Dairy barn aisle
Case studies
Dairy and food processing ยท India
A major dairy operation

Utility intelligence at a major dairy operation: water, electricity and refrigeration

The dairy's engagement with Aqueduct covers water, electricity and refrigeration on one platform. The scope spans 5 refrigeration plants, 21 compressors and 2,080 TR of installed capacity, with 41 SCADA sources supporting 48 reporting assignments. aQ WaterGuard and aQ EnergySmart on aQ Core link readings to equipment, and the engineer approves every response.

5refrigeration plants
21compressors
2,080 TRinstalled refrigeration capacity in scope
41SCADA sources supporting 48 reporting assignments
The story

A major dairy operation runs on refrigeration, water and electricity at once. Five refrigeration plants with 21 compressors and 2,080 TR of installed capacity in scope draw a large share of site power, and water moves from source through treatment, storage and distribution. When electricity use rises, the plant team needs to know whether cooling output rose with it, or whether the plant is working harder for the same result.

Each utility had its own data, and none of it was linked to the equipment and conditions behind it. Condenser and cooling tower problems were seen late, overnight water flow and losses were hard to locate, and there was no shared record of the issue, the check and the result.

Aqueduct is designed to read the three utilities together on aQ Core. Water is measured from source to distribution. Electricity comes from 41 SCADA sources supporting 48 reporting assignments. Refrigeration is measured through pressure, temperature, flow and matched electrical input. Digital twins link each reading to its equipment, so aQ EnergySmart can compare electricity for cooling with the cooling delivered under similar conditions. Plants 1 to 3 report efficiency individually, and plants 4 and 5 share one group.

When performance looks unusual, AI helps find the cause. If electricity use rises while cooling output stays similar, Aqueduct reviews power and pressure trends for signs of poor heat removal and recommends a check of condenser water flow and cooling tower condition. The engineer confirms the cause and approves the response, such as a flow correction or cleaning. Aqueduct then compares total refrigeration energy, including any added pump and fan load, and records the measured result.

Savings are established only after an operating change, under comparable production, cooling duty and weather, while product quality, hygiene and required temperatures are maintained. aQ Assistant answers plain language questions with the measurements and comparison period behind each answer, and management reviews savings, open issues and outcomes with the supporting trends.

The next step is to confirm the inputs and the installed proposal. Milvian AI then installs the measurement network and configures the intelligence layer, and the dairy directs the operating response.

Dairy cow at a feed trough
A dairy depends on refrigeration, water and electricity working together, every day.
Plant equipment in an industrial hall
21 compressors across five refrigeration plants are measured through pressure, temperature, flow and matched electrical input.
Row of stainless silos
Savings count only when product quality, hygiene and required temperatures are maintained.
Row of stainless process tanks
Refrigeration5 plants, 21 compressors
01 / 06

Five plants, one dairy

Refrigeration, water and electricity are mapped together in aQ Core, plant by plant.

Compressor 3Pressure, temperature, flow, kW
02 / 06

Readings matched to equipment

Pressure, temperature, flow and electrical input are linked to each compressor and plant through digital twins.

Refrigeration plantPower up, cooling similar
03 / 06

More power, same cooling

Electricity use has increased while cooling output is similar under comparable conditions.

Condenser loopDischarge pressure rising
04 / 06

Check condenser heat removal

AI reviews power and pressure trends for poor heat removal and recommends a check of condenser water flow and the cooling tower.

Cooling towerFlow correction approved
05 / 06

Engineer approves the fix

The engineer confirms the cause and approves a flow correction or cleaning. Aqueduct records the decision.

Plant energyPump load included
06 / 06

Total energy compared

Total refrigeration energy, including any added pump and fan load, is compared under comparable production, duty and weather.

Explainer

How it works at A major dairy operation.

Business challenge

Cooling, water and power that had to be read together

A dairy runs on refrigeration, water and electricity at once. When electricity use rises, the plant team needs to know whether cooling output rose with it or whether the plant is working harder for the same result.

The dairy's five refrigeration plants and 21 compressors draw a large share of site power. Water moves from source through treatment, storage and distribution. Each utility had its own data, and none of it was linked to the equipment and conditions behind it.

  • Electricity not compared with the cooling actually delivered
  • Condenser and cooling tower problems seen late
  • Overnight water flow and losses hard to locate
  • No shared record of the issue, the check and the result
Solution we offered

Digital twins that link readings to equipment

Aqueduct models link readings to equipment and utility systems. Water is measured from source to distribution. Electricity comes from 41 SCADA sources. Refrigeration is measured through pressure, temperature, flow and matched electrical input.

When performance looks unusual, AI helps investigate the cause and recommends a check. The engineer confirms the cause and approves the response, and Aqueduct records the measured result. aQ Assistant answers plain language questions using the relevant measurements and operating history.

Our approach
  1. 01

    Confirm inputs

    Utility inputs, the installed proposal and the operating owners are confirmed with the dairy's team.

  2. 02

    Install and configure

    Milvian AI installs the measurement network and configures the intelligence layer across water, electricity and refrigeration.

  3. 03

    Compare like with like

    Electricity for cooling is compared with cooling delivered under similar conditions. Plants 1 to 3 report efficiency individually and plants 4 and 5 share one group.

  4. 04

    Investigate and approve

    An alert such as higher electricity at similar cooling output prompts a check of condenser water flow and cooling tower condition. The engineer approves the response.

  5. 05

    Verify and report

    Total refrigeration energy, including any added pump and fan load, is compared after the change, and management reviews the measured outcome.

What we deployed
LayerWhat the scope delivers
WaterSource, treatment, storage and distribution meters
Electricity41 SCADA sources supporting 48 reporting assignments
RefrigerationPressure, temperature, flow and matched electrical input across 5 plants and 21 compressors
InvestigationAI review of power and pressure trends with recommended checks
Action historyThe issue, the engineer's checks, the approved response and the observed change
QuestionsPlain language answers that show the measurements and the comparison period
Outcomes

Expected outcomes

The program targets clearer decisions on where to act and a measured record of each result. Savings are established only after an operating change, under comparable production, cooling duty and weather, while product quality, hygiene and required temperatures are maintained.

  • Faster leak response and clearer ownership of water losses
  • Earlier investigation of temperature deviations and abnormal loads
  • Runtime matched to need
  • Management reporting on savings, open issues and outcomes with supporting trends
What comes next

Once the inputs and the installed proposal are confirmed, Milvian AI installs the measurement network and the dairy directs the operating response. Over time, the same platform can add Smart Controls for pumps and refrigeration auxiliaries, where control is enabled, with owner approval.

Architecture

From the field to a verified result.

Field devicesWater meters from source to distribution, refrigeration pressure, temperature and flow sensors, and electrical inputs matched to each plant
Connectivity41 existing SCADA sources for electricity plus the new measurement network installed by Milvian AI
aQ CoreWater, electricity and refrigeration on one record, with digital twins linking each reading to its equipment
ProductsaQ WaterGuard and aQ EnergySmart for the three utilities, aQ PredictIQ for investigation and recommended checks, aQ Assistant for plain language questions
People and workflowEngineers confirm causes and approve responses, the dairy directs the operating response, and management reviews measured outcomes
Before and after Aqueduct

What changed on site.

Before
  • Electricity not compared with the cooling delivered
  • Condenser and cooling tower problems seen late
  • Overnight water flow and losses hard to locate
  • No shared record of issue, check and result
With Aqueduct
  • Electricity for cooling compared under similar conditions
  • AI recommended checks when power rises at similar output
  • Water measured from source to distribution
  • Every issue, check, decision and result on record
2,080 TRinstalled refrigeration capacity in scope
Why it matters
  • In a dairy, refrigeration, water and power move together, so efficiency only makes sense when they are read together.
  • The engineer stays in charge: AI recommends the check, people approve the response, and Aqueduct records the measured result.
  • Savings counted only under comparable conditions, with quality and temperatures held, give management numbers it can stand behind.
Questions

Common questions

Aqueduct compares the electricity a refrigeration plant uses with the cooling it delivers under similar conditions. At a major dairy operation this covers 5 plants, 21 compressors and 2,080 TR of installed capacity.

AI reviews power and pressure trends for signs of poor heat removal and recommends a check, such as condenser water flow or cooling tower condition. The engineer confirms the cause and approves the fix, and Aqueduct records the measured result.

Yes. At a major dairy operation, 41 SCADA sources support 48 electricity reporting assignments. Aqueduct reads existing systems and adds measurement only where it is missing.

Savings are measured after an operating change under comparable production, cooling duty and weather. Total system energy includes compressor, pump and fan load, and each saving is counted once.

Yes. aQ Assistant answers questions such as where water kept flowing overnight or which refrigeration group used more energy per unit of cooling, and shows the measurements and period behind each answer.

See Aqueduct on your own facility.

Bring a site, a utility bill or a question. We will show you where the loss is.