Compared to the traditional steam heating brewhouse, the creative new-tech thermal oil heating avoids the installation of a dangerous and high-maintenance steam boiler. Steam offers more surface area than gas fired, but it requires a generator to create steam, collect it, and reheat it again. Oil heated brewhouses, on the other hand, use a simple oil heater and pump to circulate oil through the tank jackets. Compared to gas fired systems where all heat is directed to the very bottom of the kettle, this system heats from the sides and the bottom rather than the bottom alone. This offers not only greater surface area but faster thermal response. By controlling the oil temperature, you also have more precise boil vigor control and evaporation rate control. For these reasons and more, the Oil Heated Brewhouse makes for an ideal pilot batch system.
Oil Heated vs. Electric Brewhouses
Compared to our electric brewhouses, the oil heated systems have several advantages starting with their lower electrical requirements. For example, our 3.5 bbl Electric Brewhouse draws 54 kw of power at a combined 150 amps between the HLT and the Boil Kettle. The 3.5 bbl Oil Heated Brewhouse draws less than 35 kw of power at just under 120 amps to power the entire system. Installing the system in your brewery is far less complex and doesn’t require wiring control panels or additional components. And since there are no heating elements in direct contact with your wort, there is zero risk of scorching and cleaning is much easier after each batch.
Control Panel
Our control panel features 4 PID controllers for precise control of the Mash, Boil Kettle and Oil temperature. The control panel also features a delayed start timer, allowing you to preheat your HLT overnight so your strike water will be ready when you arrive on brew day.
Hard Piped Distribution Manifold
With the distribution manifold, the entire brewing process can be completed by simply opening and closing valves. There’s no need to lug around brewery hoses and swap connections from vessel to vessel. This hard piped system is completely self contained with a dedicated pump to move wort from tank to tank as needed. Every step of the brew day is a simple valve turn away. The only hose required is from the brewing system to your fermenter. Once the brew is completed this same piping system is used for CIP and rinsing.
Our systems also feature rolling casters for easy installation in your brewery, product pump for recirculation and sparging, hard piped manifold, grain out door on the mash tun, and mounted plate chiller.
NOTE: you will also need a separate vessel to feed hot water into the system. The hard plumbed system is very easy to clean and only one hose is required for the whole process.
Design Features:
Food-grade thermal oil not included. We recommend PARATHERM™ MR HTF or an equivalent low odor, food grade, thermal transfer fluid.