Brewing - water
Pipes, valves and fittings
Employ preferentially valves with a handle rather than a stopcock, so that its position is clear
Consider if the mains pressure to process areas could be reduced by a pressure reducing valve
- any future leaks or overflows will be less severe
- alternatively restrict flows with valve or orifice plate
Lag pipes where temperature is important, e.g. brewing liquor.
- No need for operator to run water to drain while it attemperates
Consider re-using the sealing water from liquid ring “scavenge pumps”
- it is possible that this water may require cooling before re-use
- another possible use is as bottle first rinse water
Automatic switch off of any cooling water to pumps when not running
Install interface detection at appropriate points
- minimises use of chase liquor for product
- recovery recover chase liquor with carbon dioxide purge
- chase liquor can be part of dilution liquor in high gravity brewing
Case study: Carlsberg optimise valves and fittings
A Carlsberg in Russia made savings of 14% were achieved by a combination of installing supply control valves on the bottle washing machines and increasing employee awareness on water use.
Carlsberg Annual Report 2011. Published Online.