Measurement technology improves brewing processes

• Pressure
• level and
• switching

are important parameters to keep an eye on at all times during brewing. Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu, a traditional brewery in the Black Forest whose beers repeatedly win awards, also uses a large number of measuring instruments from VEGA.

Beer contains a large amount of yeast, which, however, has to be filtered out during the brewing process. Most of it is already removed in the separator after leaving the green beer storage tank, before it enters the filtering stage. Turbidity and the remaining yeast cells are removed to give the beer its bright, clear appearance. Precise monitoring of the differential pressure is very important, in order to be able to react quickly and provide the right amount of diatomaceous earth for the beer being filtered.

Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu accomplishes this quite well with the VEGABAR pressure sensor. “We can now measure very accurately,” says Jürgen Wöhrle, the man responsible for quality assurance and quality management at the brewery, and who is more than satisfied with the sensor.

The quick installation and user-friendly operation via the VEGA Tools app on a tablet or smartphone further simplify the processes in the brewery. 

The measured values from the VEGA pressure sensors are also the basis for smooth-functioning processes in the fermentation and storage tanks. This is where the fermentation and maturing of the beers takes place over a period of several weeks. One particularly important parameter, for example, is the pressure in the tank, which has to be just right to achieve the correct saturation of the beer with CO₂. The level is also a crucial value – filling and emptying the tanks at the right moment depends on it.

“We need to know how much liquid is in the tanks at any given time,” explains Jürgen Wöhrle.

The point level plays a crucial role at several points in the brewing process – at Alpirsbacher, for example, the VEGAPOINT level switch is used in the grist mill. This is where the malt is crushed before brewing. This point level sensor immediately detects when a certain value is reached and reports this. It prevents the mill from overflowing or running idle without malt, which can waste energy and lead to damage in the long term.

Setting up and commissioning VEGA sensors is extremely easy, regardless of the measuring point. The sensors have a common process-fitting adapter system that is compliant with all established food approvals. This reduces downtimes and the stocking of spare parts – and leaves more time to relax and perhaps to enjoy an after-work beer.