Glue- and Flux-Free Pipe Option ‘Worth a Shot’

While the brewery has added vats, chillers, valves, and other hardware, one constant in its brewing process has been the piping connecting the chillers to the fermenting vats. Crompton explained that while copper or CPVC pipe would typically be used for this purpose, when he was first introduced to Aquatherm’s polypropylene-random (PP-R) pipe systems he knew he was onto something.

Crompton was introduced to the German-manufactured pipe by Jason Pace, radiant manager of Pond’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, the brewery’s mechanical contractor. “At the time copper was very expensive and from a brewer’s perspective, Aquatherm gives you a hydrostatic, pneumatic pipe with a pressure test of 200 psi,” Crompton said.

“And it’s a clean, glue-less system, which is essential in brewing. I’ve seen articles in brewing magazines that say the glue from Schedule 80 CPVC reacts with the glycol in the system and affects the glue’s ability to recover,” he added.

Manufactured in Germany since the early 1970s, Aquatherm PP-R pipe delivers some of the best attributes of both metal and plastic piping in one system. The highly engineered pipe is connected via heat fusion, which bonds both sides of a joint into a single, homogenous material without the use of toxic chemicals or mechanical connections, eliminating weaknesses and fail-points in the pipe.

Aquatherm Blue Pipe (formerly called Climatherm) is corrosion- and chemical-resistant, has high environmental compatibility, and is impact resistant. It also features heat- and sound-insulating capabilities. It is engineered with thinner walls than the company’s potable water pipe for higher flow rates, making it suitable for HVAC and industrial applications. It also comes with an optional faser composite layer that delivers thermal expansion capabilities similar to copper.

Crompton explained that while there wasn’t a track record of using Aquatherm in a brewery in the U.S., the benefits of the pipe made it worth trying — and a 10-year multimillion dollar warranty that covers product liability, personal injury, and property damage didn’t hurt either. “Aquatherm is a high pressure system that’s glue-less, which is exactly what a brewer is after. If we hadn’t used Aquatherm, it would have been copper or Schedule 80 CPVC, but the flux in the copper can cause impurities in the line and the glue that is used for CPVC destroys the bonding agents and has other impacts on the system,” he said.

Crompton also noted that he reviewed studies and anecdotal evidence from other brewers that the glue or solder associated with CPVC or copper can reduce the efficiency of the glycol. The key to Aquatherm’s PP-R for this application was that the material is chemically inert to most common chemicals. Exposure to glycols and oils from mechanical equipment won’t damage the pipe or fittings. And PP-R is non-toxic and non-leaching, making it safe for both people and the environment.

Connecting the Vats

Pond’s Plumbing, which is located in North Salt Lake, installed roughly 150 feet of 2-inch Blue Pipe running from the original chillers to the fermentation vats in 2009. Pace explained that the heat fusion welding process was fairly straightforward.

“Aquatherm seemed like a perfect fit for this application, and we had excellent support from Aquatherm and its local manufacturer’s representative, EEC Aquatherm,” he said. While EPIC was Pond’s first Aquatherm installation, the company’s installers have decades of experience, and following the half-day Aquatherm factory training its installers were comfortable with the heat fusion welding process.

“We were already skilled in fusion of HDPE piping, so there was a small learning curve but it went relatively smoothly and we didn’t have any leaks,” Pace said. He added that it’s important to pay attention to measurements when laying out the Aquatherm piping since it can’t be dry fit. However, this is also a good thing since some pipe systems can be dry fit and installers occasionally forget to actually make the connection, resulting in leaks.

Colder Brewing Required

In early summer 2011 when EPIC needed to add a 17-ton chiller to the system in order to get the brewing process colder (from 29-31°F down to 24°), the company again specified Aquatherm with Pond’s handling the installation. Roughly 500 feet of 2-inch Blue Pipe was installed to carry a 2:1 ratio glycol/water mixture from the new chillers to the new brew kettles. One-inch Blue Pipe then enters the vats.

The chiller installation went smoothly, with Pond’s Plumbing handling the piping of the G&D Chillers (Eugene, Ore.) roof-mounted unit. Crompton said that he was grateful he had reserved space on the roof for the extra chiller.

As EPIC’s cooling load has increased, the efficiency of the cooling unit has declined and it costs more to run and draws more amps, but it did deliver the desired colder temperature. However, one wrinkle of taking the temperature down was that they also had to insulate the existing Aquatherm pipes as well as the new ones.

Since Aquatherm’s inherent R-value is equivalent to ½-inch of insulation, when EPIC added an inch of fiberglass insulation and wrapped the pipe in PVC cladding, it was able to achieve an insulation value of R-5, Crompton said. The added cooling plant now maintains proper fermentation temperatures for production of more than 600 barrels of beer.

More Barrels = More Colorful Pipe

In March 2012, EPIC installed five new brewing tanks, two large JV Northwest Inc. (Canby, Ore.) 80-barrel tanks, and three JV Northwest 40-barrel tanks. The tanks were again piped by Pond’s Plumbing using Aquatherm. Roughly 300 feet each of 2-inch and 1-inch Blue Pipe was installed for this application, and according to Pace, was significantly less expensive than copper and a lot easier and quicker to install than black steel pipe.

Using the colorful, clean-looking pipe hasn’t gone unnoticed among the brewing crowd. “We’ve had some members of the Utah Brewing Co-op and other brewers who are touring the facility comment on ‘that colorful pipe,’ and ask about it. We just tell them we’re absolutely thrilled with it,” Crompton said.

In fact, as EPIC moves closer to making a new, larger facility a reality, Crompton said Aquatherm will be the pipe of choice for what is expected to be a 35-ton chiller and a new high-pressure boiler, and also for the facility’s compressed air. “We are going to use Aquatherm at the new facility, probably using 3-inch lines though instead of the smaller ones here.”

For more information, visit www.aquatherm.com.

Publication date: 9/9/2013

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