How to maintenance spent grain auger system from Tiantai
- Dec 15, 2025
- 63
- tiantai
A spent grain auger system in a beer brewery is a mechanical conveying system used to remove and transport spent grain (the wet grain left after lautering/mashing) from the brewhouse to a collection or disposal point.
It is popular used in many breweries due to several advantages, which includes:
- Automates spent grain removal
-Reduces manual labor
- Improves hygiene and safety
- Speeds up brewhouse turnaround
- Makes collection for animal feed easier
To assure the auger system working at good condition, we need to make maintenace regularly。 Do you know how to do this? Please follow my introduction as below:
Daily maintenance (per shift/per day)
1. Cleaning
Cleaning the residue of spent grain at the feeding and discharging ports of the auger to avoid clumping and blockage.
Especially for spent grain residue with high moisture content, it is easy to hang on the wall, so it should be ensured that there is no accumulation in the machine trough.
2. Check the running sound
Normal operation should be uniform without any abnormal noise.
If there is metal friction sound, stuttering sound, or increased vibration, stop the machine immediately for inspection.
3. Observe the motor and reducer
Ensure that the surface is not abnormally hot (touchable by hand but not too hot).
Check if the motor has any odor, oil leakage, or abnormal vibration.
Weekly maintenance
1. Spiral tension
Spiral conveyor: Check whether the spiral has eccentricity or scratches on the groove body.
2. Bearing lubrication
Add an appropriate amount of lubricating grease according to the manufacturer's requirements (not excessive).
Spent grain residue environment is humid, and special attention needs to be paid to whether the bearing seal is intact.
3. Check the water tray and drainage system
If there are drainage holes designed at the bottom of the auger, they should be kept unobstructed to avoid corrosion caused by long-term water accumulation.
Monthly maintenance
1. Check the wear of the spiral blade
Observe whether the spiral blade have become thinner or deformed.
Whether the gap between the blade and the groove increased (a larger gap leads to a decrease in conveying efficiency).
2. Check the corrosion inside the machine slot
Spent grain residue has a certain acidity (pH ≈ 4.5-6), and if it is not cleaned for a long time after shutdown, it will accelerate corrosion.
If blackening or pitting is found on the surface of stainless steel, it should be treated or replaced.
3. Oil level of motor reducer
Check if the oil level is normal, if there is emulsification (water ingress causing the oil to turn white), and replace it if necessary.
Quarterly/Half Year Maintenance
1. Conduct a comprehensive inspection of the gearbox oil
Replace every 6 months to 1 year.
Use the manufacturer's recommended model, such as butter.
2. Verify alignment
The spiral may bend or shift after prolonged use, and the center position needs to be calibrated.
3. Check all seals in especial:
Waterproof sealing of motor
shaft seal
Sealing of conveyor end cover
Wet wheat residue is prone to water seepage, and seal damage can shorten the life of bearings.
Maintenance during downtime or long-term disuse
1. Long term shutdown requires clearing the internal completely.
Spent grain residue fermentation → acid production → equipment corrosion.
2. Thoroughly rinse and dry
Rinse the interior of the conveyor
Open ventilation/blow dry
Prevent clumping, mold growth, or corrosion
Tiantai also provides complete turnkey solutions for beer brewing equipment, kombucha production systems, fruit wine processing lines, beer fermenter, filtration system, packaging line and a wide range of customized beverage equipment. With years of engineering experience and continuous innovation, our equipment has earned the trust and high praise of customers both in China and around the world.
If you are planning a new project or upgrading your existing production line, feel free to contact us anytime—the Tiantai team is ready to support you with professional design, reliable manufacturing, and dedicated after-sales service.
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
It is popular used in many breweries due to several advantages, which includes:
- Automates spent grain removal
-Reduces manual labor
- Improves hygiene and safety
- Speeds up brewhouse turnaround
- Makes collection for animal feed easier
To assure the auger system working at good condition, we need to make maintenace regularly。 Do you know how to do this? Please follow my introduction as below:
Daily maintenance (per shift/per day)
1. Cleaning
Cleaning the residue of spent grain at the feeding and discharging ports of the auger to avoid clumping and blockage.
Especially for spent grain residue with high moisture content, it is easy to hang on the wall, so it should be ensured that there is no accumulation in the machine trough.
2. Check the running sound
Normal operation should be uniform without any abnormal noise.
If there is metal friction sound, stuttering sound, or increased vibration, stop the machine immediately for inspection.
3. Observe the motor and reducer
Ensure that the surface is not abnormally hot (touchable by hand but not too hot).
Check if the motor has any odor, oil leakage, or abnormal vibration.
Weekly maintenance
1. Spiral tension
Spiral conveyor: Check whether the spiral has eccentricity or scratches on the groove body.
2. Bearing lubrication
Add an appropriate amount of lubricating grease according to the manufacturer's requirements (not excessive).
Spent grain residue environment is humid, and special attention needs to be paid to whether the bearing seal is intact.
3. Check the water tray and drainage system
If there are drainage holes designed at the bottom of the auger, they should be kept unobstructed to avoid corrosion caused by long-term water accumulation.
Monthly maintenance
1. Check the wear of the spiral blade
Observe whether the spiral blade have become thinner or deformed.
Whether the gap between the blade and the groove increased (a larger gap leads to a decrease in conveying efficiency).
2. Check the corrosion inside the machine slot
Spent grain residue has a certain acidity (pH ≈ 4.5-6), and if it is not cleaned for a long time after shutdown, it will accelerate corrosion.
If blackening or pitting is found on the surface of stainless steel, it should be treated or replaced.
3. Oil level of motor reducer
Check if the oil level is normal, if there is emulsification (water ingress causing the oil to turn white), and replace it if necessary.
Quarterly/Half Year Maintenance
1. Conduct a comprehensive inspection of the gearbox oil
Replace every 6 months to 1 year.
Use the manufacturer's recommended model, such as butter.
2. Verify alignment
The spiral may bend or shift after prolonged use, and the center position needs to be calibrated.
3. Check all seals in especial:
Waterproof sealing of motor
shaft seal
Sealing of conveyor end cover
Wet wheat residue is prone to water seepage, and seal damage can shorten the life of bearings.
Maintenance during downtime or long-term disuse
1. Long term shutdown requires clearing the internal completely.
Spent grain residue fermentation → acid production → equipment corrosion.
2. Thoroughly rinse and dry
Rinse the interior of the conveyor
Open ventilation/blow dry
Prevent clumping, mold growth, or corrosion
Tiantai also provides complete turnkey solutions for beer brewing equipment, kombucha production systems, fruit wine processing lines, beer fermenter, filtration system, packaging line and a wide range of customized beverage equipment. With years of engineering experience and continuous innovation, our equipment has earned the trust and high praise of customers both in China and around the world.
If you are planning a new project or upgrading your existing production line, feel free to contact us anytime—the Tiantai team is ready to support you with professional design, reliable manufacturing, and dedicated after-sales service.
Derrick
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Tiantai Beer Equipment
