MASTER YOUR CRAFT WITH INGERSOLL RAND

Did you know that every time the temperature rises 5°F per 100 cfm of compressed air, your system generates another five gallons of moisture per day? Meaning over a summer month, you will have to remove at least 150 gallons of unwanted moisture in your compressed air system due to high temperatures. Moisture wreaks havoc on your equipment and beer, leading to unplanned downtime and unwanted waste. Excess moisture in your air system can throw off important pH levels, grow bacteria, lead to corrosion in the piping and various compressor issues.

Having a refrigerated dryer installed to your system will clean up your lines and keep your brewing operations running efficiently. A refrigerated dryer is a standard choice if you are looking for a low maintenance solution. These dryers work by cooling down the air. The warm air enters the dryer, where it is cooled down to 37°F. The liquid is then removed from the compressed air by a water trap. After that, the air is then reheated to room temperature and pushed through your system ready to be used.

The main purpose of a drain valve is to remove condensation from compressor, receiver tanks, dyers as well as from aftercoolers, filters, and drip legs. Without a drain valve, your compressor will collect water and the tank will begin to rust, becoming the air that will be pumped into your beer, changing how the beer tastes and smells. There are different options, depending on your preference:

• Electronic Timer Drain is a cost-effective electronic drain valve (EDV) that is designed to automatically discharge condensation using an easy to operate built-in timer. Offered in a variety of outlet pipe and orifice sizes, this compact and reliable drain valve can meet system demands easily. Ultra bright LED lights alert the user when the power is on and the valve is open.
• Our Electronic No-Loss (ENL) Drain Valves offers an environmentally friendly way to remove condensation. These leak-proof, low-maintenance drains eliminates air loss and clogging while saving you hundreds of dollars in energy costs a year. This type of drain valve can attach to a wide variety of compressors and accessories, and their lightweight, compact design makes it easy to use them in confined spaces.
• The newly enhanced PNLD II units are heavy-duty industrial drain valves that remove condensate without wasting compressed air. The pneumatically-powered PNLD II requires no electricity, pre-settings, or manual intervention. Designed to complement all compressed air systems including compressors, filters, water separators, dryers, coolers and receivers, the PNLD II is easy to install and will not clog.

Most compressed air systems experience fluctuating demand. This can cause unstable system pressure, requiring compressors to cycle on and off.

As CO2 enters the keg, it displaces your beer at a constant pressure, replacing the space where the poured beer use to be. With CO2 filling that empty space, your keg is able to maintain a pressure set by your regulator. Making sure that your beer stays at a constant PSI keeps your beer carbonated by preventing the CO2 from dissolving and leaking out.

If you have too much pressure, it could result into fast pouring and extremely foamy beer with large bubbles. To prevent this problem, you will have to adjust your pressure immediately to a proper, lower level. If you wait +24 hours to adjust your pressure, it will leave your newly brewed beer permanently foamy and over-carbonated.

If you have too little pressure, your beer will still pour foamy, but it will look looser than if there is too much pressure, such as having smaller bubbles giving it a “soapy” looking. If you wait too long to adjust the pressure, you will have flat beer.

The typical solution is to overcompensate by using additional compressors and/or by increasing overall system pressure. However, these approaches increase overall operating costs and air loss due to leaks as well as damage to compressors and point-of-use equipment. The PacE regulator from Ingersoll Rand allows you to view the amount of pressure going through your compressed air system to ensure you have proper pressure for your craft beer.

Operating air compressors in a food grade environment carries a high concern for contamination if not maintained properly. When ambient air is compressed, the contaminants within the air become concentrated. Pollutants such as dirt, rust, pollen, water vapor can be found throughout your compressed air system if you don’t have the proper treatments. When you don’t properly maintain your compressed air system, you will find sludge, acid, and varnish throughout your compressor and piping system. In order to protect your equipment and business is a great idea to invest in Ultra FG Lubricant.

Ingersoll Rand’s Food Grade Lubricant is a synthetic alkylated naphthalene base fluid that provides better inherent temperature stability, detergent action and stabilizers that keep the lubricant from breaking down. Additionally, the blend does not form abrasive deposits such as those formed by mineral oils and conventional polyalphaolefins (PAOs). These characteristics prevent acid formation and ingested material deposits from accumulating in critical areas of the compressor, extending service life and enhancing performance.

Ensuring that you are using the correct food grade lubricant will keep your product safe if incidental contact occurs and increases your productivity by keeping your compressor running trouble-free longer with less maintenance requirements for life.

No matter where your craft brewing operations are heading−toward a better product, to wider distribution, or from kegs to cans−how fast you reach your goals, and how much it costs you to get there, is determined by the quality and reliability of your compression system.