Carlsberg invest in PROFI
12 September 2005 16:30
Carlsberg thoroughly investigate the reality of DE free clarification.
GEA Westfalia FoodTec and Pall Food and Beverage discuss how PROFI will be demonstrating that DE-free beer filtration is a environmentally friendly reality, that is available, viable and a cost-saving investment for major breweries.
PROFI is a co-operation between Pall Food and Beverage and GEA Westfalia Separator Food Tech GmbH. It is the engineered result of significant R&D investment built on the extensive and unique brewing experience of the two companies, combined in a high performance Centrifuge with a Crossflow Membrane System. This synergy produces a system that meets the requirements for modern filter systems, keeping beer character, fresh taste, colloidal and biological beer stability, low product losses, non-polluting, operator safe, high process safety and high flexibility.
Preliminary Separation
To separate larger particles from the beer stream the Westfalia hydro-hermetic (preventive) inlet in the centrifuge separating drum provides the greatest possible conservation of sensitive particles such as protein and polyphenol complexes. The patented feed system offers: low shearing effects; undamaged solid feed (better viability of yeast cells) and more efficient clarification with removal of over 99% of particles greater than 1µm.
There is turbidity measurement at the outlet for controlling partial drainage of the separator as well as specific re-circulation when turbidity increases. Turbidity reduction at the outlet of separator is approximately 5 to 20 EBC.
The beer from the separator is collected into a small buffer tank, from where it is fed to the crossflow system.
Crossflow System
The standard system consists of two or more banks each of 20 modules, with one or more bank of modules filtering whilst one bank is being cleaned. Thus allowing 7 day 24 hour operation.
The main components are : Hollow fibre filter modules, circulation pumps, valves and measuring instruments, a control cabinet.
Construction is modular which means extension of capacity is easy. The system is designed for minimum circulation volume and low power consumption. Due to the pre-clarification with centrifuge no external retentate tank is necessary. CrossFlow is taking place inside the system.
The Pall patented stainless steel modules are designed for the brewing industry and incorporate a PES hollow-fibre membrane material (pore size ~ 0.65µm). The modules are sanitisable up to 80°C and are pressure resistant up to 10 bar. They can be vented completely and can be drained to a residual level of < 50 litres within the 20 modules.
Thorough investigation
Carlsberg after a thorough investigation have concluded that the PROFI system offers the environmental benefit that reflect their corporate principles for social responsibility, but is also a cost saving technology in comparison to conventional systems and worthy of investment. Their chosen site is the Tuborg, Fredericia Brewery.
Carlsberg's first full scale plant
The first full scale plant has been invested in and subject to one years success criteria measurement, will become an integrated part of the sites production philosophy.
Environmentally Friendly
As well as being completely DE free the PROFI system uses 15 to 35% less water than conventional diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration; heat demand is 50 to 75% less while electrical power demand is 5 to 15% higher. Standard chlorine-free cleaning agents can be used.
Summary
PROFI achieves a more consistent clarification rate than conventional systems and is superior to DE filtration in terms of economics, safety and quality.
It does not affect the beers organoleptic properties and beer losses are very, very low. With the PROFI process, beer stabilisation is easy and the patented module design has significant economical advantages. Above this the eradication for the need for DE reduces landfill and offers the environmental advantage not afforded by conventional systems.
In summary all these benefits together gave Carlsberg the decision to choose PROFI
For more information on this company:
Pall - Process Engineering and Membrane Filtration Systems
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