Brewery Setup Blog

Breweries commonly employ various types of wort boiling equipment, such as internal-heating brew kettles, external-heating brew kettles, low-pressure brew kettles, and continuous brew kettles. To ensure proper boiling, the capacity of the brew kettle should not be less than 900L/100kg feed. If the design capacity is too small, it can lead to insufficient boiling and potential wort overflow.

Heating methods in breweries worldwide are typically categorized into three types: direct-fire heating, electric heating, and steam heating. Among them, steam heating is favored for its gentle and uniform heating efficiency, making it the preferred choice.

A Steam-heated brew kettle in breweries work by using saturated steam to transfer heat through the metal surface of the brew kettle, effectively heating the wort. Modern boiling equipment, as Tiantai brew kettles made of stainless steel, utilizes this principle.

Steam jacketed brew kettles are common in small craft breweries and pub brews. However, with the development of the beer industry, medium and large breweries turn to steam calandria. Nevertheless, steam jacketed brew kettles remain the foundation of all steam heated brew kettles, and modern boiling equipment still follows this principle.

The function of a steam jacketed brew kettle is: steam enters the steam pipe through a steam inlet valve with a steam pressure-reducing valve, and the pressure is adjusted according to the process requirements. The depressurized steam then enters the jacket of the brew kettle through multiple small tubes to distribute heat evenly. The steam jacket is insulated to minimize heat loss, and safety measures such as safety valves and pressure gauge are included as specified. During boiling, exhaust pipes and valves ensure that all air is vented from the jacket. At the end of boiling, these exhaust valves open again to prevent a vacuum formation due to steam condensation.

When choosing a heating method for a steam brew kettle, the recommendation is to use a steam jacket for heating capacities below 2000L, an external calandria for capacities above 5000L, and an internal calandria for medium-sized beer equipment ranging from 2000L to 5000L. For personalized brewing equipment needs, you can contact our sales engineers for guidance.