Precise gas analysers 'the key' to making brewing improvements
15 Jan 2000
Fermentation research lab Tepral, part of the Damone Group, based in Strasbourg,France, has achieved 'major successes' in the study of the gas dynamics involved in fermentation.
Tepral scientists test and compare the effects of different yeasts and have established quantitative data on their performances. Jacques Proth, head of micro fermentation says the results should lead to improved beer brewing.
One of the keys to their success is a gas analyser from Servomex, based in Crowborough, Sussex. Tepral chose the supplier's Xentra 4100 gas purity analyser specifically for this project.
'We require high accuracy,' says Proth, 'because of the low variations of concentrations throughout the experiment'.
The installation at Tepral consists of a Servomex Xendos 2500 infra-red gas analyser to measure C02 and a Xentra 4100 gas purity analyser for oxygen measurement.
The Xentra 4100 measures four gas streams simultaneously. An LCD display indicates which gas sensors are operational and the concentrations. The Tepral system monitors precise oxygen concentrations between 17-21 per cent.
To measure carbon dioxide concentrations, the Servomex Xendos 2500 is equipped with two alternative ranges, 0-2.5 and 0-5 per cent. A single-beam dual wavelength infrared process analyser, the Xendos 2500 measures a single infrared-absorbing component in a continuous gas stream.
A console attached to the fermenter manages the system and handles the data acquisition.
