Picture is the strativication tank for the heat pump( heat recovery) project π www. valve-world. net Valve World August 2025
END USER INTERVIEW
The brewing process Malt is delivered to the brewery by barge via a canal that runs directly through the facility. Upon arrival, it is conveyed to the brewhouse, where it is introduced into kettles for the initial stages of the brewing process. Several processing steps follow— including mashing, lautering, boiling, and wort clarification— before fermentation begins. The beer is then transferred to fermentation tanks, where it is held for approximately two to three weeks. During fermentation, both heat and CO 2 are generated as byproducts. While some of this thermal energy is currently lost to the environment, a heat recovery project— now nearing completion— aims to capture and repurpose this waste heat using high-efficiency heat pumps. Following fermentation, the beer is pumped to the filtration department. Nearly all equipment in this area is fabricated from grade 304 stainless steel, selected for its excellent corrosion resistance, cleanability, and proven suitability for hygienic applications in the food and beverage industry. After filtration, the beer is transferred via a dedicated pipeline to the packaging facility, where it is filled into bottles, cans, and kegs for distribution.
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Extensive valve inventory
As we walk through the expansive brewery, the sheer number and variety of valves are
Diverter valves are incorporated into complex systems known as a matrix.
immediately apparent.“ We have hundreds of butterfly and ball valves throughout the facility, used for everything from transferring raw ingredients through the production process to pumping the finished product to the packaging lines,” explains Erik.“ However, we also employ specialised technology, such as diverter valves. These are crucial for processes like steam cleaning of individual tanks or sections of process piping from a shared steam feedline. These valves can be configured in two or three positions to redirect fluids, functioning much like a dynamic maze.” The diverter valves are incorporated into complex systems known as a matrix.“ Each matrix consists of multiple valves grouped together in a single location, carefully coordinated to allow precise fluid or steam routing within the production system.” Nearly all of the valves on site are constructed from grade 316 stainless steel,
Erik Smit is Senior Maintenance Engineer at Heineken Zoutewoude.
Picture is the strativication tank for the heat pump( heat recovery) project π www. valve-world. net Valve World August 2025
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