This paper contains a report on fine and sterile filtration immediately ahead of filling in three medium-sized German breweries.

For many breweries, a yeast-free filtrate in the bright beer tank is a minimum requirement in terms of microbiology. In order to achieve this, final filtration is required in order to assuredly separate out particles and yeasts. The most frequently used equipment is sheet filtration. Despite a number of new developments in recent times, sheet filtration involves certain disadvantages. This paper describes the results of a long duration test with a new system for final filtration.

Accounting for about 50% of total waste of breweries, kieselguhr slurry constitutes a big problem. This paper describes possibilities for utilisation in agriculture.

The following article describes a continuous sampling system for detection of trace contaminants in beer. This has been developed for process use in close co-operation with the Chair of Technology of Brewing I, the Chair of Fluid Mechanics and Process Automation and Haller Löwenbräu/Wildbachquelle SHA.

Increasing interest is being focused on cold sterile beer filtration as an alternative to flash pasteurisation. The automatic beer filtration plant described here combines a compact arrangement with a high degree of automation and operator comfort.

A filtration check aimed at establishing the causes of problems encountered in beer filterability is presented. These checks focus on pH measurement, haze differentiation, alcohol-cooling test, membrane filterability, detection of high molecular weight a- and b-glucan concentration. This article proposes a course of action and gives technological recommendations for optimisation.

Can you tell me, please, where to find Central Europe? And which countries make up Eastern Europe? Does the west of Russia to the east of the Urals also belong to Eastern Europe? Where do we draw the line? Only the British and fierce anti-European politician, the late Enoch Powell, was able to answer these questions without hesitation. For him Siberia began at Calais. "Central and Eastern Europe" is a historical term designating a multinational reality which came into being after World War I and was reinforced by the creation of communist states after World War II. The somewhat clumsy shorthand "Central and Eastern Europe", with the frequent addition of "Southeast Europe", also underlines the fact that a precise definition of the countries which fall under this umbrella-term is rendered difficult by the self-same countries because they have always insisted on their historical and cultural uniqueness. So much for a self-critical introduction to a politically precarious market report.

In the course of privatization of the Polish economy, SAB (South Africa Breweries) acquired the majority holdings of the Browary Tyskie Gorny Slask S.A. in late 1996. The brewery, with some of its operations located in a production plant dating back to the 17th century and listed as a historic building, is situated approximately 25 km southeast of Kattowice in the heart of the nearly 2.5 million population industrial and coal-mining region of Upper Silesia.

Inadequate filter service lives invariably give rise to extensive discussions of the causes. When analysing the problems, reasons are mostly sought in the immediate surroundings of filtration. Filter systems, filter aids or process sequences are questioned.

Kieselguhr plate-and-frame filters, as depth filters, belong to the classical filtration systems. Due to their reliability and low operating costs, they are enjoying increasing popularity. Peripherals of the filter such as buffer tank units before and after the filter lines to absorb pressure surges, a correctly sized and properly located carbona-tion unit with integrated pressure holding valve, introduction of tangential flow technology in the frame filter, oxygen-free operation as well as an integrated draw-off tank to avoid yeast surges, all these components must be part of a complete filtration line. The actual filter run time is then approx. 19 to 21 hours.

Full utilisation of the PVPP filter is an added bonus, i.e.
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The delivery of the two hundredth FS 130 type filter was an occasion for the author to highlight the salient criteria of this filter system. The main differences characterising the FS 130 in terms of design and process engineering are detailed in this article.

In the eighties, a non-uniform distribution of precoat and subsequent lay-down of kieselguhr cake manifested itself as a drawback in conventional filter systems. This resulted in considerable fluctuations of filtrate quality. The inlet distributor developed and patented at that time was designed to eliminate these irregularities by reducing turbulences in the filter inlet.

Inlet distributor for uniform precoat

This is a special design provided with holes (see Fig. 1).12 m/s is an added advantage.
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