Noodle and momo steamers on recovered steam
How a plant steaming 8 tonnes of noodles and 2 tonnes of momos a day can make its steamer steam with a heat pump that recovers the steamers' own vent vapour, instead of a diesel boiler.
▶Video: Low-pressure steam from waste heat
V07 · 2–2.5 minWater-source R245fa heat pumps making 2 bar steam up to 120 °C
Video coming soon01Problem statement
- Steamers vent a lot of steam. Open-ended steam tunnels lose steam at the ends and through vents, and this vapour goes straight to the roof.
- Hot, humid hall. Vented steam raises temperature and humidity in the production hall.
- Low-pressure duty. The steamers need steam at only about 100 °C, yet it is made in a boiler at 7–10 bar.
- Losses between fuel and process. Burning diesel in a boiler or heater and distributing the heat loses a quarter or more of the fuel's energy before it reaches the process.
- Compliance, safety and handling. Fired equipment brings boiler inspections, fuel storage and unloading, flue emissions and an attendant on every shift.
02Use case
The reference plant makes instant noodles and frozen momos over two shifts. A continuous steam tunnel gelatinises about 8 tonnes of noodle strands a day before frying. A second steamer cooks about 2 tonnes of momos before freezing.
| Heat user | Process temp. | Basis | Heat, kWh/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noodle steam tunnel | 30 → 98 °C | 8,000 kg noodle strands/day, cp 2.8 kJ/kg·K | 423 |
| Steamer vent and casing losses | 100 °C | 2 steamers × 25 kg/h vented steam × 0.63 kWh/kg × 16 h | 504 |
| Momo steamer | 10 → 95 °C | 2,000 kg momos/day, cp 3.0 kJ/kg·K | 142 |
| Storage and pipework standing losses | – | about 5% | 53 |
| Total useful heat | 1,122 | ||
Averaged over 16 running hours, the heat pumps need about 70 kW.
03P&ID
Tags: HP heat pump, TK tank, SG steam generator, P pump, PHE plate heat exchanger, TCV temperature control valve, TIC temperature indicating controller (panel), TT temperature transmitter, MT moisture transmitter, PT pressure transmitter, LT level transmitter, FS flow switch, NC normally closed. Process fluids are heated through their own exchanger, coil or jacket.
04Solution
System description
- 3 × SE-WWUHT-27 (81 kW total) (SE-WWUHT water-source, R245fa) delivering 120 °C, covering the day's 1,122 kWh in about 13.9 running hours.
- Heat source: steamer vent-vapour condenser water at about 60 °C.
- The diesel-fired steam boiler stays connected behind a normally closed valve as standby.
- Hoods on the steamer vents draw vapour into a condenser, which warms a water loop to about 60 °C.
- The water-source heat pump uses this loop as its source and makes 2 bar steam for both steamers.
- The steam header pressure is reduced at each steamer as today, so steamer settings do not change.
Selected equipment
| Model | SE-WWUHT-27 × 3 |
|---|---|
| Heating capacity | 27 kW each, 81 kW total |
| COP | 2.93 at the data sheet's rated condition (60/55 °C source water) |
| Power input | about 27.6 kW total at rated conditions |
| Rating | water or steam to 120 °C, R245fa |
| Supply temperature | 120 °C |
| Steam | 40 kg/h at 2 bar per SE-WWUHT-27 module |
Ratings from the Sunniva TDS 2026 data sheets.
Control philosophy
PT-101 on the low-pressure steam header controls heat pump capacity to hold 2 bar. TIC-201 and TIC-202 hold each steamer at its set temperature through the existing valves. TT-103 on the source loop reduces heat pump output if the vent condenser water falls below 50 °C. If header pressure drops below 1.6 bar, the boiler steam valve opens as standby.
05Energy saving and ROI
Change any input to match a customer's site. Defaults are typical Indian prices for October 2026. The installed cost is a placeholder; replace it with the actual quotation.
| Existing | Heat pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily consumption | – | – |
| Annual energy cost | – | – |
| Cost per tonne of product | – | – |
| CO₂ per year | – | – |
06Benefits
Vent steam recovered
Steam that used to escape through the roof becomes the heat source for new steam.
Cooler, drier hall
Capturing vent vapour lowers humidity and heat in the production area.
Boiler on standby
The boiler is needed only for start-up and backup.
Lower energy cost
Each kWh of electricity delivers about 2.9 kWh of heat at the required temperature, against well under one kWh of useful heat per kWh of fuel burnt.
No flame on site
No burner, flue or fuel tank for this duty, and no fuel deliveries to schedule.
Built-in redundancy
Several machines share the load. If one is serviced, the others and the storage carry most of the day, with the existing heater in reserve.
07Engineering pointers
Site data to collect
- Products and daily output per steamer
- Steamer type and steam pressure
- Current steam use and boiler fuel
- Vent locations and estimated vent rate
- Running hours
- Present fuel or electricity use and monthly bill
- Sanctioned electrical load and spare capacity
- Space for the heat pumps and storage, with service access
Design notes
- Start-up. Vent vapour appears only once the steamers are running. Use boiler steam for start-up and switch over after 20–30 minutes.
- Starch carry-over. Vent vapour carries starch and oil mist. Fit a mesh separator before the condenser and plan cleaning.
- Feed water. Use softened feed water for the heat pump steam generator to prevent scale.
- Electrical. About 28 kW of heat pump input at rated conditions, plus pumps and fans. Check spare sanctioned load before ordering.
- Source stream. The source must give up roughly two-thirds of the heat delivered. Confirm its flow and temperature over a full production day, and filter it before the evaporator.
- Water quality. Scale forms quickly above 60 °C. Use softened make-up and keep the heat pump loop closed, with process fluids on the far side of an exchanger or coil.
Service and warranty
Sunniva has supplied 5,000+ heat pumps since 2012, with nine service technicians across India, including remote sites such as Leh. All components carry a one-year warranty.
Talk to us
Noodle and momo steamers on recovered steam
How a plant steaming 8 tonnes of noodles and 2 tonnes of momos a day can make its steamer steam with a heat pump that recovers the steamers' own vent vapour, instead of a diesel boiler.
▶Video: Low-pressure steam from waste heat
V07 · 2–2.5 minWater-source R245fa heat pumps making 2 bar steam up to 120 °C
Video coming soon01Problem statement
- Steamers vent a lot of steam. Open-ended steam tunnels lose steam at the ends and through vents, and this vapour goes straight to the roof.
- Hot, humid hall. Vented steam raises temperature and humidity in the production hall.
- Low-pressure duty. The steamers need steam at only about 100 °C, yet it is made in a boiler at 7–10 bar.
- Losses between fuel and process. Burning diesel in a boiler or heater and distributing the heat loses a quarter or more of the fuel's energy before it reaches the process.
- Compliance, safety and handling. Fired equipment brings boiler inspections, fuel storage and unloading, flue emissions and an attendant on every shift.
02Use case
The reference plant makes instant noodles and frozen momos over two shifts. A continuous steam tunnel gelatinises about 8 tonnes of noodle strands a day before frying. A second steamer cooks about 2 tonnes of momos before freezing.
| Heat user | Process temp. | Basis | Heat, kWh/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noodle steam tunnel | 30 → 98 °C | 8,000 kg noodle strands/day, cp 2.8 kJ/kg·K | 423 |
| Steamer vent and casing losses | 100 °C | 2 steamers × 25 kg/h vented steam × 0.63 kWh/kg × 16 h | 504 |
| Momo steamer | 10 → 95 °C | 2,000 kg momos/day, cp 3.0 kJ/kg·K | 142 |
| Storage and pipework standing losses | – | about 5% | 53 |
| Total useful heat | 1,122 | ||
Averaged over 16 running hours, the heat pumps need about 70 kW.
03P&ID
Tags: HP heat pump, TK tank, SG steam generator, P pump, PHE plate heat exchanger, TCV temperature control valve, TIC temperature indicating controller (panel), TT temperature transmitter, MT moisture transmitter, PT pressure transmitter, LT level transmitter, FS flow switch, NC normally closed. Process fluids are heated through their own exchanger, coil or jacket.
04Solution
System description
- 3 × SE-WWUHT-27 (81 kW total) (SE-WWUHT water-source, R245fa) delivering 120 °C, covering the day's 1,122 kWh in about 13.9 running hours.
- Heat source: steamer vent-vapour condenser water at about 60 °C.
- The diesel-fired steam boiler stays connected behind a normally closed valve as standby.
- Hoods on the steamer vents draw vapour into a condenser, which warms a water loop to about 60 °C.
- The water-source heat pump uses this loop as its source and makes 2 bar steam for both steamers.
- The steam header pressure is reduced at each steamer as today, so steamer settings do not change.
Selected equipment
| Model | SE-WWUHT-27 × 3 |
|---|---|
| Heating capacity | 27 kW each, 81 kW total |
| COP | 2.93 at the data sheet's rated condition (60/55 °C source water) |
| Power input | about 27.6 kW total at rated conditions |
| Rating | water or steam to 120 °C, R245fa |
| Supply temperature | 120 °C |
| Steam | 40 kg/h at 2 bar per SE-WWUHT-27 module |
Ratings from the Sunniva TDS 2026 data sheets.
Control philosophy
PT-101 on the low-pressure steam header controls heat pump capacity to hold 2 bar. TIC-201 and TIC-202 hold each steamer at its set temperature through the existing valves. TT-103 on the source loop reduces heat pump output if the vent condenser water falls below 50 °C. If header pressure drops below 1.6 bar, the boiler steam valve opens as standby.
05Energy saving and ROI
Change any input to match a customer's site. Defaults are typical Indian prices for October 2026. The installed cost is a placeholder; replace it with the actual quotation.
| Existing | Heat pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily consumption | – | – |
| Annual energy cost | – | – |
| Cost per tonne of product | – | – |
| CO₂ per year | – | – |
06Benefits
Vent steam recovered
Steam that used to escape through the roof becomes the heat source for new steam.
Cooler, drier hall
Capturing vent vapour lowers humidity and heat in the production area.
Boiler on standby
The boiler is needed only for start-up and backup.
Lower energy cost
Each kWh of electricity delivers about 2.9 kWh of heat at the required temperature, against well under one kWh of useful heat per kWh of fuel burnt.
No flame on site
No burner, flue or fuel tank for this duty, and no fuel deliveries to schedule.
Built-in redundancy
Several machines share the load. If one is serviced, the others and the storage carry most of the day, with the existing heater in reserve.
07Engineering pointers
Site data to collect
- Products and daily output per steamer
- Steamer type and steam pressure
- Current steam use and boiler fuel
- Vent locations and estimated vent rate
- Running hours
- Present fuel or electricity use and monthly bill
- Sanctioned electrical load and spare capacity
- Space for the heat pumps and storage, with service access
Design notes
- Start-up. Vent vapour appears only once the steamers are running. Use boiler steam for start-up and switch over after 20–30 minutes.
- Starch carry-over. Vent vapour carries starch and oil mist. Fit a mesh separator before the condenser and plan cleaning.
- Feed water. Use softened feed water for the heat pump steam generator to prevent scale.
- Electrical. About 28 kW of heat pump input at rated conditions, plus pumps and fans. Check spare sanctioned load before ordering.
- Source stream. The source must give up roughly two-thirds of the heat delivered. Confirm its flow and temperature over a full production day, and filter it before the evaporator.
- Water quality. Scale forms quickly above 60 °C. Use softened make-up and keep the heat pump loop closed, with process fluids on the far side of an exchanger or coil.
Service and warranty
Sunniva has supplied 5,000+ heat pumps since 2012, with nine service technicians across India, including remote sites such as Leh. All components carry a one-year warranty.