drunkenmonk
Well-Known Member
I've been using 10 and 20 gallon stainless conical fermenters (Blichmann Fermenators) for quite a while. In fact, my first one was the first "fancy" piece of equipment I ever bought ... and totally worth it! Anyways, I've now moved up to a 40 gallon Stout Tanks conical. The way I used to sanitize my fermenters was to completely fill them with iodine solution, soak, and then dump. Now I've moved my brewing operations to a basement where I would have to pump out (no floor drain) and it really seemed like a waste of water to fill at 40 gallon fermenter just to sanitize it. I therefore decided to build a recirculating CIP system ... and it's easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and probably worth using on smaller fermenters!
My CIP system works by pumping solution (can be iodine or PBW) with a sump pump in bucket through a CIP ball, draining by gravity back into the bucket, and recirculating. Since it's recirculating the solution, less solution (and water is needed). Here's the major parts:
For my setup, the pump pumps a lot faster than the fermenter drains. That means I have to cycle it a few times by plugging it in and unplugging it periodically. After using it a few times, I added a simple inline switch using a light switch in a waterproof outdoor enclosure. I then added a couple hooks to hang it on the top edge of the fermenter. This cost a few bucks in parts. See pic below.
On brew day, I set up the fermenter with the pump, hoses, and a 5 gallon bucket filled 3/4 with iodine solution. I first run a few cycles pumping in through the racking arm (and draining out the bottom drain). I then switch to pumping in through the CIP ball (and still drainging out the bottom drain) and run this through 5 or 6 cycles while I'm brewing.
After fermentation is over and I've bottled/kegged, I first roughly hand clean the fermenter with a hose and sponge. Even though the CIP ball sprays pretty well, you need to get in there and scrub off that line of yeast that sticks to the sides of the fermenter at the top of the wort level. I then seal up the fermenter and do the same cycle as brew day except with hot water and PBW. I then follow this with a cycle of just hot water to rinse off the PBW solution. I never used to clean my old fermenters with hot PBW solution, but I got some serious beer stone after a few years. It took some serious hydrochloric acid and scrubbing to get it off. Hopefully this routine cleaning with PBW will avoid beer stone build up ... we'll see.
My CIP system works by pumping solution (can be iodine or PBW) with a sump pump in bucket through a CIP ball, draining by gravity back into the bucket, and recirculating. Since it's recirculating the solution, less solution (and water is needed). Here's the major parts:
- CIP Ball - $40 (http://conical-fermenter.com/CIP-Spray-Ball.html). This was specific fit for my Stout tank, but there's lots of generic CIP balls at Brewer's Hardware (https://www.brewershardware.com/CIP-Spray-Balls/)
- Sump Pump - $52 (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Superior-Pump-1-4-HP-Submersible-Thermoplastic-Utility-Pump-91250/204589831). Most CIP ball manufacturers recommend at least a 1/4 HP pump and I agree with this assessment. It really puts out a good spray to sanitize/clean the tank. A traditional March or Chugger pump wouldn't have enough power and isn't submersible.
- Garden Hose - Cheap, Above sump pump has adapter so you can hook hose right up to it.
- Hose to Triclamp Adapter - A few bucks and specific to my set-up. You'll probably need some kind of fitting to hook a garden hose up to your CIP ball.
- Hose and Fitting to Drain Out of Fermenter - Already had it.
- Bucket - Already had it.
For my setup, the pump pumps a lot faster than the fermenter drains. That means I have to cycle it a few times by plugging it in and unplugging it periodically. After using it a few times, I added a simple inline switch using a light switch in a waterproof outdoor enclosure. I then added a couple hooks to hang it on the top edge of the fermenter. This cost a few bucks in parts. See pic below.
On brew day, I set up the fermenter with the pump, hoses, and a 5 gallon bucket filled 3/4 with iodine solution. I first run a few cycles pumping in through the racking arm (and draining out the bottom drain). I then switch to pumping in through the CIP ball (and still drainging out the bottom drain) and run this through 5 or 6 cycles while I'm brewing.
After fermentation is over and I've bottled/kegged, I first roughly hand clean the fermenter with a hose and sponge. Even though the CIP ball sprays pretty well, you need to get in there and scrub off that line of yeast that sticks to the sides of the fermenter at the top of the wort level. I then seal up the fermenter and do the same cycle as brew day except with hot water and PBW. I then follow this with a cycle of just hot water to rinse off the PBW solution. I never used to clean my old fermenters with hot PBW solution, but I got some serious beer stone after a few years. It took some serious hydrochloric acid and scrubbing to get it off. Hopefully this routine cleaning with PBW will avoid beer stone build up ... we'll see.
