Page 73 - FoodFocusThailand No.180 March 2021

SUCCESS STORY
SUCCESS STORY

Reliable Levels

for the Right Taste Relies on

Sensor Transmitter

in Fohrenburg Brewery

Anyone who has a unicorn in their coat of arms must certainly believe in magic and power of legend.
Since 1260, the unicorn has featured in both the emblem of Bludenz and the trademark of the Fohrenburg
brewery. However, in everyday beer production, instead of magic, it is better to rely on real measured values.

The brewery, which delivers far beyond Vorarlberg, produces a measurement. A particular area of application is the dosing of
wide variety of beers. It is known especially for its state-of-the-art diatomaceous earth, which is required for filtration. This whitish powdery
brewing techniques, strict hygienic standards, and highly qualified substance is light and highly porous and binds to any turbid matter in
employees. liquids. For that reason, it is used to clarify the beer. The diatomaceous
earth forms a filter layer that retains turbidity, thus clearing the beer. In
How do you Bring Traditional Processes into the the dosing container with agitator, the quantities must exactly match.
Modern Age? “If this is not the case, the filtration does not work and the batch has
In general, the company maintains traditional, proven methods, but to be discarded,” explains Schneider. Pressure transmitters1 are used
does attempt to bring them up to date technologically. It is constantly here for contents measurement.
investing in new technologies, like in 2011, in the new brewhouse.
The Vorarlberg brewer also has to think cost-effectively. Hence, the Reliable in the CIP System
degree of automation is increasing from year to year; for example, The finished beer is transferred from the pressure tanks to the bottling
almost everything in the brewhouse runs automatically nowadays. plant to be filled into barrels or bottles. Pressure transmitter must have
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But not only are the primary processes becoming more and more the probe which is resistant to aggressive substances, such as acids
automated, the secondary processes, such as bottling, are as well. and lyes , and precisely measures the quantities e.g., in the hot water
2
While you usually have the freedom to choose the equipment and tank. Here, exact level measurement is more critical than you would
connections for new installations, you have to make the best of the think at first glance.
situation with existing systems. One of the problems: many tanks in If the level in the CIP system is not correctly measured, the system
the brewery are certified. “Welding a nozzle for a new instrument type might very well switch off at night for safety reasons. The whole brewing
is often more expensive than the sensor itself. If you add the inspection process would then come to a standstill the following day.
the costs increase even more,” explains Christian Schneider, master Pressure transmitter , installed in the beverage truck that delivers
1
electrician at Fohrenburg. So, he always tries to use an existing vessel large quantities of beer directly to tent festivals, plays a small but
connection or a capillary tube to install a pressure transmitter . Such important role. In the past when the truck returned from the festivities,
1
a measuring solution is practicable, reliable, and ultimately justified the amount of beer consumed was estimated using a scale. Now a
in terms of price, too. small fitting can be quickly connected to the tank and the exact
consumption displayed. Although this installation is not a critical
Reliable Filtration component of the brewery, it demonstrates Fohrenburg’s philosophy:
Most of them operate as min./max. detectors and overfill protection always to be on the lookout for ways to simplify processes and make
in various tanks, but some are also used for continuous level them more reliable.

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