Stainless Conical Fermentors

[roller997]

Yum yum has some very good points and I would agree that the pressure it should hold should only be enough to move the beer around with CO2.
The idea to carbonate in the fermenter is fine but for home use it isn't as important as being able to move the beer around and keep Oxygen from getting in and as Wes pointed out there are some safety concerns, especially in an environment where equipment is not regularly checked.

I am not overly keen on a design which has too many things to take apart, clean and sanatize so rather than having another lid to add extra ingredients during the fermentation, I would prefer an oversized triclover fitting which is used for the airlock / pressure valve while it can be taken off to permit the addition of hops, cacoa nibs, finings etc.

 

[Muscovy_333]

As mentioned previously;

BIG Picture idea: Simple cost effective structural "bones" with a range of bolt on options so that people can decide their own price point and/or improve their set-up as funds, necesssity or want permits.

 

[spudfarmerboy]

What would be the benefits to the quality and taste of the beer if using a SS conical fermenter?
I ask this, as I have never tasted homebrew that has been fermented in one. Most homebrewers use a Coopers fermenter or something similiar.
If it is to facilitate yeast harvesting, the price of a SS conical buys alot of fresh smack packs.
People here have mentioned built in cooling jackets etc, the price would have to be in excess of $1000. I base that on the price of conicals online ($800 or so) plus the added complexity of a built in cooling system.
I would be very interested in other brewers percieved advantages of a conical.

 

[roger mellie]

It has to be capable of safely holding 200-300kpa and maybe as high as 500kpa if im stupid enough to force carb the fermenter(And yes there are idiots out there). Thats if its going to be a pressure vessel made out of steel for me (and to be safe as a pressure vessel) and im guessing this is the reason why most are cylindrical in shape with a domed lid and thicker then most Chinese stainless stockpot and more then most of us are going to spend

Maybe if you market it as a fermenter with a conical yeast capture with safety blow-off that is safe to what ever material thickness you choose(just like the plastic bucket conicals that's are on the forums atm) Then i agree with TB and id go with cuboid with flat top as its better for any area just and not the fridge

KISS... Thermowell, Single outlet, Adjustable pressure relief, and maybe an adjustable third leg(wish i had one). We can add heating and cooling or you can sell them as add ons

Tom

Maybe as high as 500 kPa ??!??

1. Why
2. Wall thickness for such a vessel would be ~ 12mm
3. Entry holes to clean etc... would have to be like manhole covers
4. to get such a system built legally all welds would need to be NTD'd
5. A 500 Kpa pressure vessel would need to be certified to be legal
6. Would would weigh plenty

So I reckon you would get change out of 10K - just. And you would have an unruly, weighty behemoth of a fermenter.

Seriously - conical, schmonical. I have 2 of them - one is a spittoon the other is a pot plant holder. They are the cheap US Ebay versions (< 200). **** build quality, poorly passivated, awkward to lift in and out of a fridge, dont have a racking arm, cant be pressurised (50kPa is plenty).

In general you get what you pay for. Any properly engineered conical with sanitary welds, triclovers, pressurisable, wheels, racking arm --> like the blichmann - the price will blow out to around about what you can import a more beer/blichmann for.

I actually think this article sums up why conicals are overrated.

https://brewmagic.com/products/fermenters/b...magic-fermenter

RM

 

[wessmith]

Even at 50 kPa and 50L volume, the hazard level will still be "D" necessitating AS1210 design registration. The 500kPa is BS.

One thing everyone forgets with conicals is the amount of beer wasted in removing the yeast. And some yeasts just wont sluice out easily anyway. Just stick with flat or concave bottoms if you must go the s/s route.

Wes

 

[DJR]

I wonder whether a keg fermenter conversion. premade or kit, like the Sabco might be a good.idea.

 

[Adam Howard]

I wonder whether a keg fermenter conversion. premade or kit, like the Sabco might be a good.idea.

Or just ferment in a stainless pot. Lonny Mac uses one of the pots from his Brutus 10 as the fermenter!

 

[wessmith]

Or use a post mix keg as the fermenter. I will be doing just that with my new downsized rig. 2 x 24L Firestone kegs with a modified dip tube, maybe a sample port but certainly a pressure gauge and relief valve.

Wes

 

[Airgead]

Or use a post mix keg as the fermenter. I will be doing just that with my new downsized rig. 2 x 24L Firestone kegs with a modified dip tube, maybe a sample port but certainly a pressure gauge and relief valve.

Wes

My problem with using as keg is that all my kegs are standard 19l jobbies so if I ferment in them, once I account for losses (trub etc) when trabnsfering to the servig keg, I don't end up with a full keg at the end.

I also find them a royal pain to clean if you ferment in them. Especially the brown yeast ring round the top as I can't get my hand in the opening to scrub round there. With a conical (or similar) they have a removable lid which makes cleaning easier.

If I could get a slightly larger keg (so I end up with a full 19l keg at the end) which could be modified to have a removable top (but still seal nicely for co2 transfers) then I would be very happy.

Cheers
Dave

 

[booargy]

I want a jacketed conical section.

 

[Tony M]

As with the Rims, i am looking into the idea of stocking stainless conicals. I know nothing about them though so would be interested in requirements.

Lid, what thickness? How should it seal? Should there be fittings for a blow off etc?

I have a 50L American conical made by Hobby Beverage Equipment Co. and the lid just sits on top. No clamps, no seals, no blow off, no worries. The biggest problem was stopping the chief brewer from lifting the lid for a germ laden peek. I solved that one by fitting a small acrylic window in the lid. It's better than television.

 

[McFeast]

So whats happening with these conicals? Any movement?
Or will they end up at $700+ equalling a dead topic..?

 

[hockadays]

You guys need the brewhemoth

 

[punkin]

They look like ending up more expensive to do than i thought. There is no point in me importing them in direct competition if i can't do a better quality/price than what's already out there.

The factory has no interest in building a base model without the bells and whistles.

There is a spark of hope on the horizon for a limited quantity, but i'll find out next week.

 

[fcmcg]

I'd be interested to see what happens here...
I know that one of the sponsors has a conical that a bloke is having made in china and fininished in the US , in his back room..all he awaits is a price..
I also turned 40 this week and have $1200 to spend on a conical and other stuf......
The old man
F

 

[punkin]

Info to come. I haven't heard the result of negotiations yet.

 

[Airgead]

Info to come. I haven't heard the result of negotiations yet.

It would be interesting to find out which part of the conical makes it so expensive to produce (I'm guessing the cone). I wonder whether there would bea creative way to design things to reduce that cost.

If it is the cone, then maybe a plain cylindrical fermenter or something with a rounded base like a keg would be much cheaper to produce. I'd certainly be happy with something like that as I'm not really interested in harvesting the yeast so the cone is unnecessary. Just a plain fermenter with a tap in the side.. like the plastic ones only made of stainless.. would be fine for me.

Cheers
Dave

 

[punkin]

Bumping this as there has been some movement. I have rough pricing for 65l and 100l jacketed and nonjacketed.

They ain't cheap, but those who are interested i can work a price up for.

Limited numbers.
Delivered FOB to seafreight from China.

 

[vortex]

Interested in pricing for a 65L non-jacketed, however what other specific features do they have?

 

[punkin]

Still working on getting pricing fixed...


View attachment 2011.06.08___65L_Model.pdf

Interested in pricing for a 65L non-jacketed, however what other specific features do they have?

 

[adryargument]

60 looks good,
What's the 100l going to cost?

 

[kevin_smevin]

Bumping this as there has been some movement. I have rough pricing for 65l and 100l jacketed and nonjacketed.

They ain't cheap, but those who are interested i can work a price up for.

Limited numbers.
Delivered FOB to seafreight from China.

I'm interested in the 65L non-jacketed. Depending on pricing.

 

[shaunous]

Still working on getting pricing fixed...


View attachment 57484

I'd also be interested, wether its the 65l or 100l would depend on price.

How much would you save using standard ball valves which are just as easy to clean and use, instead of the 3piece?

Shaun...

 

[punkin]

They will come as they are. They are a cancelled order and already constructed. There will only be a small differencein price between the 100l and 65l (less than $200). I'm still waiting for final figures from China for the crating and delivery to the ship.

Hopefully later today as China closes for 2 weeks for festivals tommorow. B)

 

[shaunous]

They will come as they are. They are a cancelled order and already constructed. There will only be a small differencein price between the 100l and 65l (less than $200). I'm still waiting for final figures from China for the crating and delivery to the ship.

Hopefully later today as China closes for 2 weeks for festivals tommorow. B)

Rrrrrr, Ok mate, sorry, I didnt read every post in the thread, I just figured you were looking at getting them made.

Shaun...

 

[samward]

They will come as they are. They are a cancelled order and already constructed. There will only be a small differencein price between the 100l and 65l (less than $200). I'm still waiting for final figures from China for the crating and delivery to the ship.

Hopefully later today as China closes for 2 weeks for festivals tommorow. B)

I might be interested in the 65L non jacketed (depending on price).

 

[Fish13]

A mate just dropped me off a 50L empty keg for my birthday. I was thinking of using this for a fermentor.

Has anyone done this before>? I know it is a bit bigger then my 20L batches i do but **** it would be a cool bit of kit...

 

[punkin]

No, i think you are the first person to ever think of it.

You should start a thread on it allll your own.

 

[Fish13]

Will do i will start looking at it... I was thinking of removing the spear and making that the base of the fermentor. then some angled taps at the bottom to drain off the wort. but i guess i will need a sight glass so i can see the levels in there...

 

[punkin]

Drop me a pm if you need sightglasses or any other bits, you'll see them in my website.

In the meantime, back to the conical thread......