Several Types of Brewery CIP Systems

Brewery CIP Tanks

The size and number of brewery CIP tanks depends on the type of CIP cycle and the size of the brewery. Tanks are available for a variety of CIP applications, including fresh water, caustic, acid, reuse (cleaning or rinsing), and disinfectant. For example, AISI 304, 316, or 316L. In some brewery CIP tank applications, 304 stainless steel may be used, but most quality CIP system manufacturers use 316/316L as standard material for all wetted parts, including the tank body.

Single tank system

The most common is a simple loop that only needs to be cleaned or rinsed. After each loop is passed once, the waste is discharged to the sewer.

Advantages

Avoid allergens and cross-contamination issues. Because it is discharged to the sewer after each use

• Single tank system must have a lower initial investment than multiple tank systems

• Requires less space and can be mounted on a cart for easy movement.

Precautions

• Must use the same tank for each cycle.

• Not recommended for many cycles or reuse strategies.

• Cleaning cycle takes more time to refill and heat the water tank each time.

• The use of water and chemicals is higher in single tank systems because it must be drained after each cleaning and rinsing.

Dual Tank System

One tank for pre-rinse or final rinse and the other for alkaline cleaning solution.

Advantages

• Alkaline wash solution can be returned to tank and reused multiple times.

• Pre-fill and pre-heat each tank as needed before starting cleaning cycle to reduce cleaning time.

• Mounts on cart for easy mobility.

Precautions

• Requires more space.

• Less maneuverability than single tank system.

Three-Tank System

Systems with three tanks offer more cleaning options than smaller systems.

Advantages

• The water/alkaline/acid cycle is common in many cleaning applications because it includes pre-filling and pre-heating of all solutions, which reduces cleaning time.

• Depending on the amount of soil in the treatment system, the alkaline solution and the acid wash solution can be returned and reused.

• Water/alkaline/reuse: If an acid wash is not required, the reuse tank can collect the dirty alkaline detergent and use it as an effective pre-rinse for the next cleaning sequence.

• Water/alkaline/alternative alkaline: Used to clean multiple circuits with different types of product soils that require different types or concentrations of alkaline cleaning.

Four-Tank System

More tanks in a four-tank system provide the flexibility to recycle and reuse solutions without sacrificing the convenience of individual alkaline and acid tanks.

• Complex automation systems include valves and instrumentation that monitor key variables and provide data for system verification and validation.

• Water/Alkali/Acid/Reuse is a typical four-tank setup that allows for prefilling and preheating at each wash and optional reuse wash.

• Water/Alkali/Alternate Alkali/Reuse cycles can use different types of products to clean soils and require multiple alkaline wash cycles with different concentrations. All without compromising the reuse option.

Precautions

• Space requirements

• More complex system

• Generally not suitable for vehicle movement

• Requires more initial investment