spilling beer into glass bottles

Compressed Air & Gas Equipment for Brewery Applications

Depending on who you ask, brewing can be both a science and an art. Either way, it frequently involves compressed air tools.

Breweries use compressed air many times throughout the production process, and they need hardworking tools to get their products on the shelves with as much efficiency and performance as possible.

What Equipment Do Breweries Use?

Brewery supplies often include nitrogen generators and air compressors in various capacities. We’ll get into applications in the next section, but it’s important to note that this equipment can vary in how it’s used, and breweries will need to choose compressors and nitrogen generators that fit their needs regarding:

  • Budget.
  • Purpose.
  • Size.
  • Efficiency.
  • Reliability.

Air compressors can be oil-free, take up more or less space and offer a wide range of generation capabilities, so it’s important to understand the brewery’s usage requirements when comparing equipment.

How Do Breweries Use Air Compressors and Nitrogen Gas Generators?

Air compressors are very versatile tools, and breweries often use them in a range of compressed air applications:

  • Bottling: The pressurized air helps move the beer from the tank to the bottle and clean out lines so they’re free of water or contaminants.
  • Clarifying: During the clarifying process, air compressors can power the centrifuge to remove heavier solids from the product.
  • Aeration: In aeration, yeast cultures need enough oxygen to ferment, and compressed air can provide it in a clean, controlled environment.
  • Cleanup and maintenance: Power washers, drills and plenty of other air-powered tools can make cleanup and maintenance faster and more efficient.

Nitrogen for breweries is also particularly useful. It can displace oxygen and carbon dioxide to push beer through the system and help clean tanks and lines, ensuring residue and oxidization won’t affect the next batch. Another application is injecting nitrogen into kegs before shipping or storing to pressurize them.

Whether powering a nitrogen generator or supporting various tasks in the brewing process, air compressors are a valuable tool. Depending on the application, many breweries choose to use oil-free air compressors for food-safe usage. If an oil-free compressor is used, it can power a wide range of other tasks besides nitrogen generation for greater efficiency.

What Are the Benefits of Air Compressors in the Brewing Industry?

Many breweries rely on compressors for day-to-day tasks. With the right air compressor, a brewery can find many benefits:

  • Higher efficiency: Air-powered tools are often faster to use and can help speed up a variety of processes.
  • Less downtime: With reliable tools and on-site air generation, you can eliminate the need to wait for suppliers to deliver tanks of air or nitrogen, affording you more control of your schedule.
  • No gas usage: Eliminating gas can create a cleaner and more eco-friendly operation and minimize the risk of product contamination.

Nitrogen generators offer their fair share of benefits as well. It is cheaper to generate your own nitrogen than buy it in bulk, and you can create it as needed instead of waiting on a supplier.

Reliable Air Compression Products and Services for the Brewing Industry

Fluid Aire Dynamics works with a large collection of breweries and understands the unique needs of this industry. We carry a wide range of air compressors and nitrogen generators and can help you find one that fits your business needs and production requirements. We also offer an array of services to keep businesses moving in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C.

Reach out today to learn more about our brewery equipment and support services.