Ask The Brewmasters

  • 1.  Water heated CO2 vaporizer

    Posted 08-10-2022 14:44

    We are currently looking at trying to tie in a water heated CO2 vaporizer for our bulk co2 system that would be tied to our glycol return. I first heard of this concept from master brewers podcast episode 186, but my current vendor seems to have no idea what I'm talking about. Im looking for a unit that would work with 2x 750lb bulk tanks and was hoping to see what other people are using and like.

    Thank you



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    Andrew Roth
    Brewmaster
    Fox River Brewing Co.
    Oshkosh WI
    (920) 232-2334
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  • 2.  RE: Water heated CO2 vaporizer

    Posted 08-11-2022 13:03
    Hey Andrew,
    Back in the day ('89?), we did something like this that was fairly cheap. We plumbed in a 50' coil
    of 3/4" copper and dropped it into our glycol holding tank. We were using an old dairy tank for
    glycol at that time, so we stretched the coil out to fit the tank end to end....simple and worked great.
    Jamie

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    James Emmerson
    Executive Brewmaster (retired)
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  • 3.  RE: Water heated CO2 vaporizer

    Posted 08-11-2022 19:04
    Hi Andrew,

    I think this might be what you're looking for. CO2 Extraction Plants - Beverage industry - Union Engineering
    Union remove preview
    CO2 Extraction Plants - Beverage industry - Union Engineering
    Water Heated CO 2 Vaporizer is a shell and tube heat exchanger in which circulating water gives off its heat to vaporize liquid CO 2. Because any water which requires cooling can be used, an important secondary benefit can be realized in the reduction of the plant refrigeration load.
    View this on Union >

    Good luck!

    ------------------------------
    Peter Kruger
    COO/Master Brewer
    Bear Republic Brewing Co
    Cloverdale CA
    (707) 955-6679
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  • 4.  RE: Water heated CO2 vaporizer

    Posted 08-28-2022 16:35
    Hello all, I was curious if anyone could speak in more detail to experience they've had installing one of these systems into existing infrastructure. We have an opportunity to leverage state incentives for energy reduction and the engineering consultants we've worked with believe the chiller is the easiest project for them to toss money at. Installing a vaporizer that would remove heat from our glycol return was one aspect of our discussed efficiency project. Thankfully our chillers are on the same pad as our CO2 bulk tank, so pipe work would be minimal and this project may get accelerated into 2023. 

    Some specific questions I have:
    • What unit did you source? We are looking for options including the Union Engineering/Pentair unit above. 
    • Difficulty or ease of installation and operation. 
    • Has anyone calculated the actual BTUs saved by removing heat from glycol return via CO2 vaporization? I would need this to estimate energy savings by running the chiller X% less than we are now. 
    Thanks!

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    Campbell Morrissy
    Head Brewer
    pFriem Family Brewers

    PhD Candidate
    OSU - Barley Project
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    Original Message


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