LANEMARK BRINGS HEATING BENEFITS TO SMALL BREWERY APPLICATION

A new gas process heating system from Lanemark Combustion Engineering is now fully operational at a leading micro-brewery in London. Villages Brewery is benefiting from Lanemark technology which plays a key role in a new facility – with particular gains noted in terms of operational efficiency.

“We have installed and commissioned a liquid heating TX 25E burner package on a brewing kettle supplied by Bespoke Brewing Solutions, with whom we liaised closely throughout the project,” says Lanemark’s Process Burner Sales Manager, Adrian Cadman. “This provides a capacity of 30 hl – or 18 UK barrels – and is now central to Villages Brewery’s production.”

The Lanemark installation – which utilises the existing natural gas supply and includes an exhaust fan, damper, digital temperature controls and gas valve train – is typical of the company’s extensive involvement in the mini- and micro-brewery sector. The burner is installed on the external wall of the circular vessel, firing through the structure into a submerged 2½” nb. stainless steel tubular heat exchanger.

“This takes the form of a helical coil located at the base of the tank in order to deliver the optimum blend of maximum heat transfer and minimum intrusion into the available space,” adds Adrian Cadman. He explains that the exhaust fan then pulls the products of combustion through the system to optimise even distribution of heat.

With the benefit of Lanemark’s own TxCalc specification software, which identifies the ideal combination of system components, efficiencies in excess of 80% can be readily achieved, as is the case at Villages Brewery. This is further enhanced by low exhaust temperatures of typically 180°C, which is markedly lower than alternative systems where up to 300°C, reducing efficiency to just 50%, can be noted.

Archie Village, Director at Deptford-based Villages Brewery – which distributes to a wide range of pubs and bottle shops throughout the capital – highlights the role played by the new installation.

“The facility is now central to all our brewing operations, so it is vital that it performs reliably every time,” he says. “The overall aim of the project has been to facilitate an increase in production output while building on the high quality that is at the heart of our reputation – and the Lanemark system is already delivering in both respects.”

These are factors that are demonstrated by the ability of the burner installation to raise the temperature of the liquid from a starting point of 65°C to the optimum process value of 102°C in just 66 minutes. The modulating gas and air control of the system then allows the target temperature to be maintained – of particular note in brewing applications where the need to maintain a ‘rolling boil’ is often vital.

“There has been a steady increase in the number of small brewing operations in the UK over a number of years and we have been able to develop and provide heating solutions that match,” comments Lanemark Director, Jeff Foster. “The benefits that are noted at Villages Brewery not only reflect this trend, but are also set to provide the brewer with a reliable platform upon which to build further success.”

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