Miura Boiler - Low NOx Industrial Steam Boilers, Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, Hot Water Boilers

Miura LX(L)-100sg Low-pressure Steam Boilers Provide Economy, Convenience, And On-demand “Green” Steam For Pepsi Beverages Company's Philadelphia Facility

Bottling Plant's Multiple Boiler Installation Employs Miura's Advanced ER Energy-Monitoring System, Miura's Direct Maintenance Contract, and Use of BOILERMATE Water-Treatment Chemicals

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, June 23, 2011 - Innovation has thrived in Philadelphia since Ben Franklin invented bifocals, the lightning rod, and the wood stove that bears his name more than two centuries ago.

This tradition of innovation lives on at PepsiCo’s Pepsi Beverages Company (PBC) Philadelphia bottling plant, which recently installed three high-tech, energy-efficient low-pressure steam boilers from Miura, the world leader in ultra-low NOx modular on-demand steam solutions. Pepsi Beverages Company’s Philadelphia facility outputs 13 million cases of beverages a year. The plant uses steam for clean-in-place sterilization of up to a dozen 10,000-gallon syrup tanks and two fillers for bottle and can lines, as well as for condensation control for those lines.

“We needed a more efficient steam-generating solution that would improve on the 60 percent efficiency we were getting from our two 30-year-old gas-fueled fire-tube boilers,” explains Peter Eilskov, maintenance manager of PBC’s Philadelphia location. “As gas prices increased, costs to maintain our 100 and 200 horsepower boilers increased. As part of PepsiCo’s Performance with Purpose mission - a commitment to deliver sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and the planet -  PBC explored energy- and cost-efficient solutions with lower emissions.”

After investigating available options, PBC Philadelphia selected a multiple installation of three Miura LX(L)-100SG low-pressure steam boilers. Miura boilers are manufactured in Rockmart, Georgia and feature Miura’s unique “once-through” fin-tube design that requires less fuel and generates full steam from a cold start in five minutes or less. This modular on-demand steam capability makes Miura boilers particularly well-suited to a multiple installation (MI) in which boilers can be selectively turned on or off as needed to best manage changing load conditions, as opposed to idling on stand-by while they consume energy and generate emissions. “Our new Miura MI system gets steam instantly up into our lines without a long warm-up wait,” Eilskov says.

The new, low-pressure steam boilers are 80 to 85 percent energy efficient, produce lower plant emissions, and they’re cost-efficient. In fact, during the 2009-2010 calendar year, PBC Philadelphia saved 27 percent on fuel costs, which amounted to a company savings of over $130,000.

The Miura ER Monitoring System
Miura’s use of advanced computer-control technology ensures optimum boiler efficiency by constantly monitoring multiple boiler components to maintain peak performance. These diagnostics interface with Miura’s ER Monitoring system, an “energy dashboard” that provides 24/7 status and optimization of boiler operation. In addition to feeding a graphical display on the boilers themselves, the Miura ER Monitoring system also provides Internet connectivity so that full boiler status - including all data, alarms, and trouble-shooting information - can be viewed online remotely via PC or a IP-connected mobile device such as a PDA, smart-phone, or a tablet computer.

The Miura ER Monitoring system is simple to use. Its screen tells the operator when and why there’s downtime, so operators know what’s going on even before they walk into the boiler room. The technology also provides smart troubleshooting suggestions.

The Miura ER Monitoring system also enables operators to access month-by-month operational data (gas/water usage, emissions), which is handy when submitting the data for local permits, The new boilers are more efficient and much cleaner than fire-tube boilers, making permitting paperwork easier.

Miura’s technology also means facilities can conserve on maintenance manpower, because Miura’s ER Monitoring system and computer-control technology maintains optimal levels to ensure equipment gets the pressure and the amount of steam it needs. When it’s not needed, the boilers are on stand-by, so they don’t produce steam. As soon as the demand calls for it, the MI system kicks on, producing steam within a minute or two. It also rotates usage among the three boilers, increasing boiler life.

Added User-Benefits
Pepsi Beverages Company’s Philadelphia facility is also utilizing Miura’s Maintenance Contract to leverage the manufacturer’s technical support in maintaining optimized boiler performance. In addition to remotely viewing ER Monitoring system data, Miura also visits the plant once a month. If the company sees an issue, it will notify the plant immediately. Miura also keeps track of when cleanings are due, letting PBC concentrate on making beverages versus spending time on support systems.

Another measure of optimal boiler performance is the plant’s use of Miura’s eco-friendly BOILERMATE water-treatment program. Perfected over many years in Japan, where Miura boilers were originally developed, the main ingredient of BOILERMATE is silicate, a naturally occurring corrosion inhibitor. Given Miura’s intimate knowledge of boiler technology, BOILERMATE’s chemical composition provides the proper oxidizer and inhibitors needed to prevent scale from building inside of boilers. Miura’s BOILERMATE chemicals are custom-fitted to their boilers.

Another benefit of Miura boilers is the comparatively smaller size, which means customers can replace larger fire-tube boilers with new Miura boilers with a minimal footprint and minimal piping.

The “Triple Bottom Line”