A leading provider of beer dispensing equipment is using neodymium
magnets from Eclipse Magnetics to ensure the smooth operation of reed
switches in its Auto-Keg high speed beer dispense systems. Based in
Donabate, Co. Dublin, Ireland, Qualflow Systems Ltd provides automated
beer-line cleaning equipment and high-speed beer dispense solutions to
brewers, stadium operators and the hospitality industry. Qualflow
Systems’ range of beer-line cleaning equipment is used by major brewers,
pub groups, venues and stadium operators throughout Europe.
brewing equipment manufacturer
Eclipse Magnetics supplied Qualflow Systems with several neodymium
block magnets and neodymium disc magnets, both for use in reed switch
activation. The magnets are used in reed switches for the Auto-Keg
Changer high speed beer dispense system to detect when the beer kegs are
empty.Changer high speed beer dispense systems. Based in Donabate, Co.
Dublin, Ireland, Qualflow Systems Ltd provides automated beer-line
cleaning equipment and high-speed beer dispense solutions to brewers,
stadium operators and the hospitality industry. Qualflow Systems’ range
of beer-line cleaning equipment is used by major brewers, pub groups,
venues and stadium operators throughout Europe.
Justin Lawler Ph.D. MBA, Chief Technology Officer at Qualflow
Systems Ltd said: “The magnets that we order from Eclipse Magnetics are a
key component in the reed switches used in our high speed beer dispense
systems and beer line cleaning equipment. The neodymium magnets offer
the strongest magnetic performance, and are nickel plated, making them a
cost effective and reliable choice.”
Reed switch activation is employed in Qualflow System’s Auto-Keg
Changer high speed beer dispense system to detect when the beer kegs are
empty, and also to activate an alarm on the Portable and Fixed Beer
Line Cleaning Systems. In order for Qualflow Systems’ products and
dispense solutions to work efficiently and effectively, the company
needed to source quality neodymium magnets to enable the reed switch
activation required in these systems.
High Speed Beer Dispensing
During this process, beer is dispensed by the gas pressure which is
applied to the top of the beer keg, pushing the beer out of the top
through a tube that reaches the bottom of the keg. When the beer keg is
empty, the gas will naturally go up the tube and fill the beer line.
This results in a lot of beer being wasted when the next keg is
connected because the foam that has collected in the beer line must be
disposed of.
float on beer dispensing systemQualflow Systems’ Auto Keg-Changer
stops this collection of foam by using a Foam on Beer (FOB) detector.
These are essentially liquid chambers containing a float that floats on
top of the beer. Beer enters at the top of the chamber and exits at the
bottom. Qualflow Systems use an electronic system; whereby when the
float falls, a reed sensor detects the gas in the chamber, and signals
to the automatic dispense system to stop serving.
These reed switches are particularly important for high speed
dispense applications because they allow the beer dispense system to
remains pressurised all the time. The reed switches are also used to
activate an alarm on the beer line cleaning equipment.
Reed switches are electromagnetic switches that are used to control
the flow of electricity in a circuit. In a typical reed switch, the two
contacts are made from a ferromagnetic material, and sealed inside a
thin glass envelope filled with an unreactive gas, typically nitrogen,
to keep them free from contaminants such as dirt and dust.
The reeds become magnetised and move together or separate when a
magnetic field is moved towards the switch. The switch effectively works
like a gate in an electric circuit, so that when the two reeds are in
contact, electricity can flow around the circuit operating a device.
Unlike mechanical switches, they don’t need someone to physically turn
them on or off; they are controlled completely by invisible magnetic
fields.
The Wall