September 2021

36 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk September 2021 Energy & Environmental Management Focus on: Boilers, Burners & Controls No regrets: Brewery switches from steam to thermal fluid A nyone running a brewery will tell you just how critical the boil phase of the brewing process is; and when Rebellion set out on its journey from steam to thermal, they were warned that they’d never succeed in getting that clean flavour achieved from a steam-driven rolling boil. “The move from steam to thermal was a leap of faith on our part, but the warnings received from other breweries have been proven to be incorrect!” says Rebellion Beer Company’s Mark Gloyens. “Product quality has improved because we now have more control over temperature for the wort boiling process than ever before. We’re getting a very good quality boil that is controllable and we have achieved everything we wanted from the move from steam to thermal fluid”. Thanks to the control and flexibility that the thermal system affords Rebellion, the brewery has had the ability to achieve various size batches as and when required. Until recently, this has enabled them to process research and development batches and has been especially useful throughout the pandemic when, at the beginning, throughput was decimated because pubs were forced to close. However, as lockdowns came and went, Rebellion successfully pivoted its business and started selling direct to the consumer via a home delivery service, which meant throughput very quickly returned to pre-pandemic levels, currently two to three batches per day, with each boil lasting up to 90 minutes. “The beauty of the thermal fluid installation is its flexibility and ability to very easily adapt our changing brewing strategies.” says Gloyens. “Historically we would have been doing two brews per day to achieve maximum output, but because of its flexibility, we are now able to shut the thermal fluid heater down for a day per week to deep clean the brewhouse and increase output to three brews per day for the remainder of the week. Something that would In 2015, with business improving but original process equipment reaching end-of-life, Rebellion Beer Company bucked the trend and, with impartial advice from heat transfer specialist Fulton, replaced its ageing steam boiler for a thermal fluid system. Now, six years on, Rebellion’s Mark Gloyens explains how brewery life has coped with the switch. PWE reports. Built for the future. Ready now. COM MERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL Visit rielloburners.co.uk to 昀nd out more or phone on 01480 432144 9 Leading burner technology for over 90 years. 9 Meeting the climate challenges of today and tomorrow. 9 Maximising Ef昀ciency and Minimising Emissions. 9 The perfect choice for all process applications. 9 Full product support from concept to completion and beyond. 9 An extensive range to cover 10kW to 30,000kW.