EFFICIENT USE OF WATER - AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN MINIMISING ENVIRONMENT AND OPERATIONAL COSTS IN ALBANIAN BREWERIES

摘要

Water is the most important component in a brewery. In order to produce 1 1 of beer it needed a lot of water ranged from 4 to 101. The major part of this water is used for cleaning process of equipments (cleaning in place system) and housekeeping. A considerable amount of water is used for steam production air compressors, heat exchangers and cooling towers. Inefficient use of water as a raw material in a brewery can have environmental impacts. Therefore, minimisation of wastewater should not only include the improved management and control of water discharges, but also an optimisation of process water input. Environmental protection measures in a brewery were focused on efficient use of water and also on optimisation of processes that consume significant water volumes. Our work was focused mainly on optimisation of water consume through conservation and recycling. The need to recycle water is becoming increasingly important. One of the main factors limiting the potential for water recycling is the high level of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and particularly sodium, which is the main compound of cleaning chemicals used to maintain high hygienic and quality levels in the brewery. Process optimisation and ensuring the most productive technology are a key in realising water savings in a brewery.