Energy and water management in the brewery – Part 2

The brewing process is inherently energy and water intensive. In the second part of this publication, the process parameters that affect environmental performance in the brewhouse and cellar sections are analysed in order to provide brewers with some guidance when they evaluate proposals for energy and water saving projects. The boiler house, cooling equipment and water treatment units are not included in this study because these topics are extensively covered already in other publications.

Energy and water management in the brewery – Part 1

All over the world, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to manage natural resources in a responsible manner. This applies also to the brewing industry. Since most processes in a brewery are carried out batch-wise, energy and water recovery and reuse in a brewery is complicated though this is becoming more widespread now. In this first part of the publication, the brewhouse and cellar processes are mapped with the aim of calculating real brewery requirements for heating, cooling and fresh water usage in each step of the process. This flow sheet can then be optimised to lower overall water and energy consumption.

Trends in Brewing 2014

The 11th “Trends in Brewing” symposium is planned for April 13-17, 2014 and this year’s slogan is “Can Trends in Brewing be Revolutionary?” Organizers KAHO Sint-Lieven (KU Leuven), Ghent/Belgium, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh/UK, and the TU Berlin are hoping to recreate the resounding success of the previous event this year as well. The “trends” presented at the 2012 symposium attracted 360 industry representatives from a total of 24 nations to Flanders, where they met to discuss developments in brewing and malting technology.

BRAUWELT International congratulates Prof. Ing. Gabriela Basařová, DrSc. on her 80th birthday. Basařová was born on January 17, 1934 in Plzeň to a family of teachers. She graduated from secondary school in Plzeň and Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, where she studied malting and beer brewing at the Department of Fermentation Chemistry and Technology. After graduating in 1957, she joined Plzeňské Pivovary, where she headed the control and research laboratories.

With the Eco vacuum pump KHS can already help the brewing industry to save almost 100 % water compared to the classic water ring pump. The new KHS Eco⁺ vacuum pump – or rather, the newly designed KHS Eco⁺ module integrated into the Eco vacuum pump – now has the added benefit that classic coolants for water recooling are now a thing of the past. This means that customers no longer have to invest in piping for coolant transfer which is often complex and costly.

Food for thought for regional brewers

From May 26th to 30th 2013, brewing scientists in Europe will converge on Luxembourg at the EBC congress. For the first time in the long history of the EBC, it will be held in this small country bordering Belgium, France and Germany. Luxembourg is a country with much to offer, as brewers will undoubtedly find out in May. We spoke with EBC president Dr. Stefan Lustig about what awaits those attending the Congress.

Changing of the Guard at the EBC

The European Brewery Convention (EBC) in Brussels is much more than merely the organiser of a biennial scientific congress in one of the member countries. The EBC is the technical and scientific arm of “The Brewers of Europe”, the umbrella organisation of the European Brewers’ Associations, and acts for them in an advisory and supporting function. After a three-year term in office, the posts of both EBC President as well as Vice-President were up for election.

Holistic concept for water and recyclables recovery for the food industry in breweries – Part II

In part I of this contribution (BRAUWELT International no. 5 2011, pp. 290-292), possible strategies for therecovery of water and recyclables in breweries were summarized. As a sequel, part II deals with effluent end-of-pipe treatment and elaborates on the solution that may ultimately prove to be the best for an existing brewery, taking account of considerations having a bearing on industrial water recovery. Solid recyclables, such as beer spent grains or yeasts, also have a high material and energy potential. Therefore, possibilities of recycling same are discussed, leaving aside agricultural use. This will become part of a future holistic concept.

Sustainable water management

Water is the most important raw material of the beverage industry – and clean drinking water is an increasingly valuable good. Apart from the economic responsibility, our industry has, therefore, also a major social responsibility to protect this vital resource. Efficient and sustainable water management requires an integrative approach, which taps the entire optimization potential around water usage. This includes the evaluation of local water catchment areas as well as the reduction of water consumption and the full recycling of any wastewater arising.

Co-culture fermentation processes in the beverage production

This article gives an overview of the implementation of co-culture fermentation processes in beverage production. Several examples for spontaneous fermentation used in the production of beverages all over the world are presented. Regulation mechanisms and microbial interaction in mixed cultures are shown. Furthermore, the implementation of controlled co-culture fermentation processes for the development of reproducible industrial production of new beverages is discussed.

Beer: A matter of science and perception

This year the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC) took place in Fort Myers, Florida. The popular ASBC meetings draw many of the best brewing scientists from around the world as it provides the opportunity to present their work and share their knowledge. In other words, it provides a platform for global exchange. This year, more than 240 participants from over 15 countries attended the meeting. The attendees at this international conference were global brewers, craft brewers, suppliers and academics engaged in brewing science.

Water degasification with membrane technology

The water quality requirements in a brewery are very complex and vary between different process areas. One issue is for example dissolved gases. Oxygen especially plays a decisive role for high gravity dilution and chase water coming in contact with the final product. In other areas it is often dissolved carbon dioxide that needs to be removed from water to prevent corrosion. This article introduces two examples where water degasification with membrane technology has been installed: at a Boon Rawd Brewery, Thailand, and at Krostitzer Brewery, Radeberger Group, Germany.