Edited by Eamonn Ryan with technical input from Jacques Mouton of Coldfact
Devil’s Peak Brewery recently upgraded its production capacity and therefore needed to upgrade the current chiller from 300kW at -5°C leaving water to 530kW at -5°C leaving water.
The critical charged installation is operating with 205kg of NH3 refrigerant and was pre-manufactured on a galvanised frame. Images supplied by Coldfact
In recent years, Devil’s Peak Brewery has emerged as a prominent player in the South African craft beer scene, experiencing rapid growth and garnering attention both locally and internationally.
Launched in April 2012, Devil’s Peak Brewing Company has experienced phenomenal growth, thanks largely to growing consumer demand for greater variety of beer in terms of taste and style. The company began as a three-man start-up in Somerset West, moving a while later to larger premises in the historic Cape Town suburb of Salt River, with a beautifully renovated warehouse brewery and brass-hued brew-pub facility, initially offering a brewing capacity in excess of 40 000ℓ.
More recently, Devil’s Peak Brewery upgraded its production capacity, and therefore needed to upgrade the current chiller from 300kW at -5°C leaving water to 530kW at -5°C leaving water. The current Climavineta chiller was operating with R410a refrigerant, but the final request was to upgrade to natural refrigerant and therefore the ammonia (NH3) option was selected, which also offers a better co-efficient of performance (COP) rating and has a GWP (Global Warming Potential) of 0, compared to the GWP of R410a of 2 088.
The NH3 refrigeration system consists of two circuits which each have a brace plate heat exchanger, Mycom compressor, 75kW Motorelli compressor motor and a 11kW circulation pump. Each system can supply 300kW at -8°C suction temperature.
Coldfact, as the main contractor, oversaw the entire installation, while each subcontractor specialised in specific aspects like the design, refrigeration system, evaporative condenser, control system and mor
Mycom compressors are widely used in industrial refrigeration. The variable speed control for compressor motors and circulation pumps allows for better energy efficiency and control over temperature variations during production.
The advantages of using ammonia as a refrigerant include:
- its environmentally friendly nature
- GWP of 0
- better COP rating
- good thermodynamic properties
Signal Hill Products – Skid & Pipe Layout.
Safety measures often include leak detection systems and proper ventilation, given ammonia’s potential hazards.
The compressor motors and circulation pumps are variable-speed controlled to allow for efficient suction temperature and constant control of the water temperatures during peak loads during production.
A Baltimore Air Coil (BAC) evaporative condenser with stainless steel tubes, was installed for the heat rejection and compressor head cooling. Water treatment was installed to prolong the life expectancy of the evaporative condenser. BAC evaporative condensers are known for their efficiency in heat rejection. Stainless steel tubes are likely chosen for their corrosion resistance, ensuring durability in the condenser.
The critical charged installation is operating with 205kg of NH3 refrigerant and was pre-manufactured on a galvanised frame. The galvanised frame for the critical charged installation was chosen for its corrosion resistance. Thereafter, 33% propylene glycol mixture was added to the system to supply an operating water temperature of -5°C.
Coldfact, as the main contractor, oversaw the entire installation, while each subcontractor specialised in specific aspects like the design, refrigeration system, evaporative condenser, and control system.
Devil’s Peak Brewery Glycol skid v23.The SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) control system by HCS Automation and Control provides centralised monitoring and control, enhancing system efficiency. The main distribution board by Industrial Motor Control manages power distribution for various components. Procontrol’s role involves water treatment, which is crucial for maintaining the efficiency and lifespan of the evaporative condenser.
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