Brewery Glycol Chillers
Precision Cooling for Beer Production
Industrial-grade glycol chilling systems maintain ±0.5°C accuracy for fermentation, carbonation & packaging. Explore technical specs and process-critical applications.
What is a Brewery Glycol Chiller?
A brewery glycol chiller circulates chilled propylene glycol (30-40% concentration) through closed-loop systems to regulate temperatures during:
Wort Cooling: 100°C → 18-24°C (64-75°F) in ≤30 mins
Fermentation: 18-22°C (ales) / 7-13°C (lagers)
Cold Crashing: 0-4°C (32-39°F) for yeast flocculation
Key Components:
Scroll compressors (20-100 HP)
SS304 plate heat exchangers
Food-grade epoxy-coated reservoirs
Critical Brewing Applications
1. Wort Cooling Systems
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Cooling Rate | 100L/min @ ΔT=50°C |
| Heat Exchanger Type | Plate & Frame (3D-printed) |
| Glycol Temp | -5°C to -10°C (23-14°F) |
Why It Matters: Prevents DMS formation by rapid cooling post-boil.
2. Fermentation Tank Control
- Temperature Zones:
- Primary: 18-22°C (Ale yeast: Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
- Secondary: 0-4°C (Diacetyl rest)
- Cooling Method: Glycol jackets with PID-controlled flow rates
Energy Savings: Variable speed pumps reduce by 25% vs. constant flow.
3. Brite Tank & Carbonation
- Optimal Conditions:
- Temperature: 0-2°C (32-35°F)
- Pressure: 12-15 PSI
- System: Glycol-chilled stone carbonators with 0.1°C stability
Output: 2.5-2.7 vols CO2 with ≤5% variance batch-to-batch.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Microbrewery (5BBL) | Commercial (50BBL+) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling Capacity | 5-10 TR | 50-150 TR |
| Glycol Flow Rate | 20-40 GPM | 200-500 GPM |
| Chiller Type | Air-Cooled | Water-Cooled |
| Certifications | NSF/ANSI 169, CE | 3-A Sanitary, ASME BPE |
Why Glycol vs. Direct Cooling?
Precision: ±0.3°C vs. ±2°C with flooded systems
Corrosion Resistance: Food-grade inhibitors extend coil life 3X
Sanitation: CIP-compatible designs reduce downtime by 40%
Industry Data: 92% of Top 100 US craft brewers use glycol systems (Brewers Association 2023).
Certified Brewery Chiller Solutions
Qile provides NSF-certified glycol chillers for nano to macro breweries. Features include:
- Automated glycol concentration monitoring
- Remote IoT temperature tracking
- Explosion-proof options for CO2-rich environments