Improvement of energy efficiency in a brewery

Abstract

The implementation and performance of an innovative surplus heat recovery system in a brewery are analyzed in this Thesis.

An energy balance of the flows present in the plant was performed, and focus was given to determining the steam demands and where heat was being discarded to the ambient. The option to utilize this heat either to produce steam with a high temperature heat pump or hot water with a carbon dioxide heat pump is evaluated, and the efficiency of the new system is presented. A comparison has been made between the two alternatives, and the economic and environmental benefits of the proposed design have been identified.

It is expected that this paper will illustrate the opportunity that the new technologies offer in this kind of processes and how the companies might obtain economic and competitive advantages, and encourage brewers to adopt a more environmentally conscious approach.