Craft Beer equipment is a specialized equipment used for brewing craft beer, also known as craft beer brewing equipment. It consists of a series of different equipment, including malt mills, brew kettles, fermenters, storage tanks, and bottling machines.
In Craft Beer equipment, each equipment has a different function and can work together to complete the brewing process. For example, the malt mill can grind malt into suitable particles for brewing, the brew kettle can mix malt and water and heat it up, the fermenter can control the temperature and pressure of yeast fermentation to promote yeast growth, the storage tank can control the temperature and pressure of beer to enhance its flavor, and the bottling machine can fill the beer for sale and consumption.
The main function of Craft Beer equipment is to control the temperature, pressure, flow rate, and other parameters of beer during the brewing process to ensure its quality and taste. Compared with traditional beer equipment, Craft Beer equipment usually uses more advanced technology and higher quality materials, which can better meet the requirements of beer lovers for taste and quality.
In Craft Beer equipment, valves play a crucial role. The function of valves is to control the flow of liquid or gas, thereby achieving flow regulation, stoppage, and start-up. In Craft Beer equipment, valves are mainly used to control the flow of beer to ensure its quality and taste.
The role of valves in Craft Beer equipment mainly includes the following aspects:
Control the Flow Rate of Beer
Valves can control the flow rate of beer by adjusting their opening. This is very important for various aspects of the beer brewing process, such as malt milling, brew kettle heating, and fermenter control.
Prevent Beer Contamination
Valves can effectively prevent beer contamination and ensure its quality and taste. During the brewing process, beer needs to be transferred and processed multiple times. Without valve control, it is easy to cause beer contamination.
Save Energy
Valves can save energy by controlling the flow rate. In the beer brewing process, a lot of heating and cooling operations are required. Without valve control, a lot of energy will be wasted.
How to Select Valves For Craft Beer Equipment
In Craft Beer equipment, various types of valves are commonly used, including single-seat valves, anti-mixing regulating valves, butterfly valves, ball valves, plug valves, air release valves, diverter valves, and check valves. These valves have different functions, but are all important for brewing high-quality beer.
Single Seat Valves
Single-seat valves are commonly used control valves that can control the flow of liquid or gas by adjusting the valve opening. They are widely used in Craft Beer equipment.
Anti-mixing Regulating Valves
Anti-mixing Regulating Valves are specifically designed to control the mixing of liquids. They can control the proportion of mixed liquids by adjusting the flow rate of each component to ensure the quality of the brewed beer.
Butterfly valves
Butterfly valves are commonly used in Craft Beer equipment to control larger flow rates, such as the flow of water in the brew kettle. Pneumatic sanitary butterfly valves are often preferred in this application, as they can be controlled by pneumatic devices to achieve more precise and reliable flow control. These valves are typically used to regulate water flow during malt mashing, as well as the addition of hops and other ingredients. 
Ball valves
Ball valves control flow by rotating a ball-shaped valve. They are widely used in Craft Beer equipment due to their simple structure, good sealing performance, and flexible operation.
Plug valves
Plug valves control flow by rotating the valve. They are commonly used in brewing processes to control larger flow rates, thanks to their simple structure, good sealing performance, and high flow rate.
Air release valves
Air release valves are used to release gas from pipelines, and are commonly employed during beer fermentation to control the release of carbon dioxide and ensure product quality.
Diverter valves
Diverter valves are used to divert liquids to different pipelines, and find frequent use in brewing processes to control the flow of liquids at different stages.
Check valves
Check valves are used to prevent liquid backflow and contamination, and are commonly found in brewing equipment to control the flow of liquids and ensure product quality.
When selecting valves for Craft Beer equipment, the following factors need to be considered:
Material Selection
Valve materials have a significant impact on the taste and quality of beer. Stainless steel is the most commonly used valve material because of its good corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance. In addition, the sealing material of the valve also needs to be considered, usually using materials such as silicone or PTFE.
Flow Rate Requirements
Different beer brewing processes require different flow rate controls. Therefore, the flow rate requirements of beer need to be considered when selecting valves. Generally, different types of valves, such as regulating valves, stop valves, and ball valves, need to be selected according to the requirements of the brewing process.
Operation Mode
Valves have two operating modes: manual and automatic. Manual valves require manual operation and are suitable for small brewing equipment. Automatic valves can be automatically operated through electronic control and are suitable for large brewing equipment. The appropriate operating mode should be selected according to the actual situation.
Cost Consideration
The cost of valves is also an important factor to consider. Generally, high-quality valves are more expensive but can ensure the quality and taste of beer. When selecting valves, the actual situation and budget should be considered.
As a professional valve manufacturer, COVNA Valve has extensive experience in providing high-quality valves for Craft Beer equipment. Our team of experts can help you select the right valves for your brewing processes and provide customized solutions to meet your specific needs. Whether you need ball valves, plug valves, air release valves, diverter valves, or check valves, we have a wide range of products to choose from. Contact us sales@covnavalve.com today to learn more and discover how COVNA Valve can help you optimize your Craft Beer equipment.
Post time: May-11-2023