I've been running searches and I can't find this particular issue addressed. I see many many fermentation chambers and I've been looking at making one or two. One for lagering and one for ales. And I was wondering if anyone has attempted using radiant heat systems like used in flooring/walls. It strikes me as a perfect system especially if you already have the equipment installed in your house. Have your insulated chambers and the water coils around it mixed with some sort of dissipating material would remain a fairly constant temperature with little maintenance. Since the capacity to retain heat is several orders of magnitude higher in water than in air it would be rather energy efficient (say if I'm at my cabin or off the grid and were using solar panels) and be easily adjustable and stable. Just my thoughts. If you can throw a design at me or posts I'd love to do some research. If not I may be doing some tinkering this weekend.
Radiant heating/cooling
- Thread starter Aeniph
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It depends on what you mean, I reckon. By my understanding, radiant heating is anything that uses EM radiation to transmit heat, rather than conduction or convection. If I understand that distinction right, radiant heating would include a lot of different kinds of systems, including the good ol' "ice bottles in a styrofoam box" builds. But, I get the sense you are talking about something more specific. Are you looking for a system that uses liquid rather than air as a heat transport medium?
If so, there are a lot of builds that use something like this. The Fermoire build uses a heat exchanger, and many similar designs use car radiators. Pretty much any system that uses glycol runs on this principle. Any fridge does too.
I don't feel like I'm answering a particularly specific question. Are these the kinds of things you had in mind?
If so, there are a lot of builds that use something like this. The Fermoire build uses a heat exchanger, and many similar designs use car radiators. Pretty much any system that uses glycol runs on this principle. Any fridge does too.
I don't feel like I'm answering a particularly specific question. Are these the kinds of things you had in mind?
Can't see why it wouldn't work. In fact I think it's a darn good idea, especially if you've already got a good portion of the equipment on hand. If your house is hydronic heat (ie, hot water baseboards or in floor,wall,or ceiling hot water tubing, a.k.a. "radiant") then fermentation chamber(s) could be built as additional zones off your heating system utilizing your additional boiler etc. A fermentation chamber is really just another "little" room that needs heating or cooling. The expensive parts are additional zone pumps (or valves) and mixing valves, and the control.
ScubaSteve
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It's a good idea, but heating is less of a challenge. You need to cool your beer due to the heat produced by the chemical reactions of fermentation. Many have used what you described with a glycol reservoir in a freezer that has a temperature switched pump which moves the coolant through copper lines wrapped around the vessel. Apparently they work well. Alternatively you could move the coolant through a small transmission cooler with a fan....it's the same concept as radiant heating in a home except energy is absorbed vs. being given off.
That's exactly what I'm looking at thank you. As for heating verses cooling it depends on time of year. I've had a few stalled fermentations due to temperature in my house which seems to stick at an ambient 60 or so when it's cold. During the summer I'm sure it will reverse. I like the glycol idea especially for a lager chamber. It also strikes me that done right you can do a keezer style build without the actual freezer portion. Just build your chamber. Insulate it and run some cooled tubes around your kegs. Thanks again for the help on this
