In many breweries, nitrogen is now used alongside carbon dioxide. The Herbsthäuser Wunderlich KG Brewery, a private brewery in Herbsthausen near Bad Mergentheim utilizes nitrogen generator for brewery for many years from its own production. They are well aware of the advantages of producing their own nitrogen compared to relying on a liquid gas supply and using pure carbon dioxide in various processes. Nitrogen is used in the beer tanks alongside carbon dioxide for pre-charging or for the KEG system at the Herbsthäuser brewery.
Christian & Klaus Wunderlich and Image courtesy of Brauerei Herbsthauser.
At the beginning of 2024, Lanz Drucklufttechnik was commissioned to replace an older existing system with a new, more efficient nitrogen system from Oxysystems. Lanz Drucklufttechnik from Pleinfeld and Oxysystems GmbH from Herrsching have partnered with many breweries. Turnkey system solutions, including installation, commissioning, and maintenance, are offered to breweries by Mr.Christian Lanz and his team. This all-around “carefree package” enables continuous and smooth brewery operation and reliable nitrogen production. The new installation ensures that no expensive carbon dioxide needs to be purchased in the future. Additionally, supply bottlenecks in the procurement of carbon dioxide, such as those that occurred in the summer of 2018, can be avoided, preventing production losses. In-house nitrogen production can also save up to 80% of carbon dioxide purchasing costs.
However, this substantial amount of carbon dioxide can be entirely replaced with nitrogen. Additionally, KEG filling can be conducted with 100% nitrogen, while bottle filling can be performed using a C02/N2 gas mixture with up to 80% nitrogen. Carbon dioxide recovery only makes limited economic sense for larger breweries. Any additional demand in parallel with carbon dioxide recovery can also be covered here by suitable in-house nitrogen production. The extent to which nitrogen is used in breweries depends primarily on the brewery’s processes. Examples of nitrogen applications include flushing or overlaying tanks or containers, wort aeration, and yeast fermentation. Nitrogen can also be used to aerate yeast propagators for yeast cultivation or water deaeration.
In the production process at Herbsthäuser Brewery, our in-house generator boasts an impressive capacity, yielding over 30m3/hr of nitrogen with a remarkable purity level of up to 99.9%. Operating on the advanced pressure swing adsorption (PSA) principle, our 05-25-NX nitrogen generator efficiently separates the nitrogen component from the purified compressed air. This high-quality nitrogen is then readily available for subsequent processing in a downstream tank. To accommodate peak consumption, our system features additional intermediate storage tanks, ensuring seamless operations. Integrated into the existing local compressed air network, our Oxysystems nitrogen generator for brewery is equipped with a state-of-the-art Siemens S7 control system. Continuous monitoring of gas production is ensured through top-tier gas sensors, with data utilized for fully automated process control. With meticulously configured system settings, any deviations prompt immediate alarm notifications, guaranteeing a consistently clean and reliable nitrogen supply.
Our Expertise and Custom Solutions:
The size of the nitrogen generator for brewery is determined more by the specific processes and sequences within the brewery than by the brewery’s overall size. With extensive experience in both breweries and wineries, Oxysystems is well-equipped to address your needs. In collaboration with our trusted partner, we conduct a thorough analysis of your processes to recommend the most suitable nitrogen generator or to provide a customized turnkey system solution, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.
Advantages of Nitrogen Use:
The benefits of using nitrogen generator for brewery is becoming increasingly evident, driving steady market growth. Many breweries are choosing to generate their own nitrogen to gain independence from gas suppliers and achieve significant annual cost savings. Beyond the direct financial advantages, the self-generation of nitrogen contributes to more climate-neutral beer production. By incorporating heat recovery, renewable energies, energy-efficient systems, and reducing transportation, breweries can substantially lower their C02 footprint.
Horst Nowosad (Oxysystems GmbH), OS-25-NX Nitrogen Unit & Christian Lanz
