BeverEdge: Using novel ultrasound-algorithms with IoT technology to continuously measure the product quality of consumer beverages travelling in kegs and casks

Nearly a quarter of beer is wasted before it is served to customers: about 20% of each keg is lost due to spoilage or mishandling with an additional 5% lost due to poor temperature control costing the brewery sector nearly £2bn per year but the cost for the environment due to water wastage and carbon emissions may even be higher. Even though CO2 concentration in a Keg is a good quality indicator there is currently no sensor that can continuously measure a keg's CO2 concentration.

The Smart Container Company (TSCC) has developed a patent-pending keg mounted IoT device, the KegTracker. It measures keg temperature, location, movement, and volume unobtrusively(via ultrasound) and continuously throughout the keg's life cycle. It wants to extend its functionality to also track CO2 saturation using existing sensors.

This industrial research project aims to get the BeverEdge algorithm from TRL2 to TRL5\. This novel algorithm could determine CO2 concentration in Kegs accurately, continuously and at low cost. It helps breweries to optimise their supply chains, avoid wastage and thus save money and the environment.