Ep 42 - Chillers, Heat Recovery & OpEx: What Every Brewer Needs to Know - Jon Keyte

This year alone, I’ve seen multiple breweries unknowingly bleed cash through their refrigeration systems. Why?Because chillers are often misunderstood, undersized or poorly maintained. And they happen to be one of the biggest operational costs in any brewery.In this episode, I sit down with Jon Keyte from RefCool, one of the sharpest minds in refrigeration, to break down everything a brewer needs to know about chillers. From sizing to heat recovery, operational efficiency and how you can use your chiller to heat water to 50c.If you're buying a chiller, running a chiller, or trying to save energy in your brewery, this is essential listening.What we cover:•⁠  ⁠Why chillers are often over sized and draining your margins•⁠  ⁠How to correctly size a chiller (it’s not what you think)•⁠  ⁠The truth about compressor types, ambient temperatures and glycol tanks•⁠  ⁠Heat recovery that turns cooling into hot water•⁠  ⁠How to monitor, maintain and future-proof your system•⁠  ⁠Real world CapEx versus OpEx comparisons that could save you thousandsThis one is practical, no nonsense and deeply important for any brewer looking at a new chiller or looking to reduce their operational costs.Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Modern Brewer Podcast00:24 Highlights from the CIBD Sustainability Conference02:42 Chris's Controversial Presentation05:02 We Are Beer Industry Expo06:35 Brewing World Updates07:23 Exciting News from Francesco Lo Bue08:34 Introduction to Today's Episode09:48 Understanding Brewery Refrigeration11:09 Meet John Keyte, Refrigeration Expert13:34 The Importance of Correct Chiller Sizing24:02 Types of Compressors and Their Impact24:29 The Role of Ambient Temperature27:42 Glycol Buffer Tanks and Efficient Chiller Operation32:55 Monitoring and Optimising Chiller Performance34:15 Choosing the Right Chiller for Your Brewery35:15 Efficiency of Running Multiple Chillers37:14 Assessing Chiller Operational Costs40:18 Calculating Chilling Power and COP41:59 CapEx vs. OpEx in Chiller Selection42:35 Refrigerant Gases and Their Impact49:19 Heat Recovery in Refrigeration Systems57:38 Resilience and Maintenance of Chillers01:03:16 Top Tips for Brewers on Refrigeration01:05:02 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThank you to our amazing show sponsors, Brewing Trade - The hop market, owned by brewers.Exclusive Brewing Trade offer - £17.33 p/kg Talus on Brewing TradeWeekly Education Email on Hops - Francesco Lo BueRefrigeration Circuit link Jons NewsletterJons LinkedIn