CarboCheck Chosen for Anheuser Busch's CO2 Checks - Globally

During the late 1980's, after a three-year evaluation period, engineers at Anheuser-Busch finally decided that Canongate Technology's Embra CarboCheck was the best solution for its in-line CO2 measurement requirements. Now CarboCheck is used in all Anheuser-Busch plants throughout the world, one of the latest installations being at the Stag Budweiser Brewery in London.

The system is sited in Stag's bottling hall on the line between the bright beer storage vessels and the packaging line. Part of the brewery's quality control system, CarboCheck monitors the CO2 content in the beer and any error will stop the packaging operation until it is corrected.

CarboCheck uses the proven saturation pressure temperature technique for accurate non-sampling measurement. The unit provides efficient closed-loop control accurate to better than +/-0.02 volv/vol CO2. Canongate is currently working with Anheuser-Busch in a development project based in America aimed at moulding the CarboCheck more closely to the company's requirements.

Also on the carbonation front, Canongate reports recent sales of its COBlend combined blender / carbonator system - against stiff competition and rising Sterling rate - to two European brewers: Portugal's Central de Cervejas of Lisbon and Denmark's Albani Brewery. Central de Cervejas has subsequently placed a second order for the system, which measure and control the amount of CO2 and % alcohol in beer.

The COBlend system uses CarboCheck gas diffusion technology to measure the amount of CO2 dissolved in the beer and to control the injection of additional gas.

The analysis system for alcohol and residual sugar in beer features on-line non-sampling technology. It utilises a process densitometer, along with non-invasive ultrasonics. Combined with closed loop control, the package, says Canongate, offer a total solution for beer blending and enables maximum filter room flexibility.

Meanwhile, Canongate reports that its VesselCheck non-invasive, non-contact level system has been undergoing "revolutionary changes". The system, utilises "clamp-on" transducers which transmit high frequency sound through the wall and into the liquid. By measuring time of transmission from the sensor position, the height and volume in the vessel can be calculated accurately.

Using modems connected to the controller, it is possible for Canongate engineers, based at their Edinburgh office, to carry out both required and precautionary maintenance. commissioning procedure can now be carried out using a new software package which steps through the installation procedure and automatically optimises the set-up.

Further changes to the power and the averaging programmes allow the unit to be used on larger vessels with a smaller dead band than has previously been possible. Improvements in the accuracy have also been achieved with a 0.1 mm resolution.