An East Coast Brewery implemented a low pressure steam heating system and energy-efficient boiler to help increase its production.

Cypress Brewing, Edison, N.J., wanted to go from a two-barrel system to a 20-barrel system. (Each barrel produces approximately 31 gallons.) After a review, the three-year-old company installed low pressure steam, cast-iron boiler manufactured by Weil-McLain.

In a low pressure steam brewery operation, the boiler converts the water into steam. This steam enters the steam main and travels to the boil kettle and the hot liquor tank, a tank that just holds water, and heats the water. The steam then enters jackets inside the boil kettles, where it unleashes its latent heat. Once the kettle condenses the steam, it releases the condensate via float and thermostatic steam drip traps to a condensate receiver and pump that moves the condensate to a boiler feed pump, which returns the condensate to the boiler when the water level falls low enough.

Following the boiler change, the production process at the brewery averages 28 days, according to the boiler manufacturer. More importantly, says the maker, Cypress Brewing is seeing less charring of the beer, and the overall steam process heating energy cost is less expensive than it had been with its previously all-electric approach.

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