskey production, focusing on reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
The proposed technology introduces an advanced steam generator using low-pressure and low-temperature heat sources, recovering the heat from the alcohol vapours to heat the stills, significantly reducing the environmental impact of the distillation process.
The key technology is mechanical vapour compression (MVC), applied with an innovative concept to batch distillation processes. The system harnesses the heat of alcohol vapours to generate low pressure steam (LPS), which is then compressed to medium pressure (MPS) via a mechanical compressor, allowing the heat to be reused in the production process.
This approach drastically reduces the need for fresh steam from traditional boilers, cutting fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by around 70 per cent.
Also, this innovation is not limited to heat recovery, as MVC technology also allows a reduction in the use of cooling towers, lowering electricity and water consumption.
The Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the distillery, considering these optimisations, exceeds a value of seven, showing high energy efficiency.
The technology was successfully implemented at the Midleton Distillery in Ireland, with a production capacity of 70 million litres of alcohol per year. The results show an overall reduction in energy consumption of 62 per cent and a decrease in CO2 emissions of 20,000 tonnes per year.
A Scottish distillery, Brave New Spirits, is also adopting this technology for an annual production of two million litres of alcohol, aiming at the total elimination of CO2 emissions through the use of an electric boiler.
Frilli's innovation represents a significant step forward with the aim of increasing sustainable distillation.
The company says that adoption of MVC technology not only reduces the environmental impact, but also improves the energy efficiency and sustainability of distillation operations, meeting global needs to reduce CO2 emissions and promoting the use of renewable energy sources.
These solutions are available across the Group and can help support sustainability targets across Australia and the Pacific.
