Pressure Fermenter that is NOT a Conical or Keg?

[Bassman2003]

Hello,

Just doing some research on pressure ferments and natural carbonation and seeing what type of vessels are out there. After watching a Fermentasaurus video I realized I do not need a lot of the engineering built into the product. All I really need is a container that can hold up to 40-50psi that has a gas connect and some kind of output for transfers to a serving keg. I do not need any kind of conical design.

I really do not want to be cleaning up corny kegs from a ferment either. Right now I have been using a SS olive oil container for fermenting and it has been great. If I could find something with the same design that held pressure it would be perfect.

Best case scenario would be to ferment, spund with 1 plato left for carbonation, crash cool then pressure transfer to a serving keg. All of the trub and yeast would be left behind and the beer would be clear, cold and carbonated right when it hit the serving keg.

Thanks for any input on if you have seen anything like I am describing. I brew 5 gallon batches and ferment in a wine fridge that is 28" tall on the inside.

 

[schematix]

40-50 psi is A LOT. Do some quick mash on surface area * 40-50 and you're looking at a literal ton or more of force pretty quickly.

Typical unitank design is for 1 atm (about 14 psi) and can usually be made 2x by request. Beyond that is getting into specialized areas and the prices go way up in a hurry.

The most capable pressure vessel i've seen for a reasonable sum is a keg. Maybe consider investing in a keg cleaning system so you don't have to do it by hand?

 

[Sadu]

As above. Also good luck finding a pressure capable vessel that is not round. Anything square is going to buckle outwards under any sort of pressure, which is why kegs are round.
If you are on a budget and want pressure capable it's hard to beat a keg fermentor. They aren't that hard to clean.

 

[Bassman2003]

Thanks for your replies. I really do not know what is possible with cost, pressure and design. The 40-50 psi numbers are max needed to carbonate at fermentation temps. 15 psi for triple or hefeweizen would not be enough.

I could make 28 psi work as you mentioned 2 atm. Do you have any products you could point me towards that are not conical? My olive oil container is round, basically the shape of a short sanke keg. I guess it comes down to wall thickness and cost of SS? Seems like it could be done without being a conical.

Just hoping to get away from dip tubes and exactly 5 gallon sizes. I know there are some different sized corny kegs but how much do they cost? Also not crazy about the long tall design.

 

[schematix]

look up brite tanks. maybe that's what you want?

 

[Bassman2003]

Looks like brite tanks are the right direction but finding one the size for a 5 gallon batch might be a challenge. I am basically looking for a normal fermenter that can hold pressure. Kegs might be my only way forward anyway.

This 7.5 gal sanke is a decent price if I could convert it. https://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/empty_kegs/quarter_slims/HS-K7.75G-DDI.shtml

 

[crane]

Looks like brite tanks are the right direction but finding one the size for a 5 gallon batch might be a challenge. I am basically looking for a normal fermenter that can hold pressure. Kegs might be my only way forward anyway.

This 7.5 gal sanke is a decent price if I could convert it. https://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/empty_kegs/quarter_slims/HS-K7.75G-DDI.shtml

I ferment under pressure using sanke kegs as they leave plenty of room for blow off. With a 7.5 gal sanke you can easily get enough beer out to completely fill a corny keg. Likewise, I use 15.5 gal sanke kegs for 10 gal batches.

I built a keg cleaner out of a bucket, sump pump, and copper tubing. Works great for cleaning.

You cant beat the price of kegs for a pressurized fermenter.

 

[4of7]

Kegmenter @250.more beer