Flexitherm

Flexitherm™ is an automatic pasteurization machine for beer pasteurization. Flexitherm™ uses a pasteurization method that eliminates microbiological spoilage, achieves the right pasteurization temperature and preserves the quality and shelf life of beer and other carbonated drinks over a variable flow range. This pasteurization method is tailored to provide optimal, efficient thermal treatment of beer to be sent to aseptic filling systems.

Flexitherm - Plate heat exchanger for beer pasteurization

Reduce microbiological spoilage and preserve beer quality

  • Reliable pasteurization units (PU) control system for stable product treatment (PU variations within +/- 10% of target level during constant operation
  • Minimum site work as the module is self-contained and pre-assembled with automatic control
  • Designed for CIP, the sanitary and compact module requires low maintenance, minimizing downtime
  • Effective energy recovery up to 95%
  • State-of-the-art automated control system featuring process continuously refined control refinements
Using the Flexitherm™ module for pasteurization of beer ensures a low hold-up volume in the PHE for minimum beer loss. Low water and energy consumption save further on beer, while the glue free clip-on gaskets save on time and resources. The well-structured PLC software is easily integrated into an automated control system.
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Machinery for the vast majority of pasteurization requirements

The standard configurations in the Flexitherm Core range cover the majority of normal pasteurization capacity requirements (40 to 400 hl/hr) for pasteurization of beer and other beverages. Each pasteurization module is optimized to deliver a constant pasteurization effect (selectable from 10–100 units) at variable flow, based on following:

  • Product inlet/outlet temperature of 2°C and pressure of 200 kPa
  • CO2 content up to 6.0 g/litre
  • Pasteurization temperature 67–76°C
  • Holding time of 30 secs at maximum capacity

Flexitherm™

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This beer pasteurization equipment is ideal for high capacity brewer processing. It cuts operation costs by recovering up to 95% of heat*.

Specification

Approximate dimensions and weight depending on capacity range:

For capacity = 40hl/h,
Dimensions (LxWxH): 3.2m x 2.0m x 2.2m

For capacity = 400hl/h,
Dimensions (LxWxH): 4.0m x 3.6m x 2.6m

*Compared to a traditional tunnel pasteurizer, it improves overall water consumption by up to 0.42hl/hl, and improves the energy usage ratio by 5MJ/hl.

Flexitherm beer pasteurization wireframe
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Flexitherm™ Mini

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Designed especially for craft brewers, Flexitherm™ Mini lets you save several recipes in the same unit with individual settings for different craft beers. 

Specification

Capacity: 5-50 hl/h (3 different modules)
Dimensions (LxWxH): 4,000 x 2,000 x 2,000 mm

 

View the 3D/VR model here

Flexitherm mini beer pasteurization wireframe
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Hear from our customer

According to Art Oestrike, president at Jackie O's, "Barrel ageing beers is a fickle business. You take this big, beautiful imperial stout or barley wine and throw it into a freshly dumped bourbon barrel and let it sit in our warehouse. A year and a half after packaging it, they start to turn sour. They don't taste good."

Watch the video to hear how Flexitherm Mini 'flipped the barrel aging programme on its head'.

 

 

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How it works

Alfa Laval Plate Heat Exchanger for beer pasterurization 

FLEXITHERM is a plate heat exchanger (PHE): A system for pasterurization of beer which eliminates or reduces the number of live micro-organisms in the product. It reduces microbiological spoilage and improves microbiological stability and increases product shelf life.

Achieving the right pasteurization temperature with Flexitherm™

Flexitherm™ achieves the required pasteurization temperature through a combination of heat and holding time. Cold, unpasteurized beer is heated in the PHE to the desirable pasteurization temperature in two steps. Automatic adjustment of FLEXITHERM flow to cater for variations in filling machine demand. Avoid product recirculation and risk of over pasteurization.

 

 

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Pasteurization module design

The modular design of the Flexitherm Core pasteurization module has two distinct parts:

  1. thermal processing equipment
  2. buffer tank and routing

A comprehensive selection of standardized, tried-and-tested configurations is available.

 

Thermal processing with high heating recovery and flexible capacity

The thermal processing equipment lies at the heart of the Flexitherm Core pasteurization module. Here the incoming product is heated, treated and cooled. Product heating takes place first in the heat recovery section, which keeps energy consumption to a minimum, then in a dedicated heating section to achieve the required pasteurization temperature. To minimize product degradation from over-exposure to high temperature, the heating section re-circulates water through a brazed plate heat exchanger that is fed with steam. To reach the required outlet temperature, the treated product is first cooled in the heat recovery section, then in a dedicated cooling section using an external cooling media. Where there is unstable cooling media supply, an optional recirculation pump ensures consistent and optimal cooling conditions and prevents the product from freezing inside the heat exchanger.

The capacity of the thermal processing equipment can be adjusted to accommodate variations in demand during the filling process, with the pasteurization temperature automatically adjusted to maintain a consistent pasteurization unit effect at all times.

Optional features for the thermal processing equipment include control of the inlet pressure, automatic media shut-off valves, steam pressure regulation, condensate recovery, among others.

Well-structured PLC software in the pasteurization modules ensures straightforward integration of the automated control system into a larger-scale monitoring system via Ethernet or Profibus.

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