A Colombian food producer evaluated hydrogen-assisted combustion on its existing propane boiler.

Arepas El Carriel relies on thermal energy for its food-production operations. The company wanted to evaluate fuel performance without replacing serviceable boiler equipment. Efena worked with the facility to test a hydrogen-assisted combustion retrofit on the existing propane-fired system.

The Application

• Customer: Arepas El Carriel
• Industry: Food production
• Thermal equipment: Newly installed boiler rated at 50 boiler Brake horsepower
• Baseline efficiency: Approximately 95 % before the Efena retrofit
• Primary fuel: Propane
• Approach: On-site oxyhydrogen generation with coordinated controls

The Efena Approach

The project was designed around the existing boiler rather than a one-size-fits-all equipment claim. Efena reviewed the application, integrated an appropriately configured oxyhydrogen-generation system, and compared propane use under defined operating conditions.

Oxyhydrogen was produced on site and only when needed. The objective was to support combustion while retaining the facility’s existing boiler and propane infrastructure.

Preliminary Site Result

The boiler was brand new and operating at approximately 95 % efficiency before the Efena retrofit. Even with this high starting efficiency, the project recorded a reported 19.8% reduction in propane consumption under the operating and measurement conditions used for the comparison.

This is a site-specific result, not a universal performance guarantee. Interpretation depends on the baseline, boiler load, production output, operating schedule, weather and process conditions, equipment condition, installation configuration, and measurement method. The complete test report and supporting data should be reviewed before using this result for engineering or financial decisions.

Why Validation Matters

A credible combustion-efficiency project must compare similar operating conditions and clearly define what is being measured. Efena’s validation framework can include:

• Fuel consumption before and after installation
• Boiler load, steam output, or energy use adjusted for production
• Operating hours and duty cycle
• Installation and control settings
• Relevant combustion or emissions measurements, when available
• Interruptions and other factors affecting the comparison

What This Means for Food Producers

The El Carriel evaluation illustrates a retrofit pathway for food manufacturers that depend on boilers, ovens, furnaces, and other thermal equipment. The first step is to establish technical fit and a defensible operating baseline.

Could Your Boiler Be Evaluated?

Share your equipment type, fuel, operating schedule, recent consumption data, and location with Efena. Our team will review the application and identify the next technical step.