Lesson 8 - Heat Exchangers

This lesson focused on the two main heat exchangers found in breweries, namely, plate heat exchangers and shell and tube heat exchangers. The lesson examined the components, assembly, and operation of these exchangers. It also discussed how to select and size a heat exchanger and the considerations for cleaning, maintaining and operating heat exchangers in the brewing process.

You should now be able to:

1. Describe the various heat exchangers used in brewing beer, their key components, and applications.

2. Demonstrate how the configuration of a heat exchanger influences the exchanger design and performance.

3. Explain, using the principles of heat transfer, how heat is transferred in a heat exchanger, and the factors affecting the rate of heat transfer.

4. Select and size the appropriate exchanger for an application in a brewery and explain the pros and cons of your selection.

5. Explain why the actual performance of an exchanger varies from design and how this can be managed in a brewery.

A self-assessment lesson will now follow. This will give you the opportunity to determine the level to which you have met these learning outcomes.