PUMPS, VALVES & HOSES
Eradicate yeast handling issues with these pumping solutions
Certa Sine pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) have replaced rotary lobe pumps at the family-owned Hofmann brewery located in Germany. The new technology will eliminate gassing issues while boosting pump efficiency.
I
n the brewing process, once fermentation
Hofmann was advised to adopt a MasoSine
is complete, the yeast is recovered (or
Certa 200 series pump.
harvested) for reuse. The challenge is
Certa offers both high suction capability
that much of this yeast settles at the bottom
and high flow. This performance level is
of the fermentation tank where it can set into
consistent even with different yeast strains/
compacted bulk so pumps with high suction
viscosities and pipework runs and even
capabilities are required to draw the solid
compacted yeast is easily drawn from the
yeast from the tank.
fermentation vessel.
GAS LOCKING
“As a prominent engineering group, WMFTG has an ethical responsibility to manage its economic, environmental and social impacts, while helping customers and suppliers to do the same. In August 2020, the company committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040”
Yeast naturally forms bubbles during fermentation and can cause gassing-off (gas locking) issues for the pumps used to harvest it. Gas locking had serious and ongoing effects for the lobe pumps at the Hofmann brewery, including a reduction in flow rate. This effect was particularly noticeable due to the need for long suction lines between multiple yeast tanks and the pump station.
FACT BOX WMFTG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc which has strategically located manufacturing plants around the world and employs over 7 800 people, of whom 1 800 are direct sales and service engineers. Its shares have been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1959 (symbol: SPX) and it is a constituent of the FTSE 100 and the FTSE4Good indices.
high yeast usage and costs – issues avoided
CONTROLLED PROCESS Certa pumping technology is virtually pulsefree, providing consistent flows despite varying product and system conditions, thus facilitating controlled yeast transfer. Due to the continuous and smooth pumping action, the pump draws the yeast from the bottom of the tank and avoids any turbulence that would cause the beer to mix with the settled
To overcome these challenges, Hofmann
yeast. This clarity enables the brew master
invited WMFTG to assess the application
to immediately recognise when the yeast
and make its recommendations. Several
removal process is complete and can stop the
stipulations were involved, including
pump before losing beer.
the requirement to handle various yeast
is low-shear pumping. The presence of high
gas locking. With these thoughts in mind,
shear can lead to poor quality beer, as well as
April 2021 | FOOD REVIEW
with the use of this technology. It was a combination of these factors that prompted Hofmann to install Certa 200 pumps, which duly led to successful and continuous yeast harvesting. The brew master has since stated that ease of maintenance by the brewery’s personnel, and rapid CIP cleaning, are added advantages. Here, the simplicity of the Certa pumps reduces CIP cycles and the amount of water and cleaning agents required. •
A further advantage of Certa technology
viscosities, the need for self-priming, and no
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The new Certa Sine pump at Hoffman Brewery
Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group - www.wmftg.com
