The Lanemark TX30 burner that meets key process heating requirements at Long Man Brewery
The suitability of process gas burner technology from Lanemark Combustion Engineering for the brewing sector is being fully demonstrated at a rapidly growing microbrewery on the south coast.
The Long Man Brewery in East Sussex, which takes its name from the celebrated chalk figure nearby, utilises a Lanemark TX30 burner system to meet key requirements
Director of brewing, Jamie Simm, said: “Although we only started brewing in 2012, we are proud of the rapid growth that we have achieved. In turn, this has called for equipment that is both highly efficient and reliable — objectives that are fully met by the Lanemark burner system which, in effect, we see as ‘mission critical’.”
The rural location of Long Man Brewery pointed towards propane for the gas supply which, following assessment by Jamie and his colleagues, indicated significant cost efficiencies compared to alternative energy sources. The burner is mounted on the outside of a 20-barrel copper that is central to all brewing at the site, and which fires through the wall into a helical coil heat exchanger.
Jamie said: “An external fan is connected to the end of the tube run that pulls the heat through the system and which, via alterations to its speed, enables us to achieve the control that we need.”
As the brewery has grown, it has looked to undertake two brews per day, when required, so the speed of heat-up has also become a particularly important factor.
Jamie added: “The system raises the temperature of the wort to 100°C where it is held in a rolling boil to an accuracy of plusor minus 1°C. Importantly, we can achieve this temperature target in just one hour from cold to create an even distribution of heat that eliminates the risk of scorching.”
He points out that the operation of the Lanemark system also contributes to the brewery meeting hazard awareness requirements as defined by Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points.
Adrian Langford, Lanemark’s general manager, said: “Our design enables Long Man Brewery simply to enter a series of temperature set points via the adjacent control panel. The specification of the helical coil as the heat exchanger is also significant as it helps to optimise the capacity of the copper to meet the desired brewing volumes because it minimises intrusion into the vessel.”
The Long Man Brewery is clear about the factors that underpin the dramatic growth is has achieved. The brewery not only supplies into Sussex and Kent, but also now sees customers along the south coast and even, via supply agreements with major, national brewing names, to all corners of the country. It proudly points to a number of awards that it has achieved for its cask, keg and bottled beers.
Jamie said: “This is all in the context of our firm belief in using only sustainable methods — not least through our farm location and our own bore hole — alongside a commitment to the best, most reliable equipment. The Lanemark burner system, which was specified and installed for us via Johnson Brewing Design, meets this latter need perfectly.”
