FastFerment Fermentation Chamber - Thoughts?

[lorne17]

Hello All,

I put this together on SketchUp trying to get a design and ultimately a cutlist together. Before I get the final cutlist, what are your thoughts? I kind of used the concept of Mother of a Fermenatation chamber for ice being on the bottom. I'll need to install a computer fan to push the cold air across ice and up the chamber. But the buildout...suggestions?

Also, should I use 1" or 2" Rigid Insulation?

I can give more detailed images if you want?

Thanks in advance,
Lorne

 

[JSych]

Hey Lorne,

Nice Sketchup! A few years ago I lived in Singapore and had to build a similar coolbox in which to ferment. I used 1-inch Styrofoam to create a simple, single-level box that had enough space for blocks of ice to sit alongside my fermenters. The inside space of the box was just large enough to hold two 15-litre carboys and four 1-litre blocks of ice. The ambient temperature in the room where the box was sat around 26 degrees celsius, and three blocks of ice would keep an active fermentation around 17C to 18C. I was actually impressed with how well it worked without forced air, although admittedly I was using smaller-than-normal fermenters. Using 2-inch insulation board would, of course, be more efficient, translating to less ice needed to keep your cool.

Your design looks good, but depending on how big your fermenter is, perhaps forced air is unnecessary if you have space for the ice in the same chamber.

 

[lorne17]

Thanks for the reply Jsych. I'm an architect by day and homebrewer by night...so I have had my fair share of practice in SketchUp. I have modeled most my house in Revit and SketchUp . Including the latest and perhaps most important project...MY FERMENTATION CHAMBER!

With that said I have been using a makeshift fermentation chamber with frozen milk jugs next to my carboy the last year or so. It's collapsible and has 1" foam on top and bottom with the 1/4" reflectant bubble insulation (Reflectix) around the outside. It worked pretty good. But I want to make it a bit better than that temporary thing now that I have space in my house. I didn't have room for a permanent setup in my last house.

Either way, I think I may upgrade to 2" rigid insulation board. Just to have that added protection.

I can have the ice in the same chamber, but what are everyone's thoughts on setting it up like Mother of a Fermentation chamber (or Son of a Fermentation Chamber) with blowing air across the ice and up into the chamber itself? Or will just keeping the chamber all open with ice packs on bottom be efficient enough? It'd definitely be easier! I guess I could try it out and if I need to make the stuff on the bottom I can, as it's all inside the insulation envelope and easy to add later.

Also please note, I'm using the FastFerment system on a drawer pull-out. I'm open to suggestions on how to better improve this before I make it!

Thanks,
Lorne

 

[lorne17]

I was gonna post here, but thought I should start a new post and think of a clever name. Since SON OF A FERMENTATION CHAMBER inspired me. I started a thread called SON OF A FASTFERMENT CHAMBER.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?p=7472507#post7472507
Let me know your thoughts!