Huge Brew Kettle Question

[MrMikeAZ]

My friend has a huge kettle he inherited that he has no idea what to do with until I saw it. I don't know much about these kettles, I have some info, I would like to know if this is something that can be used for a brew kettle. I think it can, but maybe you can confirm this for me please.

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400 gallon Groen, Jacketed Kettle, stainless steel, National Board #138786, product chamber rated at 15 PSI maximum working pressure (MAWP) & full vacuum at 30" Hg., jacket has MAWP rating of 100 PSI at 338º F & minimum design metal temperature (MDMT) rating of -20º F at 100 PSI, 60" diameter x 17.5" straight side height with 30" hemispherical bottom, top has 18" diameter manway rated for 15 PSI at 250º F, 15" wide x 64" long center agitator bridge, 70" diameter x 90" high total dimensions.
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[keesh]

How would you plan on heating this bad boy? I would assume electrically and not by fire?

 

[day_trippr]

Is it April Fool's Day already?

I'm just trying to get my mind wrapped around the size of all of the other vessels that running a four hundred gallon kettle would require. Never mind how much it would cost to run a batch through such a system - or the fact that batch of home brew would wildly exceed federal law...

Cheers!

 

[MrMikeAZ]

Well, as far as the size, yes, its huge. Way too big for my current equipment. My friend also inherited a bomb pump for this thing and an awesome chiller. We would only need to get a large(thinking 60-100 gal) mash tun and I have a connection on cheap 90-150 gallon fermentors in the mean time until we can get all the large equipment for this. Basically only using 1/2 or less of the BK off the bat.

As far as heating goes, we just need to get a boiler to hook up to it.

Basically, my friend who has this stuff also owns a warehouse where we can file for a brewery license if needed because of the size of the fermentor.

But the other thought was to have large home brew events where everyone can bring a fermentor and fill it with the wort and we would not be breaking any laws then.

 

[day_trippr]

The sight of ~80 carboys and their owners all lined up for filling would be inspirational

Cheers!

 

[nbolmer]

My friend has a huge kettle he inherited that he has no idea what to do with until I saw it. I don't know much about these kettles, I have some info, I would like to know if this is something that can be used for a brew kettle. I think it can, but maybe you can confirm this for me please.

******
400 gallon Groen, Jacketed Kettle, stainless steel, National Board #138786, product chamber rated at 15 PSI maximum working pressure (MAWP) & full vacuum at 30" Hg., jacket has MAWP rating of 100 PSI at 338º F & minimum design metal temperature (MDMT) rating of -20º F at 100 PSI, 60" diameter x 17.5" straight side height with 30" hemispherical bottom, top has 18" diameter manway rated for 15 PSI at 250º F, 15" wide x 64" long center agitator bridge, 70" diameter x 90" high total dimensions.
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Well it looks like you have a batch reactor there. They are used to ... make stuff. I'm on my phone and don't see your picture, but if it is steam jacketed, you will need a steam boiler. If you have a gas fired steam boiler, you will need a proper boiler room, installed by a professional. If you get an electrical one, you'll need industrial power (mine runs on 480) or a transformer. "filing for a brewery license"... this is borderline hysterical. No small undertaking, trust me. I'm 8 months into the process, and I live in a rural area. You will need thousands of dollars worth of permits, inspections, impact analysis, licensing, etc etc etc etc.

I'd say pass.