The Advantages and Disadvantage of micro brewing equipment with Steam
- Jul 23, 2021
- 97
- tiantai
Micro brewing equipment with steam heating, it has advantage and disadvantage
The Advantages of Brewing with Steam
As we said at the start of the article, most brewers prefer steam for some of the following reasons:
Fast Temperature Increase
When using steam, the “heating surface area” is large, with both bottom and side jackets plus optional calandria. So, it’s possible to heat your wort quickly and maintain a vigorous boil for good evaporation rates.
Even Heat Distribution
The large surface area leads to more even heat distribution, so there’s less chance of scorching/sticking. Furthermore, it’s easier to clean up after, than using direct fire or electric when the brewing is finished.
Versatility
As we said above you can you use steam for a number of tasks in a brewery from cleaning kegs to cleaning compressed air for wort aeration.
Control
Depending on your brewhouse set up, steam can be easy to control, making procedures and processes simpler to replicate. The last brewery I installed, allowed you to open the steam valves as a percentage, meaning fine control of the boil.
Long Life and Potentially Expandable
In the disadvantages list of using steam below, I say how steam requires more maintenance. However, if you properly maintain your boiler and perform preventative maintenance, a boiler can last a long time, providing a sound investment.
Also, if you use an electric steam generator they can be run in sequence. So, if you expand and require more steam, you can buy another electric steam generator to run alongside your original one. So, the costs of expansion are minimized.
Disadvantages of Brewing with Steam
Costs
The upfront costs of installing a boiler are high. They also require a fair amount of maintenance to keep the generator in top shape. From keeping an eye on the water treatment feeding the boiler to making sure you regularly clean the internal coils (usually by back flushing them).
Regulation
Depending on where your brewery is, local regulations might not allow you, to house a boiler in your brewery. Before you opt for steam make sure you’re allowed it in your location. Local emission regulations can significantly increase costs and reduce efficiencies too.
Cost Effectiveness
For a small brewhouse, steam might not be cost effective when you consider start-up costs, needs for the brewery and maintenance. On a smaller system, an electric steam generator is probably the way to go if you really want steam.
Brewing with Steam Conclusions
I am a fan of brewing with steam myself. I’ve used it in a number of systems I’ve worked on. I wouldn’t consider anything else, in brewhouses over 15HL (12.8 bbl.) in size.
In the larger brewhouse; the control, versatility, speed of heating, if the setup is right, PLUS ease of cleanup make it a no brainer for me.
Using Brewing Salts
I can potentially be heating a hot liquor tank (HLT), mash tun and wort in a kettle as it’s filling up, using steam all at the same time. If I have a 3, 4 or 5 vessel system doing multiple brews per day.
Therefore the upfront costs are paid back in cheaper heating plus saved time and labor costs.
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
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