Energy Efficient Large Beer Brewing Equipment

Energy efficient large beer brewing equipment can save breweries on energy costs and help the environment. Using methods to reduce water consumption, govern electrical energy usage and deploy alternative energy sources can result in significant savings.

This fully automated brewing system comes with everything you need to get started including a 1650 watt state of the art heating element, a 20 plate counter flow chiller and durable silicone hoses.

Refrigeration

The cooling system is one of the most important parts of any brewing process. It keeps the wort and Large beer brewing equipment at the right temperature, prevents bacterial growth, and produces high-quality beer with consistent flavor, aroma, and color. However, it’s also a major energy consumer. Using an efficient cooling system can save a brewery a lot of money in the long run.

Many breweries use glycol cooling systems, which use a chilled ring pump and closed-loop piping system to cool wort and beer. Glycol is an excellent cooling agent because it has a lower freezing point than water and can maintain a constant temperature. It’s non-toxic and food-grade, making it safe for brewing.

Energy-efficient glycol pumps can save a brewery a significant amount of energy. The glycol can be pumped to the heat exchangers at lower temperatures, which reduces energy consumption. Flow meters can be installed on the supply and return lines to track energy usage. Then, breweries can adjust the glycol temperature to minimize energy usage and maximize efficiency.

Another way to save energy is to stop using ice to chill the wort. Instead, breweries can use rainwater or even water from the brewing process to cool the wort. This can help reduce the amount of electricity used for cooling and reduce water consumption, which can have a positive impact on the environment.

Compressed Air Systems

A compressed air system provides an efficient, reliable power source for a brewery’s equipment. It takes up little space and is easy to scale up to accommodate future growth and a growing business.

Using oil-free compressed air eliminates the risk of contamination to produce a more flavorful, cleaner beer. It also reduces energy consumption, saving breweries both money and carbon emissions.

Compressed air systems are essential to a brewery, powering critical machinery and equipment for the entire manufacturing process. They can be broken down into two major subsystems: the supply side and the demand side. The supply side includes the compressor, aftercooler, motor, air treatment equipment and primary storage. The demand side consists of the distribution, end-use equipment and secondary storage.

In addition to running brewing and conditioning tanks, compressed air helps move carbonated beer to the packaging line so it can be canned or bottled. It can be difficult to keep lines clean and dry between processes, so compressed air is ideal for moving beer from one tank to another.

Many breweries choose rotary screw air compressors for their energy efficiency, rugged reliability and consistent airflow. These systems can be configured with various airflow capabilities and can handle a range of operating pressures, from vacuum to high-pressure. You may also want to consider energy recovery technology that reclaims up to 90% of the heat generated by the compression cycle, reducing your overall operational costs.

Bottling Line

There’s a lot of electricity involved in brewing, and it isn’t just the energy used to run the brewery equipment. There’s also the energy needed to operate the refrigeration units, air compressors, steam generator, and glycol chiller. These systems require huge amounts of power to function, and they can have a significant impact on your energy bill.

The best way to reduce this energy usage is to make sure that all of your brewing equipment is working as efficiently as possible. This means avoiding wasting energy by not using unnecessary lights or running equipment when it isn’t in use. You can also save energy by brewing smaller batches. Try brewing three-gallon batches instead of 10-gallon batches, or brew two recipes from one six-gallon batch.

When purchasing your bottling line, look for one that is efficient and uses less electricity. Quinti’s Superbloc is a great choice for this, as it has an integrated system that passes the bottles seamlessly from one machine to another without the need for conveyor belts. This allows for a very high level of precision that only automation can provide. It can detect any bottle that doesn’t meet its standards for fill level, corking, or labeling and reject it from the line.

You can further reduce your energy costs by installing a high-efficiency heating and cooling system. These can cut your energy bill by up to 50% and will help you achieve a better ROI on your brewing investment.

Energy Audit

Brewing is a very energy-intensive process, and any steps that can reduce consumption are important for the overall sustainability of the brewery. An energy audit is a great way to see what kind of improvements can be made, and many states offer rebates for these types of projects.

Refrigeration is a significant portion of most brewing facilities’ electricity costs, so optimizing the temperature settings can make a big difference. An energy audit will also look at the brewing processes themselves, and ways to make them more efficient. For instance, continuous brewing could help to reduce the time that it takes to boil wort.

Insulation is another area that can reduce energy usage. Better insulation can reduce the amount of heat lost from a building, leading to a more stable temperature and lower energy bills. Other possible energy efficiency upgrades include improving lighting and ventilation, as well as safety tests on heating systems to ensure that combustion exhaust is not being pushed out through unintended leaks.

There are different levels of energy audits available, depending on the needs of the facility. A Level 1 energy audit will provide an overview of the entire facility, and describe how the existing systems are operating. It will then provide a list of potential energy conservation measures (ECMs) with quick estimates of implementation costs, potential operating cost savings and simple payback periods.