Application Note

DTSX solutions for brewery

Detection of a clogged shower in pasteurization process

Distributed Temperature Sensor

The DTSX is a unique and innovative temperature monitoring system that uses fiber optic cable
as a temperature sensor. Temperatures can be detected over a far, wide area and monitored
to detect abnormalities.

Key to quality and taste

The importance of pasteurizing beer with hot shower

Pasteurization process is important in beer manufacturing because it helps to extend the shelf
life of the beer and prevent spoilage. During the pasteurization process, the beer is heated to a
specific temperature for a specific amount of time to kill any harmful bacteria or other
microorganisms that may be present in the beer. This helps to ensure that the beer remains
safe to drink and does not spoil or become contaminated during storage or transportation.
In addition to extending the shelf life of the beer, pasteurization can also help to stabilize the
beer and improve its flavor and appearance. By removing any unwanted microorganisms or
impurities, pasteurization can help to ensure that the beer has a consistent flavor and
appearance, which is important for maintaining the quality and reputation of the brand.

Challenges

Quality is at risk with unnoticed clogged shower

Bottled or canned beers are pasteurized by passing through the spraying chamber called a
“tunnel” in which hot water is sprayed over the containers for a fixed time before cooling. To
ensure quality and safety of beer that is produced, it needs to be heated at a certain
temperature for a fixed period of time. When spray is clogged without being noticed, the quality
and safety of beer is at risk as there remains unwanted bacteria and microorganism. However,
it is difficult for a maintenance team to detect clogging in real time. Usually maintenance check
is being done in 6-8 hour cycle, causing not properly pasteurized products can be shipped to
customers. To avoid brand damage, real-time monitoring of a clogged shower is needed.

Bulletin 39J00P63-01EN
Solutions
Real-time quality control is possible by identifying a clogged shower with a heatmap.
The tunnel in the pasteurization process is narrow, making it real-time monitoring of
temperature consistency difficult. Thermal cameras can be deployed, but they have many blind
spots, and point-type temperature sensors are not practical due to the need for hundreds of
wiring connections.
However, Yokogawa’s fiber optic temperature sensor DTSX can realize real-time monitoring of a
whole tunnel without blind spots and measures the temperature profile over a far, wide area
along the fiber optic cable.
Since the fiber optic cable is thin (φ2-4mm), it can be laid between the showers and the narrow
spaces of bottles and cans without obstructing the spray, allowing temperature measurement
throughout the entire tunnel.
Based on testing and experience, Yokogawa proposes the use of protected fiber optic cables
against heat, acid, and water pressure, as well as a laying method that eliminates measurement
dead zones.
Temperature measurement data inside the tunnel in the pasteurization can be displayed
real-time on a screen as a heat map by utilizing Yokogawa‘s STARDOM and CI server. This
enables monitoring of whether the temperature is appropriate, and if there is a clogged
shower, the temperature will drop compared to the surrounding areas, allowing to pinpoint the
anormal temperature location and gives off an alarm to operators by emails.
Heat map

Pasteurization tunnel

Benefit
Longer shelf life with consistent quality by real-time
monitoring of pasteurization process while reducing
work hours
Several daily hours can be saved for a maintenance
team in the detection and investigation of showers that
could be clogged.
A fiber optic cable doesn’t require hundreds of wiring
connections and maintenance is easier than point-type
temperature sensors. It reduces the installation and
running costs.
The beverage quality, expiration date, and final product
characteristics are guaranteed, avoiding brand reputation
damage and maintain customer royalty.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation The contents of this document are subject to change without prior notice.
All product and company names that are referred to in this document are
YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
World Headquarters All Rights Reserved, Copyright © 2023, by Yokogawa Electric Corporation
2-9-32 Nakacho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8750 Japan
URL: https://www.yokogawa.com/

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