(200m) Analysis of Process Water Use in Poultry Meat Production

Poultry processing facilities use large quantities of water for chiller unit operations. Operation of the chiller is critical for temperature reduction to inhibit microbial growth.  Process water quality can also influence product safety when bacteria present on poultry skin are not removed leading to cross-contamination. A process model was constructed using SuperPro Designer simulation software to evaluate alternate water management strategies and the impact on process water use. Model inputs included water volume, temperature, and number of birds processed. The simulation incorporated material and energy balances to characterize performance. Model outputs included calculated values for process water and electric utility costs. These results were used to compare different process water management strategies. Effective water management strategies can reduce process water consumption and wastewater treatment requirements. The connection between process water management, water chemistry, and operating conditions offers the possibility to improve product quality and safety while reducing operating costs.