Keg terminology
Beerstone – A stubborn type of scale also known as calcium oxalate (C2CaO4).
Bung – A specially made plug used to seal the “Bung Hole” in the side of old-style kegs and casks. (aka – Bung Plug)
Bung hammer – Special tool for seating bung plug in keg or cask.
Bunghole – Inspection/cleaning/filling access hole in the side of old-style kegs and casks.
Burst pressure – Stainless steel kegs are rated for an internal pressure of at least 60 to 90 PSI without deformation, with a burst pressure of at least 300 PSI
Burst disc – Small circle stamp on the bottom dome of the keg, which is designed to break out at a certain preset pressure to prevent the valve from becoming the weakest point of the pressure vessel.
Carbonation is the process of dissolving carbon dioxide in water. The process usually involves carbon dioxide under high pressure. When the pressure is reduced, the carbon dioxide is released from the solution as small bubbles, which cause the solution to “fizz.”
Caustic – Strong alkaline cleaners designed to work in tough cleaning situations./p>
Chemical cleaning – The introduction of cleaning and sanitizing agents to reduce the number of microorganisms to acceptable levels.
Chime – Sankey Kegs have a rim, called a chime, on each end. The top chime has integrated handles for easy handling.
Chimb – Refer to Chime
EPDM seal – (ethylene propylene diene Monomer (M-class) rubber), a type of synthetic rubber seal specially designed to resist oxygen.
Food zone – Area’s in keg that come into direct contact with beer to be consumed.
Free iron – When ordinary steel is rubbed off on stainless steel, the material which is transferred to the stainless steel is generally referred to as “free iron.” This is a “contamination” of stainless steel also known as “carbon contamination” and can detrimentally affect beer taste.
Hydraulic pressure – Pressure on a fluid that transmits in all directions.
Interpass temperature – The maximum temperature a weld should be allowed to reach between weld passes.
Locking ring – Stainless Steel lock ring, which prevents the valve from being ejected out through the neck of the keg.
MSDS sheets – Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or internationally known as Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (also known as PSDS, Product Safety Data Sheet) is an important component of product stewardship and workplace safety. It is intended to provide workers and emergency personnel with procedures for handling or working with that substance in a safe manner.
Neck – Raised tube keg valve seats into.
Neutralize – Introducing special chemicals formulated to stop a chemical action (example: caustic cleaners)
Passivation – Stainless steel’s resistance to corrosion and discoloration is due to a passive oxide layer that protects the metal. The oxide forms naturally on clean surfaces exposed to the atmosphere, but this formation can take up to 2 weeks, which is too long for breweries. A technique known as passivation, using acid mixtures containing oxidizing agents, can be used to enhance the formation of the passive oxide layer.
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment
Pressure vessel – The body of the keg that holds liquid and pressure.
Sanitary weld – Sanitary welding is a welding practice that is thoroughly codified for use in the food industries. The smooth clean welds resist microbial buildup.
Spear – valve stem
Spile hole – A small air hole in a cask; a vent or access, similar to keg bung hole.
Tensile Strength – The maximum load that a material can support without fracture when being stretched.
Ullage – Also known as headspace, the unfilled area between the liquid and the top in a keg.
Weld scale – Welding Scale is a relatively thick oxide layer created during the welding process.
Weld sugar – “Sugaring” is used to describe the dark appearance of the backside of a stainless steel weld surface. It means the metal crystallized during the welding process and will be prone to failure.