Draft System Principles Flashcards
What gases are acceptable for use serving beer through a draft system?
Only CO2 and N2 or a blend of those gases
What is CO2 used for? What does it provide to the system?
CO2 pressure is applied to the draft system in a balanced way that maintains 1. proper carbonation 2. pushes the to dispense
What 3 factors need to be balance on a draft system to keep the system maintained?
Temperature, applied gas pressure, resistance
Why does a draft system need to operate under pressure?
As the beer moves through the beer line to the faucet, it works against resistance SO it needs pressure to maintain carbonation and push beer through the lines
Where does resistance come from?
Atmospheric Pressure (gravity) and friction from the beer lines
What two things need to be balanced in order to maintain a draft system?
Applied Pressure and Resistance
What should the temperature and PSi be set for an average draft system?
38* and 14.7 PSi (less at higher elevations)
What is “Flow Rate”?
Applied gas pressure pushing on the system versus the resistance to beer flowing out of the faucet -
1 gal per minute
How can you add pressure to a Long Draw system without over carbonating it? Why would this work?
Use CO2/N2 blend, because N2 does not dissolve into cold water based liquids like CO2
How can you add resistance to a Direct Draw System?
Use thinner gauge line with more footage use a jumper line
What are the gas ratio blends available for CO2/N2?
70/30 or 60/40, more CO2 than N2
What is the ration for G-Mix or “Guinness Gas”?
25/75 - 25 CO2/75N2, pretty flat
What is an alternative to using N2 for a Long Draw System?
Beer Pump
What is the Primary Regulator used for?
Control of the flow of gas from the bulk tank to the system
What is the name of the device that allows for different pressured to be applied to individual kegs?
Secondary Regulator
What component is where the pressure side and beer side of a draft system come together?
Coupler
What is the name of the device that allows gas to flow in but seals so it keep beer from entering the gas line in the coupler?
Check Valve or Thomas Valve
When do you use Jumper Lines?
Long Draw System - connect couplers to faucets and connect trunk lines to faucet shanks
Direct Draw - use as a choker between main beer line and faucet
What is a FOB?
Foam on Beer - Used in a Long Draw System, it is a canister with a float in it that is attached to a beer line, when keg is empty, the float falls and seals inlet with dispensed gas, keeps line full of pressurized beer while keg is changed
What is a beer line?
vinyl, simple, flexible PVC, oxygen permeable
used in Direct Draw System
What is a Trunk Line?
Polyurethane glycol tubing
Long Draw Systems, used for carring glycol not beer,
insulation to keep beer cool
What is Barrier Tubing?
used in trunk lines of a Long Draw System, designed to prevent the passage of oxygen and other contaminants into the beer line, and the leakage of carbon dioxide out of the beer
What are 4 types of faucets?
a. rear sealing, standard
b. forward sealing, Perlick
c. flow control, variable resistance device
d. Nitro, with restrictor plate
What is a glycol chiller?
AKA power pack/flash chillers used to cool down tubing and pump through trunk lines, with return line
If NO beer is coming out of faucet, what are some reasons
a. secondary regulator shut off
b. main regulator shut off
c. coupler not fully engaged
d. FOB not reset
If beer is pouring excessivly foamy, what are some reasons?
a. keg is too warm
b. systems pressure is too low or too high for the keg
c. kinked beer line
If the beer is coming out flat, what are some reasons?
a. system pressure too low
b. beer temp too cold
c. throttling the tap handle
d. dirty glassware
If the beer is pouring cloudy, what are some reasons?
a. chill haze
b. dirty system
c. beer is extreamly old
What is biofilm?
groups of microbes forming filmy surfaces, bofilm protects microbes from cleaning solutions
What is beer stone?
Beer contains callcium compounds that collect over time that look like scales or pepples
What is PPE?
What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment
What is caustic line cleaner used for?
Removing organic material and microbes form beer lines, hardware, and fittings
highly alkaline chemical (base)
What is the proper mixture for caustic cleaner and with what?
What is the proper mixture for caustic cleaner and with what?
Mix with water, 2% cleaning, 3% intense cleaning
What is Acid Based Cleaner used for?
removing inorganic beer stone from lines, hardware, fittings
phosphoric acid
What is the temperature for line cleaning?
80-110*
What is the proper mix, temp and contact time for cleaning a system?
2-3% mix, 80-110*, pump 15 mins, pot 20 mins
When should you clean the beer system?
2 weeks - caustic
3 months - caustie + acid
6 months - same as above + dissassemble couplers and FOBs
