Lesson 2 - Water
In this lesson we take a closer look at water from a utilities perspective. We will consider different forms of water treatment and look at the equipment required and operation thereof. The focus will be on treatment required for process and service water. Water chemistry will not be covered in any detail, as this is covered in Diploma Brewing Module 1.
Overall Water Treatment Solutions
Matching different water requirements with possible technologies allows us to put together a variety of options.
Now that we’ve described various water treatment solutions, let us look again at the typical brewery water scheme figure we saw earlier in the lesson. This is by no means the only way to do it, so bear in mind that every brewery and supplier will have a different set-up.
Figure: Typical brewery water scheme
How to choose the right technology?
Choosing the right technology is critical in any process.
It is near impossible to provide a blueprint, but you should know the answers to the following questions before making your choice:
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What is the source and quality of the water?
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What is the availability and reliability of the water?
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What qualities and volumes are required in the process?
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How reliable is the equipment?
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Does it require regeneration/cleaning/maintenance?
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What is the cost of running the equipment?
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What is the capital cost of the equipment?
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Are the materials suitable for the application and will you have any corrosion issues?
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Do you have more processing capability to handle fluctuations or more storage to provide buffering?
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Can you clean individual equipment?
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Can you clean all the intermediary pipework?
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Is the overall design hygienic, especially once water has been disinfected or sterilised?