Side by side comparison of open vs closed vessel temp rise during fermentation

[RJS]

Would an unjacketed open fermentor, ferment cooler than an unjacketed closed system, given everything else equal. The idea being the ease of strain and pressure on the yeast in an open system being naturally cooler for fermentation.

Has this ever been reported on? Anyone have any info or thoughts?

 

[RJS]

boy my threads are terrible..

Reply of this from James Atherton on Stack Exchange https://homebrew.stackexchange.com/...essel-vs-closed-vessel-natural-temp-rise-duri...

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The open fermenter may ferment cooler due to the insulation of a lid, just as a pan with a lid on boils faster, but I can see the difference being huge. that is all things being equal.

One difference that could potentially affect things regarding temperature would be the availability of dissolved oxygen, with more O2 available the yeast should be able to replicate faster and metabolise faster generating more heat.

The partial pressure of CO2 will be lower in an open fermenter and that of O2 higher vs a closed fermenter but not sure this will affect the temp. This can aid yeast in the first few days to establish a healthy fermentation as O2 is required to build properly functioning cell walls.

Another thing to mention is many traditional open fermenters are shallow and have a large surface area that would allow more efficient natural cooling than the modern cylindroconical stainless fermenters."

 

[RJS]

and a few comments...

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definitely had a faster and cooler ferment with last open fermentation vs closed, by about two days. Hardly any loss in hop aroma and flavor, without dry hopping, just late additions. Seems healthier all around going open for first two days – Rajan May 17 at 2:31


I tend to leave my plastic tub 'open' for the first 3 days, I leave the top on loosely but don't seal it. I have to leave the lid covering it or one day I could come down to find my cat swimming in the wort. I find I get fewer stuck fermentations this way. – James Atherton May 17 at 16:39
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