Rising energy costs and the demand for sustainable production present new challenges for the baking industry. With the NEO module oven (Low Energy Oven), an innovative solution is available that sets new standards with its modular concept, high efficiency, and optional hybrid technology.
The Concept
Instead of a central heating system, the NEO oven consists of 6-meter-long modules, each equipped with its own burner and precise regulation. The shorter flue gas paths reduce the temperature difference between the flue gas and the baking chamber to less than 20°C, efficiency increases significantly, and heat losses are minimized.
The thermal coupling of the modules makes optimal use of the hot exhaust gases (ECO POWER®). Additionally, an e-Cer® ceramic coating on the ceiling improves infrared radiation, which penetrates deeply into the baked goods and shortens baking time.
Future-Ready Hybrid Technology
The NEO hybrid oven can be operated with gas or electricity—or a combination of both energy sources. Connected to a smart meter system, the oven recognizes the current electricity price and automatically selects the most economical energy source. This reduces operating costs and supports grid stability with a high share of renewable energy.
Advantages of the Modular Design
- Compact, very maintenance-friendly construction
- Short installation time of 1–2 weeks
- Only one exhaust chimney required
- Precise temperature control and fast response times (no overshoot of oven temperature during product gaps in the oven)
- Less flue gas loss and therefore lower energy consumption and overall lower burner capacity required
ITB Services for This Project
During the development of the NEO hybrid oven, ITB GmbH supported the manufacturer Backpartner GmbH with flow and thermal analysis of the newly integrated electric heating element. Its installation changes the fluid dynamics of the system, including pressure loss, temperature, and volume flow distribution. Using the CFD software Cradle CFD scFLOW from Hexagon, ITB GmbH was able to quantify these effects precisely and evaluate the impact on the entire system.
Cradle CFD scFLOW can reliably, precisely, and quickly model the complex geometric and flow aspects of the hybrid oven.
Visualization of temperature increase and air distribution in the oven using Cradle CFD
This provided Backpartner GmbH with a solid basis to ensure that the recirculation fan meets the new requirements and that the temperature distribution—regardless of the heating method (gas or electric)—remains uniform and efficient.
For cost- and time-efficient implementation, the thermal and fluid dynamic properties of the heating element were modeled with precisely defined boundary conditions. ITB GmbH determined the necessary calibration data in close coordination with the involved suppliers.