Inline measurements are used extensively in the brewhouse to monitor and control process conditions for increased consistency and quality of the wort. Inconsistent wort production can result in variable process conditions affecting the final beer flavor, quality, brewhouse yield and increased costs due to extended processing time.
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Ensuring final beer quality begins in the brewhouse. Monitoring the color and clarification of the wort in the brewhouse is essential.
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Brewhouse Turbidity: Wort Color and Clarification Benefits |
- Monitor wort color for consistency, changes in raw materials
- Automatically control solids levels to brew kettle
- Automatically recirculate on knife cuts or breakthroughs
- Automatically detect trub cone disintegration on whirlpool outlet
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| Wort Clarification Monitoring |
Lauter tun run-off clarity has traditionally been a hands-on monitoring operation performed by brewery personnel, however this is now commonly done with a scattered light based photometer TF16-N, depending on the clarity levels reached and measurement expectations.
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This instrument continuously monitors solids concentrations in the extract stream to automatically indicate a switch to flow forward to the brew kettle when the desired clarity level is reached. More importantly, it can automatically react to any husk bed upsets, or elevated solids concentrations due to bed cuts.
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Depending on the normal clarity levels achieved, this measurement result can also be correlated to % TSS (Total Suspended Solids), which can then be combined with flow data to create a % TSS - flow weighted average. Control of this stage of the process offers predictable downstream solids content for both operational efficiency and flavor / clarity stability. When combined with other measurement devices, maximum extract recovery is insured.
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Using a mash filter for clarifying the wort makes the turbidity measurement even more important. Achieve better product quality by decreasing product losses and improving filter lifetime. Filter breaks can be immediately detected using a scattered light based photometer. Automated alarms will signal a breakthrough. Filter set-up time & CIP cycle duration can also be optimized.
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| Wort Color |
Wort color is also measured using spectral absorption. However, beer color is measured using visible light (VIS) at 430nm, and this poses a problem in the brewhouse as background turbidity also absorbs light at 430nm. To compensate, we measure at two wavelengths, 430nm and a reference wavelength in the near infrared. Subtracting the absorbance signal of the reference channel from the primary visible channel signal gives a pure color measurement. This result is then correlated to ASBC or EBC. Additionally, the reference channel can monitor trub and cold break if the sensor is strategically located after the wort cooler.
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