Table of Contents
Types of tanks needed in a brewery
- Lauter tun: A tank with a rotating rake arm and a cutting blade that mixes the grain and presses spent grain out of the barrel. This can be done manually or with an automated system that increases or decreases the amount of raking into the grain depending on how murky the overflow is and how tight the grain bed is. It requires a watering system to add rinse water to the vessel, most of which involve multiple sprinklers that carefully add water to ensure that the filter does not get into the grain bed.
- Boiling kettle: Used to boil the wort, most breweries have switched to steam kettles, which have steam jackets inside the kettle to boil the wort.
- Fermentation tanks: Used for the primary fermentation process, where yeast converts the sugars in the malt into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Usually, a closed vessel can control temperature and pressure to promote yeast activity.
- Storage tanks: Used to store mature beer for future packaging or distribution. These tanks are usually larger and can hold large quantities of beer.
What is a storage tank?
Beer storage tanks are containers used to store and preserve beer and wine. They play an important role in the beer production process. Beer storage tanks are usually made of stainless steel because of their good corrosion resistance, easy cleaning, and food contact properties. The size and form of storage tanks vary according to the production scale and needs of the brewery. Some breweries may have multiple storage tanks to cope with the production needs of different batches and types of beer.
- Maturation and storage stage: Finished beer is stored in maturation tanks, which are usually large containers made of stainless steel. In these tanks, the beer will experience a certain amount of time to improve its taste and maturity.
- Distribution and delivery stage: Beer storage tanks may also be used to temporarily store beer for packaging and delivery to bottling, canning, or keg equipment.
- Freshness and quality control: Beer storage tanks can provide appropriate environmental conditions (such as temperature and pressure control) to ensure that the beer maintains its optimal quality during storage.
Advantages of Storage Tanks
Storage tanks have many advantages in various industrial and commercial applications, especially in the food, beverage, and chemical industries.
Here are some of the main advantages:
- Large capacity: Storage tanks are usually designed as large-capacity equipment that can store large amounts of liquid or powdered substances, which is very important for large-scale production in industrial production.
- Protect products: Storage tanks can provide good environmental control and protect stored substances from the influence of the external environment, such as light, air, moisture, etc., which is conducive to maintaining the stability and quality of substances.
- Strong adaptability: Storage tanks can choose suitable materials and designs according to different stored substances, such as stainless steel, fiberglass, plastic, etc., to meet specific chemical properties, corrosion resistance, and hygiene requirements.
- Easy operation: Storage tanks are usually designed with easy-to-operate and maintain structures, which can easily load and unload substances, and clean and maintain them.
- Economical and efficient: In large-scale production, storage tanks can save costs through batch production and transportation, and their durability and reliability over long-term use also make them economically advantageous.
- Safety: Appropriate design and manufacturing can ensure that storage tanks are safe during use and prevent leakage, explosion, or other safety accidents.
Types of storage tanks
There are two main types of storage tanks based on their use:
- Jacketed tanks: The outer shell (wall) of a jacketed tank is surrounded by a jacket, which can be a single-layer or double-layer structure, and is usually connected to the inside of the tank through a gap or pipe in the middle. Jacketed tanks are usually used in situations where the temperature inside the tank needs to be controlled. The temperature of the material in the tank can be adjusted by circulating a heating or cooling medium (such as steam, hot water, or cold water) in the jacket, such as controlling the temperature during fermentation or keeping the finished product cool.
- Non-jacketed tanks: Storage tanks without a jacket structure, usually made of a single-layer material such as stainless steel. This type of tank is usually used to store and maintain the stability and quality of materials, such as storing matured beer or raw materials, but cannot be effectively temperature controlled like a jacketed tank.
Selection of stainless steel storage tanks
Storage tanks need to be able to withstand and adapt to a range of temperatures and pressures. Especially in the food and beverage industry, temperature control is sometimes required to maintain product quality. Determine the capacity of the storage tank based on the expected production volume to ensure that it can meet production needs. Choose a tank with reliable quality and long-term durability to reduce the frequency of maintenance and replacement. If you are not sure what size or type of storage tank you need, you can consult Micet Craft. Professional engineers will make the most suitable storage tank solution for you. At the same time, we also provide a variety of stainless steel brewing tanks, welcome to contact us!