Low Impact Manufacturing: Energy Analysis of Cheese Production

This report examines the energy-intensive processes involved in cheese manufacturing, highlighting the significant use of various energy forms such as thermal, electrical, and kinetic energy. The assignment focuses on the application of Sankey diagrams to illustrate energy conversions within the cheese production process, including standardization of milk, mixing, boiling, freezing, curd conversion, and cheese processing. The report analyzes the suitability of renewable energy technologies, particularly solar energy, to reduce manufacturing costs and improve sustainability. It suggests that solar energy can be used for heating and electricity generation, offering a viable alternative to traditional energy sources. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of renewable energy in optimizing food manufacturing processes and reducing overall energy consumption. References to academic sources are included to support the analysis.

LOW IMPACT
MANUFACTURING

INTRODUCTION
Food and drinks are one of those industries in which large among of different kinds of
energies are being used for food processing and other operations such as: thermal energy for
heating, electrical energy, kinetic energy and many more. Cheese manufacturing industry is one
of those industries in which different kinds of energy are used like for thermal and electrical
energy is being used. This assignment will lay emphasis on cheese manufacturing process. It will
explain Sankey diagram and its suitability of renewable energy technology.
MAIN BODY
energy using processes
Manufacturing of cheese require large amount of energy. Some of the main energy using
process involved manufacturing of cheese are: Kinetic energy, thermal energy etc. The major
aspects that is involved in the process of manufacturing are: mixing and dough making, shape
forming, baking and packaging.
 First step is standardization of milk i.e. changing of milk from one form to another. This
standardization process completely depends upon speed and amount of milk (Dowlati,
Aghbashlo and Soufiyan, 2017). At this potential energy is used in which measurement of
standardization of milk is done and at what speed it will be done.
 Mixing consumes and requires mechanical energy. In order to mix milk and powdered milk
mechanical energy is used. Mechanical energy is stored in a position. Then the mixed content
is boiled which involves thermal energy.
 After mixing and boiling, mixture is then freeze which involves electrical energy and at this
time with the help of chemical energy milk is completely changed into curd.
 At last processes of chest takes place in which in which both electrical and chemical energy
is used. Electrical energy is used as in processing of cheese is done though machines that
requires electrical energy and chemical energy is used in in processing of cheese where curd
is changed for converted into cheese.
Sankey diagram to explain flows of energy
Snaky diagrams are one of the most common type of diagrams that are used for
specification of flow of quantity is specified. With the help of this diagram all kinds of energy
conversions that take place during manufacturing of cheese can be explained in a detailed
manner. Three main processes in which energy is conversions are explained as below:
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 Standardization of Milk Process: In this mechanical energy to potential energy conversion
take place. It is first and the foremost step in which mechanical energy turn into potential in
which standardization of milk is done but all the kinetic energy consumed is lost.
 Boiling of milk process: In this potential energy to Thermal energy conversion take place.
Then this potential energy turns into thermal energy and it is used for boiling the powdered
milk and natural milk together (Trianni, Cagno and Farné, 2016).
 Freezing process: In this thermal energy to electrical energy conversion take place. After this
boiling of mixture, freezing process comes into picture where thermal energy turn into
electrical energy where
 Conversion of curd Process: In this electrical energy to chemical energy conversion take
place. After this, product is then converted into curd in which electrical energy turns into
chemical energy so that using this chemical energy substance can be converted into a curd.
 Cheese processing process: In this chemical energy to electrical energy conversion take
place. At last for the processing of cheese this chemical energy is then again converted into
chemical energy (Hussain, Arif and Aslam, 2017).
Below diagram will help in explaining all kinds of energy flow and conversion involved in
the process. One of the energy conversions have been explained in the below diagram. In the
below Sankey diagram mechanical to potential energy conversion have been explained in which
it is clearly visible that mechanical energy is converted into potential energy that flows ahead but
remaining kinetic energy is lost. All the other energy conversions are also clearly visible in this
diagram.
Figure 1 Sankey diagram for energy consumed in cheese processing
Suitability of renewable energy technologies
Renewable energy is energy in which different kinds of renewable sources are collected to
form renewable energy such as Sun, wind and many more. These technologies helps in
converting electricity, fuel, heat from all kinds of renewable sources. These renewable energy
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technologies help an organization to reduce their overall manufacturing or production cost and
manufacture or product a product in a more appropriate manner (Alizamir, de Véricourt and Sun,
2016). These renewable energy sources can be used in this cheese manufacturing process as well
in many different ways. There are various kinds of process that are involved in cheese
manufacturing process in which usage of suitable renewable energy can be done. One of the
renewable energy technology that can be used in this process is solar energy. Solar energy is
mainly used for heating, by using such kind of renewable energy sources firms can turn into
thermal energy. It will help Cheese manufacturing companies to reduce their overall
manufacturing process as in order to use thermal energy for heating they need to convert
electrical energy into thermal energy which increases overall expenditure of the organization and
is technology in which solar energy can be used to be converted into electrical energy is using
solar photovoltaic panels. These panels can be installed and can be used to convert solar energy
into electrical energy. This converted electrical energy can be further used for various other
processes such as freezing.
CONCLUSION
From the above assignment it has been summarized that there are various kinds of energy
that are involved in food manufacturing processes. Within the whole manufacturing process
different types of energies are converted into different other types of energy. It is analysed that
different kinds of renewable energy technologies that can be used in food manufacturing process
that can help an organization to reduce their overall manufacturing cost and can provide various
other benefits as well.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alizamir, S., de Véricourt, F. and Sun, P., 2016. Efficient feed-in-tariff policies for renewable
energy technologies. Operations Research. 64(1). pp.52-66.
Dowlati, M., Aghbashlo, M. and Soufiyan, M.M., 2017. Exergetic performance analysis of an
ice-cream manufacturing plant: a comprehensive survey. Energy. 123. pp.445-459.
Guerrero-López, C.M., Molina, M. and Colchero, M.A., 2017. Employment changes associated
with the introduction of taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and nonessential energy-
dense food in Mexico. Preventive medicine. 105. pp.S43-S49.
Hussain, A., Arif, S.M. and Aslam, M., 2017. Emerging renewable and sustainable energy
technologies: State of the art. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 71. pp.12-28.
Trianni, A., Cagno, E. and Farné, S., 2016. Barriers, drivers and decision-making process for
industrial energy efficiency: A broad study among manufacturing small and medium-
sized enterprises. Applied Energy. 162. pp.1537-1551.
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