If the brewing system is the heart of the brewery, and the artistic interpretation of the mash is the brain and soul, then the plumbing is the nervous system – ensuring that messages are passed from one person to another.
The glycol piping is a crucial component of the glycol chiller. It facilitates the transfer of cold glycol water, which is often required between glycol water containers, fermentation vessels/fermenters, chillers, and glycol water storage tanks. Proper selection of glycol piping is essential for breweries.
Selection of pipe material
In choosing the suitable pipe material for your brewery, we offer three options: stainless steel glycol tubes, PPR tubes, and PPR+PEX mixing tubes.
- Pros: Long service life, hygienic, and rust-proof.
- Cons: Strict space requirements, any changes necessitate local welding.
- Pros: Easy connection with devices.
- Cons: Adapters between PPR pipes are not rustproof; they need to be covered to prevent contact with water or other liquids.
- Pros: Suitable for small spaces; flexibility of PEX piping allows bending in limited areas.
- Cons: Not suitable for systems larger than 1500L.
Selection of pipe diameter
The determination of pipe diameter should consider the characteristics of the conveying medium, flow rate, production process fluctuation, resistance loss, standard diameter series, and other factors.The flow rate of the medium affects the pipe diameter. While a higher flow rate can use a smaller pipe diameter, saving on pipeline investment, it also increases resistance loss, energy consumption, and operating costs.For mash transportation, a flow velocity of less than 1.5m/s is recommended to prevent the formation of dextran gel and ensure effective filtration of wort and beer. The feeding speed for the filter tank should be less than 1.0m/s to achieve uniform thickness of the bad layer. Additionally, the flow velocity of cleaning and sterilizing agents in pipeline cleaning should be greater than 1.5m/s to achieve an effective scrubbing effect. Other common flow rates include 1.5-2.5m/s for hot and cold water, 2m/s for sake, 8-15m/s for compressed air or carbon dioxide, and 0.6-1m/s for refrigerant water.
Pipe wall thickness
The pipe wall must have sufficient strength to withstand the internal pressure of the transported liquid or gas. The required wall thickness depends on the material and internal pressure. For beer brewing, the pipeline’s internal pressure is typically low, and supplier-provided pipelines meet the requirements.
The smoothness of the pipe wall
The smoothness of the inner wall of the pipe affects cleaning and sterilization. In the food industry, the cleanliness standard for equipment’s inner surface is below Ra<1μm to prevent dirt and bacteria accumulation.
pipe layout
Pipeline layout should meet the following requirements:
- Meet production and technological needs;
- Easy to operate and maintain;
- No dead angles that hinder cleaning and sterilization;
- Visually appealing arrangement.
pipe selection
ACE Craft has successfully installed impressive piping systems in many foreign breweries. With custom plumbing solutions, they have created systems that are energy-efficient and outperform conventional units. Pre-insulated piping, high-tech welding solutions, and high-quality stainless steel ensure lasting reliability. These factors contribute to the success of beverage artists’ creations.For a turnkey solution to your brewery equipment needs, contact us directly. Our engineers will design and manufacture brewery equipment tailored to your brewing process. We offer complete turnkey solutions and customized options for brewery expansion.
