Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the fisheries board in Ireland, required an efficient way to process over quota & undersized fish, and fish processing residuals to produce a dehydrated, weight reduced product that can be more easily stored and potentially used as a feed, fertiliser or bait.

A GOBI 100 Food Processor from Tidy Planet in the UK was chosen to test the capability of this technology for the process drying of whole fish and fish processing residuals.

Benton Ecological Solutions and Technology of Dublin were tasked to determine the efficiency in operation of the equipment under consideration. They decided an easy metering capability was required for precise measurement of the kWh used on a batch cycle basis.

The working environment necessitated robustness and ingress protection for a metering unit that could be easily connected to the power source and the process machine. An electricity meter suitably housed in an IP rated enclosure with standard 3 phase plug-in connectors was required.

The NewFound Energy in line plug-in meter unit was determined as ideal for use in the working environment where wet products and splashed water is prevalent.

The metering unit is easy to use and provides a precise statement of kWh used during the process.

Now knowing the kg of fish processed, a precise kWh/kg and kWh/tonne value was calculated for different mixes of raw material. Using this information, operating costs were calculated more accurately so that the feasibility of using GOBI waste processing equipment could be determined for use throughout the Irish seafood industry at both ports and in fish processing facilities.

Plans are in place to continue using the in line plug-in meter to monitor energy use of other equipment being considered for use within the Irish seafood sector.

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