People have been brewing beer since ancient times, but microbreweries and craft breweries are a completely modern phenomenon. In fact, in the 1980s, there were only 8 craft breweries operating in the United States, but that number is estimated to be over 10,000 in 2024. Craft breweries make up 27% of the American beer market – an impressive rise to prominence indeed. While many people aspire to brew their own beer, few realize the amount of heat and energy that must be generated to develop a truly quality beer. Craft and microbreweries typically use heat exchangers to maintain the energy they need. In this article, we’ll examine the types of products being utilized in this growing sector.
A Heat Exchanger Provides Efficiencies
Brewing beer is a complicated manufacturing process that requires strict temperature control. Heat exchangers provide a dependable method for breweries to rapidly cool their wort, which is an unfermented beer containing the sugars and flavors of malted grains and hops. This process creates a better-tasting beverage while also increasing the brewery’s production. Heat exchangers repurpose the heat created in the production process, capturing it so it is not wasted. Given the number of craft breweries, the competitive market can be fierce- and even small increases in efficiency can provide the boost in revenue needed to be profitable. In the brewing industry, there are three primary kinds of heat exchangers to choose from:
Plate and Frame Heat Exchangers: A plate and frame heat exchanger is comprised of a series of plates connected to a large frame. This model of heat exchanger is excellent for delivering a high level of efficiency while requiring only a small footprint on the manufacturing floor. If you run a smaller operation or have limited space, a plate and frame heat exchanger may be the best choice. One of the primary benefits of a plate and frame heat exchanger is ease of maintenance. Because these heat exchangers are easy to take apart and thoroughly sanitize, breweries run far less risk of batches being tainted by bacteria.
Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers: A shell and tube heat exchanger consists of a tube pack situated inside a shell. Many breweries opt for a shell and tube-type heat exchanger because it is a less expensive option. The simplistic design of shell and tube heat exchangers makes them proficient for operating at higher temperatures and pressures. Any micro- or craft brewery looking to increase production may wish to consider this type of equipment. It can cool wort down more rapidly than other types, and the faster wort cools, the more beer the brewery can make. An important note before you buy one, however – a shell and tube heat exchanger will require a significant amount of space, so the facility will need to accommodate its size.
Shell and Coil Heat Exchangers: A shell and coil heat exchanger is comprised of circular layers of tubes inside a shell. Its flexible design can be readily customized to fit an individual brewery’s unique or specific needs. Like the plate and frame models, these heat exchangers are smaller and, therefore, appropriate for smaller facilities (and conversely, may have a hard time keeping up in larger production facilities.) Another significant advantage is how low maintenance the equipment is.
Heat Exchangers for Craft Breweries
If you are one of the approximately 10,000 American microbreweries or craft breweries, be sure to call Zwirner Equipment to discuss your equipment needs. We have over 30 years of experience helping breweries to source the equipment they require, no matter the size of the operation. We maintain an inventory of reconditioned heat exchangers and other stainless steel brewery equipment that will help you to increase production without breaking the bank. Contact our team today to learn more.
