Solution
LEWA’s solution for the challenging task of injecting flavoring agents in beer production:
- A LEWA ecodos metering pump is used for the injection of flavoring agents
- Aromatics are stored in a reservoir equipped with an agitator, a cleaning ball, and two level switches
- A filter at the suction side of the pump prevents clogging of pump valves
- The flow rate of the pump is adjusted continuously with an electromagnetic flow meter and control loop to keep the proportion with the beer flow rate
- Fully PLC-controlled. However, the system also works “manually”. In this case the flow rate is adjusted by a potentiometer
- At the discharge side a contactor protects the pump from overpressure
- All materials that are in contact with the product have a roughness of less than Ra < 0.8μm (SS 316 L)
Background
There are three general types of flavorings used in the food and beverage industry:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Natural flavoring agents | Flavoring agents obtained from plant or animal raw materials by microbiological or enzymatic processes. They can be either used in their natural state or processed for human consumption, but must not contain any nature-identical or artificial substances. |
| Nature-identical flavoring agents | Flavoring agents obtained from synthesis or isolation in chemical processes. These substances are chemically and organoleptically identical to flavorings naturally present in products intended for human consumption. They cannot contain any artificial flavoring substances. |
| Synthetic flavoring agents | Flavorings not present in natural products intended for human consumption, whether processed or not. These are typically produced by fractional distillation and additional chemical manipulation of naturally sourced chemicals. Although they are chemically different, the sensory characteristics are the same as natural flavors. |
