Beer brewing is a complex blend of techniques, techniques and techniques. In a highly competitive industry, the efficiency of these brewing processes is critical to ensure business success. At the same time, it is important to adapt these processes to increasingly stringent legal requirements and to adapt to rising energy costs. In addition, the brewing process must also respond to changes in demand and consumer preferences.

In general, the amount of yeast produced by the brewery is about 2% to 4% of the total beer production. Often, dealing with these yeasts generates little or no money. However, with appropriate technology, it is possible to increase the income by selling surplus yeast with a higher dry matter content while recovering good quality beer.

The yeast recovered from the fermenter still contains a significant amount of beer. Several techniques have been employed to recover valuable beer from yeast sludge. These techniques have different results in terms of beer quality, ease of handling, and economic efficiency. As a response to the needs and needs of the brewing industry, Alfa Laval has developed three different beer recycling solutions, one of which is a solution using membrane filtration technology.

working principle

The basic technique of membrane filtration is to separate a liquid into two different fluids by using a semi-permeable membrane.

Pumping this liquid through the surface of the membrane produces a positive pressure across the membrane that creates an infiltration that forces any component that is smaller than the membrane pore size to pass through.

Any component that is larger than the pore size will not pass at all and remain in the retentate. The surface of the membrane is kept free of blockage by the flow of fluid flowing parallel to the membrane surface.

Investment in beer recovery technology is paid back within less than three years

Investment in beer recycling technology can be recovered within three years

Polymer film

In 2008, the Mönchengladbach brewery owned by the Oettinger Group Group adopted a new beer recycling unit based on Alfa Laval membrane filtration technology. The system uses a film made of a polymer that is recycled by separating the beer from the remaining yeast, otherwise the beer is wasted.

Using Alfa Laval membrane filtration technology, Oettinger is now able to recover 60% by volume of the remaining yeast as beer. After filtration, these beers are re-added to the normal process stream prior to filtration.

For the Oettinger Group, this means recycling at least 1,400 kiloliters of beer a year. In addition, the Oettinger Group is also profiting from more efficient use of raw materials and waste reduction. This means that investments in beer recycling technology can be recovered within three years.

Cross flow system

The special cross-flow system for beer recycling has a specially designed microporous membrane that is mounted on a reliable Alfa Laval M39H plate and frame module with open channels. The open channel design creates good fluid dynamics under low pressure conditions, minimizing energy consumption. The membrane surface in a device can be between 30m2 and 90m2, and the system will consist of one or two circuits depending on the capacity required.

This membrane filtration system is made up of a reliable modular design that is modular in design to make the system reliable and easy to expand to meet the foreseeable growth requirements. The system can be operated at low temperatures or in continuous or batch processes. For example, a fully automated system can operate continuously for 20 hours a day, ensuring full utilization and accurate yield control.

Compared to conventional systems, this Alfa Laval membrane filtration system guarantees short-term recovery investments at relatively low operating costs, including labor, energy, membrane replacement and chemicals.