How to configure CIP for your brewhouse

To clean microbrewery equipment—especially the brewhouse—CIP equipment and pipelines should be properly configured. When designing a CIP system, key factors to consider include ease of operation, cleaning efficiency, and cost.

Below are some tips for configuring your CIP system based on brewhouse size and automation level:

1. Use a Portable Pump as a CIP Cart
This option is suitable for brewpubs or microbreweries with brewhouse sizes below 5 BBL and low brewing activity.

  • Use the boil kettle as a CIP tank to mix CIP liquid.
  • Use the portable pump as a CIP pump to clean the brewhouse and cellar tanks.

Pros:

  • Saves money
  • Saves space
  • Easy to move

Cons:

  • Cannot brew while the boil kettle is being used for CIP liquid mixing
  • Requires deep cleaning of the boil kettle after mixing CIP liquid
  • Risk of boil kettle damage after long-term usage
CIP System

2. How to Configure CIP Pipelines When CIP Cart is Available

A CIP cart is suitable for microbreweries with brewhouse sizes above 5 BBL and high brewing activity. The CIP cart can function as a CIP station and is a cost-effective solution.

1) Simple Manual Brewhouse with 2V Combination
For a simple manual brewhouse, especially those below 10 BBL in size, a basic CIP arm configuration is recommended. In this setup:

  • A single CIP arm is installed on the tank.
  • Hoses are used as temporary CIP supply and return pipelines.

This setup is cost-saving but requires more manual labor and poses a risk of injury during frequent valve and hose connections or disconnections.

2V Combination Brewhouse

2) Semi-Auto Brewhouse with 3V/4V Combination or More
For semi-automatic brewhouses with a 3V/4V combination or larger, integrated CIP pipelines are recommended. In this configuration:

  • CIP supply and return pipelines are permanently installed and connected to a valve panel.
  • During cleaning, the brewer simply operates the valves to CIP each brewhouse vessel without repeatedly connecting or disconnecting hoses.

This design significantly reduces labor and simplifies the CIP process, with only a slight increase in investment.

Semi-Auto Brewhouse with 3V/4V Combination

3) High-Automation Brewhouse with 3V/4V Combination or More
For a highly automated brewhouse with a 3V/4V combination or larger, integrated CIP pipelines are strongly recommended. This configuration includes:

  • Fully automatic CIP valves
  • Specialized CIP pump
  • RO water pipelines and HLT pipelines connected with CIP pipelines

This setup enables a full-automatic CIP process, ensuring:

  • Complete sanitation
  • No dead space
  • No mixing of CIP liquid with wort or water
  • Minimal manual intervention to avoid operational errors

Although the initial investment is higher, the benefits are significant, including improved safety, efficiency, and reduced risk of contamination or human error.

For any other enquiry you may have, please search and read our FAQ section. If you still haven’t found what you are looking for, our support team is always ready with an answer at [email protected], now also available on WhatsApp.

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