Sanke Keg Washer build

[marcb]

Maiden voyage!

 

[Markd27]

Very impressive! Post some video...

 

[marcb]

Very impressive! Post some video...

Will do, once I get it all sorted out, still working out the air/co2 connections. Today was just a mockup run with water and a dirty keg. On the bright side it seems there is enough of a co2 charge on freshly emptied kegs to blast out most of the old beer when inverted on the stand and connected so I may append my workflow to a slightly different process for initial purge.

 

[marcb]

A little busy in the pics but got the air/co2 hooked up today. Should be able to run through a test cycle with hot PBW and Star San tomorrow.

 

[marcb]

Ran through a purge/clean cycle on 4 1/6BBL kegs using 160 Degree PBW today. Worked well, need to document valve/lever positions and operational steps so that this can be delegated to my brewery staff (oldest son!)

 

[marcb]

This thing rocks, buying some T's to be able to do two kegs at once. Today went through a rinse and sanitize cycle finishing with a co2 purge. Couldn't get much easier than this!

 

[Chamuco]

This thing rocks, buying some T's to be able to do two kegs at once. Today went through a rinse and sanitize cycle finishing with a co2 purge. Couldn't get much easier than this!

So badass! Nice work Marc.

 

[marcb]

So badass! Nice work Marc.

Thanks Chad, we'll have to get you over for a brew day soon. I'm doing another batch of Tripel and a dba batch soon.

 

[Jaybird]

So what do you think you got in it marc? That is a thing of beauty!!!

Cheers
Jay

 

[marcb]

So what do you think you got in it marc? That is a thing of beauty!!!

Cheers
Jay

Hi Jay, all told probably around $1400
$250 for the kettles
$250 for the pump
$150 for 1x1 .065 stainless tube 40 linear feet
$100 for welding
$450 tri clamp fittings, valves and small HW
$200 for the filling/cleaning heads

I will post a more thorough write up once I get the controls on. I'm guessing you could build a more modest version of this for about $500

 

[nvrstck]

Is that the March AC-5C-MD pump? How is that working? My buddy is looking to upgrade from a March 809/815.

 

[marcb]

Is that the March AC-5C-MD pump? How is that working? My buddy is looking to upgrade from a March 809/815.

Hi, it's the AC-5B-MD from Tesco pumps. It shows $290 on amazon right now but I picked it up cheaper back in August last year primarily to whirlpool my 20 gallon batches. It works great! I just picked up the SS version for my newest project. These things put out some serious volume/pressure when fed right.

 

[nvrstck]

Hi, it's the AC-5B-MD from Tesco pumps. It shows $290 on amazon right now but I picked it up cheaper back in August last year primarily to whirlpool my 20 gallon batches. It works great! I just picked up the SS version for my newest project. These things put out some serious volume/pressure when fed right.

Nice! Looks like a great pump at 17gpm and 27' of head.

Another new project?!?! What now?:rockin:

I saw your conical heater project....that is pretty awesome...forwarded to my buddy with a 27gal Fermenator.

 

[marcb]

Nice! Looks like a great pump at 17gpm and 27' of head.

Another new project?!?! What now?:rockin:

I saw your conical heater project....that is pretty awesome...forwarded to my buddy with a 27gal Fermenator.

Next up is the 1.5BBL brewery. I've been doing 2/3 BBL and it is time to go bigger ; )

 

[marcb]

Washing two kegs at the same time! I really need to document the steps for purging the old beer and cleaning as it got even more confusing with two kegs simultaneously!

Two drain valves
Two valves on each sanke tap
One for the pump (mostly to stop air from bleeding back into the bottom of the kettles)
Two for flow direction
Two for the air/co2 manifold
One for the return

10 valves total!

 

[Brewmech]

Washing two kegs at the same time! I really need to document the steps for purging the old beer and cleaning as it got even more confusing with two kegs simultaneously!

Two drain valves
Two valves on each sanke tap
One for the pump (mostly to stop air from bleeding back into the bottom of the kettles)
Two for flow direction
Two for the air/co2 manifold
One for the return

10 valves total!

That's pretty awesome. How are you heating the cleaning solution?

 

[marcb]

That's pretty awesome. How are you heating the cleaning solution?

Currently I'm using my tankless to fill the left kettles with 160 degree water and PBW. I plan on adding a 2KW element and a PID based controller to keep it there for a whole session (usually I clean 8-10 kegs at a time). Tomorrow I'm welding fittings on the bottom for a drain valve.

 

[Brewmech]

Currently I'm using my tankless to fill the left kettles with 160 degree water and PBW. I plan on adding a 2KW element and a PID based controller to keep it there for a whole session (usually I clean 8-10 kegs at a time). Tomorrow I'm welding fittings on the bottom for a drain valve.

That's gonna be one hell of a contraption when you're done. Awesome!

Cheers!

 

[marcb]

Sorry for the lack of updates. Had quite the fiasco as the welder accidentally welded the bungs upside down so I couldn't thread the valves in on the kettles!!! We got it resolved though and it's all back together. Fastev is just about done with the panel and this thing may get finished up tonight! Will be posting more pics and info as well as some video links. For those of you that wondered why I went so crazy on a keg washer, check out my new build thread and you'll understand why ; )

 

[marcb]

Someone had asked for a pic of the top without a keg on it, here you go. Note the outer edges of the supports are 8" apart, I would probably make the gap a little larger on the next one as I didn't account for the oversized micromatic filler/cleaner heads. The second pic is the super clean fastev panel for 1500w element pid and pump control.

 

[marcb]

Last of the work should be stitched up tomorrow! Phew, this has been one fun build! Thanks to fastev for all the effort and helping me drink all that Pliny!

 

[Carlscan26]

Nice rig!

Have you considered rotating the air in connection so it comes up from below rather than above? It is probably fine but it looks a little awkward with the hose looping up and then down to the connection. I doubt it's putting any real tension on the valve assembly but it also looks like it could.

 

[marcb]

Nice rig!

Have you considered rotating the air in connection so it comes up from below rather than above? It is probably fine but it looks a little awkward with the hose looping up and then down to the connection. I doubt it's putting any real tension on the valve assembly but it also looks like it could.

Thanks!

I have, unfortunately I'm using a plastic co2 QD so I purposely put it on the bottom to avoid tension. On the air side I'm using a metal QD and have a long enough hose that its not an issue. If I built another one I would probably build that manifold a little differently.

 

[trip2hard]

Where did you get them little tanks?

 

[marcb]

Where did you get them little tanks?

eBay from robo-ron66, he doesn't have anything listed right now so PM me if you want his email address. He also is the one that sells Chinese conicals really cheap on eBay too, that's how I found him.

 

[fastev]

Thanks Marc for the Pliny! Did you get the fuse block installed?

 

[marcb]

Thanks Marc for the Pliny! Did you get the fuse block installed?

You know I didn't! The down side to when Pliny is on tap is that EVERYONE stops by and I have a tendency to socialize more than I should when I need to get stuff done. Tonight! I need to finish this!

 

[fastev]

Guess we'll have to drink every last drop before anyone else comes over...

 

[marcb]

Thanks to fastev for kicking me in the a$$ to finish this up as I've just been sitting around drinking instead of getting any projects done.....

First test with cold water with 1500w 120v element.

 

[fastev]

I can't get over how bright that pump switch lamp is!
Looking forward to seeing this in action!

By the way, I ordered wire labels for the big panel today. I have a layout in mind I think you'll like. Ill run it by you when you drop off the kettles.