Carbonating in a bright tank

[mlachelt]

Hi all,

I need to figure out how to carbonate cider in a bright tank and can't find instructions anywhere. Can anyone explain what's involved, or direct me to an informative site? I have a 1000 liter jacketed tank rated to 14.7 psi. It has a carbonation stone. I plan to chill the cider to at least 39 degrees. I have a Co2 tank and regulator. I'm just not clear on the process. Presumably, I connect the Co2 to the carb stone and set the pressure with the regulator. I'll figure out the right amount of pressure for my needs (I'm looking for a gentle carbonation). There's also a pressure relief valve at the top of the tank. I suppose I have to do something with that, but I'm a bit foggy. Do I also have to set the "head pressure"? What's that exactly, and how do I do that? (There seems to be a valve higher up on the tank. Is this to set the head pressure?).

I'm certainly over my head, but never expected it to be so difficult to find instructions on how to carbonate with the tank. I plan to practice first with water, but don't know where to start!

I'd be truly appreciative of any advice.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Buckeye_Phil]

You should just be able to set the pressure regulator to your desired pressure (based on target vols CO2 at your 39degF temperature).

As long as the relief valve is closed, you shouldn't have to mess with it. Just don't set your CO2 pressure too high (I.e. Stay below 14 psig, if that's what your tank is rated to), or that thing will open and bleed off excess.

As far as headspace pressure, that's the same as where you set your regulator. If you put 10 psig on the tank, some of that gas will dissolve into solution as it comes out the stone, but the majority will just bubble through to the top and accumulate above the liquid level (headspace). As the cider absorbs gas out of the headspace, headspace pressure will decrease. When headspace pressure decreases below regulator setpoint, it will open and put more gas in to bring it back to set pressure. Eventually, partial pressure of CO2 in cider will equal pressure in headspace, which will equal regulator setpoint, and carbonation is complete.

EDIT: My guess is that upper valve is for applying pressure for transferring beer to another vessel. You wouldn't want to apply pressure via the stone at the bottom, as it would just blow gas out the bottom.

 

[mlachelt]

Hey, thanks for your reply!

I see now that the head pressure is set by setting the psi on the regulator...some of the co2 dissolves on its way up from the carb stone, and the remainder ends up in the head space, building up pressure until the head pressure gauge matches the regulator gauge. I'm not clear about what happens next though. I understand that the co2 in the head space will slowly dissolve into the liquid below, and the regulator will continue to deliver co2 until the head space pressure matches the regulator set point. What I don't understand is how you know when the carbonation is complete. Is it just that, at a given regulator set point, there will come a time when the liquid will no longer absorb any more co2 from the head space? Is this correct? If so, how do you know when this has been reached?

Thanks again,
Mike

 

[madscientist451]

Use the upper valve to use Co2 to force any air out of the top of the tank? I don't have a brite tank, but carbing with a keg you would do the same thing. Push all the air out by hooking up to Co2 , then vent the tank a few times. You don't need a lot of pressure to do this.
Go on you tube and look for videos about force carbing, lots of demonstrations there.
Also check out this article on using brite tanks:

http://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com...d-brewer-jason-salas-talks-bright-beer-tanks/