Carbon Dioxide for the Brewery / Distillery Industries
The history of recovering CO2 from the fermentation process dates back to 1912, the year Wittemann pioneered the closed fermentation process. Since then, brewers and distillers around the world rely on Wittemann to design, build, install and maintain their own in-house CO2 Recovery System. Wittemann engineers analyze fermentation schedules and brewing data and calculate CO2 availability for optimal plant sizing. Systems can be designed to recover CO2 from sources with an inlet purity as low as 80%, producing final product purities as high as 99.998%. Microbrewers to large scale brewers and distillers can benefit from Wittemann's proven process for purifying, compressing and liquefying CO2. Recent advancements in these processes maximize efficiency and product purity - once again proving Wittemann's role as the leader in CO2 recovery technology. CO2 produced from a Wittemann recovery system ensures your product is free of objectionable tastes and odors.
Carbon Dioxide for the Soft Drink Industry
In the 1960's, the Wittemann Company developed a line of reliable and efficient flue gas extraction and direct fired CO2 production systems. To meet the CO2 demands of the soft drink industry, Wittemann CO2 equipment meets or exceeds the latest CO2 quality specifications. Wittemann CO2 Production Systems use proven purification techniques to remove impurities found in the flue gas (i.e. NOX) as well as those created by solvent degradation (i.e. acetaldehydes). The result is CO2 guaranteed to meet product specifications.
Carbon Dioxide for the Industrial Gas Industry
The Wittemann Company LLC Industrial Division is an integral component of the Wittemann Company and is only designated by the source of the feed stream or the markets that these types of systems service: that being the Industrial Gas Market. The Industrial Division specializes in larger extraction and recovery system and does employ different components than would normally be associated with the standard Wittemann Company systems designed for breweries or soft drink manufactures. What is important to this type of system that needs careful consideration to serve the needs of the Industrial Gas Supplier? We here at Wittemann Industrial Division find that the following precepts need to be incorporated into every Wittemann System produced.
- System Design Consideration
- Recirculating cooling system
- Energy efficient consideration
- First In cost versus life cycle (operational) cost
- Integration of supply system responsibility
- Packaging
- Availability & Reliability
- Guarantees
While there are other numerous considerations, the above list embodies the main tenants that have to be considered for your system.
System Design Consideration :
A Wittemann System's basic design includes a ten percent (10%) safety factor in all components. The only deviation from this policy is when so instructed by the purchaser. In today's world, where traditional sources have or will be shut down and new sources developed, it is extremely important that the system as manufactured has the flexibility to adapt to a new source without a major cost impact. Development in equipment design and supply has lowered the first-in cost. Such items as stripper design have been drastically impacted. However, possible future developments need to be carefully considered or a major rework can be required. New sources being developed appear consistently to have a lower CO2 inlet purity and more variable impurities. The system designed and manufactured for today's industrial gas supplier needs to have built-in flexibility to adapt.
Wittemann designs and manufactures to each criterion, but the advantages and disadvantages of equipment scope need to be analyzed and discussed to ensure long-term user satisfaction.
Recirculating Cooling Systems :
The type of cooling system to be employed has to be carefully considered based on :
- First-in cost
- Maintenance and loss of production due to maintenance
- Operating cost
In major markets, such as the U.S.A. and Europe, recirculating cooling water systems typically work well. However, in other countries throughout the world, as well as the U.S.A. and Europe, careful consideration needs to be given to the quality of the water, treatment cost and availability. Many times, alternate cooling systems, such as liquid ammonia overfeed, air-cooling, or a combination thereof, offer distinct advantages that will substantially reduce operational cost and minimize loss of production. The Wittemann Company LLC Industrial Division analyzes each individual cooling situation to present the best solution to your plant's cooling requirements.
Energy Efficient Consideration :
Wittemann supplies energy efficient plants. Such simple employments as high efficiency motors are standard supply. Other components, such as Wittemann's dehydration/purification units, are specifically designed and incorporated into your system to save energy and reduced purging requirements, while at the same time guaranteeing a certified product. Throughout your system, energy conservation concepts are incorporated. More elaborate designs to save energy are typically based on a 3-year ROI, or as instructed by the end user.
First-In Cost Versus Life Cycle (Operational) Cost :
Wittemann employs this concept throughout the entire design of your plant. As we all know, many times a first-in cost savings can be quickly consumed through increased operating cost. This operation cost has an impact throughout the operational life of your plant. Generally, energy itself is the main consideration. However, careful attention to consumables life span and their respective replacement cost has to be carefully analyzed to ensure that the purification process included offers the most attractive long-term investment. The Wittemann Company LLC Industrial Division, with its long history in purification methodology and energy saving, ensures that detailed attention is given to the design and system selection to provide the best solution for the end user.
Integration of Supply - System Responsibility :
In today's world, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on "cost effective buy-outs". Wittemann operates under the same concepts, that is: do what you do well and what is cost-effective, purchase what is available at a high quality and lower cost elsewhere. This is a basic concept that most high quality manufacturers adhere to. Such items as valves, heat exchangers, and compressors are purchased from suppliers dedicated to servicing those markets. At the same time, when market conditions may impede the delivery of your system or specialized materials of construction or codes, such as for the European Union (PED) are required, then Wittemann will design and manufacturer these components. Additionally, the purchase of components or component packages incorporated into your Total System, as opposed to the purchase of Total System with single source responsibility, needs to be carefully analyzed. For example, The Wittemann Company LLC Industrial Division is a fully integrated entity that produces Acid/Stack Gas/Removal Systems (see separate sections) as well as By-Product CO2 Recovery Systems. The concept of "cost effective buy-outs" could be extended to the purchase of an Acid/Stack Gas System in its entirety from another source and joined in supply with a By-Product CO2 Recovery System or vice-versa. This is then presented as a total package to the end user. However, in a situation such as this, system responsibility and design, manufacturing and operational expertise has to be a major consideration. What entity entertains which questions and corrective operational problems? What field service engineer is required, or are both required? Many more problematic scenarios arise in this type of supply. Wittemann designs and fully understands the characteristics of both. Our field service engineers are trained for the total package. One source has answers to all your questions The Wittemann Company LLC Industrial Division.
Availability / Reliability :
Availability and reliability are very similar, differing only in the guarantee and corrective action (if necessary) under each concept. Industrial Gas Suppliers need a quality system that is available when they need it. Wittemann's systems are designed, manufactured and components selected based on this need to ensure an optimum degree of availability. Because of the need for continuous production without troublesome downtime, the selection of components is extremely important in the manufacturing of your system.
Repeatability and operational life cycle is the prime consideration for component selection. Availability and Reliability are guaranteed with your Wittemann System.
Guarantees :
All of the concepts presented above are truly important when considering the purchase of your system. However, without the financial strength of the corporation and the willingness of that corporation to guarantee with appropriate penalties for non-performance, they remain only concepts. The Wittemann Company LLC Industrial Division, part of the Cryogenic Group, has the financial strength and the ability to back up guarantees and penalties. We do so on each and every system we manufacture.
Packaging :
Packaging is a much-maligned concept. There are basic tenets that packaging should ensure :
- Quality control of manufacturing principles in construction
- Pressure testing at the factory
- Single field connection for each utility
- Quality insulation and cladding installed properly
- Reducing the amount of field installation cost required
- Ability to relocate plant with minimal difficulties and costs
However, packaging alone does not ensure or consider :
- Cost effective transportation to job site
- Logistical problems associated with port to site or available resources at site
- Ease of maintenance
