Centec GmbH

BEER MONITOR is a variant of COMBITEC and allows measuring simultaneously alcohol and extract in
the brewing process. The original gravity is automatically calculated and displayed by the sensor. The instrument combines the functionality of both RHOTEC (density measurement) and SONATEC (sound velocity measurement) and is designed for applications requiring maximum sensitivity and highest accuracy. It is easy to operate and maintenance-free. The density measurement is based on the oscillating U-tube principle. For sound velocity measurement a sound pulse is created by a sonic transmitter and detected by a sonic receiver. As a specific property of each liquid, the correlation between concentration and density resp. sound velocity can be described by a mathematical polynomial. With decades of experience and our own laboratory facilities, Centec know the polynomials for a large number of products. Any temperature drifts of the measured signal are automatically compensated for.

The MultiMixer is used for the continuous mixing of several streams of liquid products, e. g. beer, syrup and flavours. Since the number of blending channels can be adapted to individual needs, the skid pro-vides a high degree of flexibility for the production of different products (brands). The components to be mixed can be supplied from storage tanks via supply lines or from vessels located on the skid. Mass flows and concentrations are permanently measured in the process and adjusted by ratio controllers. Therefore, the system is equipped with high precision flow meters and in-line sensors made by Centec. Frequently, the MultiMixer is also used for carbonation. In this case the skid contains a specifically designed Vortex-Venturi injector that feeds CO2 in a very large number of very fine bubbles directly into the product stream. Based on accurate in-line measurements, the product steam and the carbon dioxide flow are instantly and fully automatically monitored and adjusted. Thus, re-peatable results and minimum product losses are guaranteed.

OXYTRANS TR is an optical oxygen sensor for measurement of O2 in e. g. deaerated water, wort, beer, beverages, liquid food, CO2 and protective gases. The instrument is designed for applications requiring maximum sensitivity and highest accuracy. The measurement technology is based on the radiationless redistribution of excitation energy via molecular interaction. In the measuring head a small glass component with a thin layer of indicator molecules is installed, the optical window. The indicator molecules are illuminated with blue-green light produced by an LED in the sensor. They absorb the incident light and are promoted to a higher energy state. After a certain time the molecules convert back to their ground state, during which red light is emitted. The red light is detected inside in the sensor. If O2 molecules are present the energy is transferred from the excited indicator molecules to the oxygen. The detected signal decreases with increasing concentration of O2 molecules in the product. Other gases don’t absorb this energy, so they have no impact on the measurement result.

REVOTEC units are Reverse Osmosis systems for extensive treatment of water for beverage industry, which is used e. g. as brewing water, technical water or for bottled water production. Typical fields of application are: - Reduction of salinity, dissolved minerals and parameters such as hardness, alkalinity, nitrate, etc. - Barrier for germs and viruses - Removal of organics, pollutants and micro-contaminants. REVOTEC units are designed and manufactured as compact, skid mounted systems. They are customized to the greatest extend possible. -Hygienic design (stainless steel 304L/316L) - Skid construction with high quality fittings and instrumentation - Water and energy efficient design - Cleanability with CIP/rising device - Customized selection of membrane type - Professional choice of chemicals for membrane cleaning and pretreatment.

For dealcoholization the product is first heated by a heat exchanger in counter current to the finished alcohol-free product. It is then dispersed at the top of a specially designed evaporation column. For CO2 containing liquids, prior degassing prevents formation of foam. Exhaust vapours are fed into the bottom of the column. They rise upwards inside the column in counter current to the falling warm liquid. Thereby, they remove the volatile alcohol from the product. The less volatile components fall to the column base and flow into the falling film evaporator that generates the exhaust vapour. Densely packed, thin stainless steel sheets in the column maximize the transfer surface and the contact time between product and exhaust vapours. The complete process takes place under vacuum at low temperature. The remaining alcohol-free product is pumped away and cooled. The volatile flavours from the original product can be separated in an aroma recovery system and added back to the finished product. The alcohol is optionally concentrated to up to 90 vol. % for further use.