Chinese giant Angel Yeast is expanding its presence in Russia

As part of the business visit of the Lipetsk delegation to China, a strategic agreement was signed between the regional government and the Angel Yeast Corporation. The Chinese yeast manufacturer, which already has facilities in the Dankovsky District, has announced the construction of a third production line. The investment will exceed 11 billion rubles. The project aims to significantly expand the company's product range and strengthen its position in the Russian market.

According to the signed documents, the new line is scheduled to reach full capacity by the end of 2027. Once completed, the facility will have a total capacity of 55,000 tons of dry yeast, 3,000 tons of food ingredients, and 92,000 tons of liquid organic fertilizers or animal feed annually. The new line will add an additional 22,000 tons of yeast per year to the existing capacity.

Such large-scale production, especially in the segment of microbiological synthesis and fermentation, imposes the highest requirements on industrial refrigeration systems. Without reliable refrigeration equipment, it is impossible to comply with strict biochemical regimes, maintain sterility, and store finished products safely. Let's consider the key types of industrial refrigeration equipment used in projects of this level and their functions.

1. Industrial chillers (systems for cooling process fluids)

This is the heart of the cooling system for bioreactors and fermenters. Angel Yeast uses medium and high-capacity compression chillers (from 500 kW to several MW) in its production.

• Specifications: Working temperature of the coolant: from -10 °C to +10 °C (for the fermentation stage) and up to -25 °C (for the deep cooling stages of the biomass). Sealed screw or centrifugal compressors with refrigerants R-134a, R-410A or R-717 (ammonia - in large projects) are used.
• Functions: Removal of heat generated by the growing yeast culture in the fermenters. Maintaining an optimal temperature (around 28-32°C at the start and lowering to 4-8°C during the maturation stage) for maximum biomass yield. Cooling of heat exchangers for air sterilization.

2. Ammonia refrigeration units (for large-scale production facilities)

In factories with such volumes (55,000 tons of yeast), ammonia systems are often chosen due to their high energy efficiency and low refrigerant cost.

• Specifications: Power: 1 to 10 MW and above. Boiling point: -15 °C to -40 °C. Piston or screw ammonia compressors (such as Sabroe, Mycom, or Grasso) are used.
• Functions: Providing cold for powerful evaporative systems in finished product warehouses (dry yeast requires storage at +5…+10 °C and low humidity). Supplying cold to supply ventilation systems for air dehumidification in clean areas and packaging shops.

3. Plate heat exchangers (for fast cooling)

They are used during the pasteurization and sterilization of liquid media (molasses, nutrient solutions).

• Specifications: The material is AISI 316L stainless steel, and the plates are 0.5-0.7 mm thick. They can rapidly reduce the product temperature from 95°C to 25-30°C in seconds.
• Functions: Fast cooling of yeast concentrate after heat treatment before serving for drying or in a storage tank. This rate prevents cell degradation and loss of yeast activity.

4. Drying units with a refrigeration section (spray and roller dryers)

Although the yeast bread is dried with hot air, the product must be cooled at the end.

• Specifications: Includes scrubbers and condensers that work in conjunction with chillers. The temperature at the exit of the dryer is 40 °C, and the temperature at the entrance of the packaging machine is not higher than the ambient temperature (20-25 °C).
• Functions: Conditioning of granulated yeast after drying. Prevention of clumping and product spoilage during packaging.

5. Chiller-fan coil systems and central air conditioners (for providing a microclimate)

Working with food ingredients and yeast requires strict moisture control.

• Specifications: The cooling capacity of each unit is 100-400 kW. They maintain a humidity level of 40-60% in the packaging rooms.
• Functions: Ensuring hygienic conditions in ISO 8 cleanroom production facilities. Cooling fermentation chambers (if necessary, to maintain a lower temperature during long cycles).

Application in the project context:

For the third Angel Yeast line, which will produce an additional 22,000 tons of yeast, the following will be required:

1. Chillers for farmers (4-6 units with a capacity of 800-1000 kW each, with the possibility of cascade mode).
2. Ammonia station (with a capacity of at least 3-4 MW) for cooling the new finished product warehouse (55,000 tons + new line).
3. Compact plate coolers for the liquid organic fertilizer line (92,000 tons) and food ingredients (3,000 tons).
4. Central chillers for cleanroom ventilation and air conditioning systems.

The choice of specific brands (for example, Carrier, York, Bitzer, or Chinese equivalents) will depend on the tender conditions, but Angel Yeast prefers proven solutions with high efficiency and automation capabilities. Thus, the investment of 11 billion rubles includes not only construction work, but also the purchase of sophisticated refrigeration equipment, which is essential for modern biotechnology production.