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Heat of Fermentation?

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  • Heat of Fermentation?

    Currently calculating cooling requirements, specifically for fermentation. Unfortunately, all my reference books are in storage so I'm having to use educated guess and secondary sources, so :

    Estimate 4kg fermentables per 100 litres wort.
    Heat of fermentation 652.4 kJ/kg
    Fermentation proportions over 5 days : Day1 8% : Days 2-4 27% : Day 5 11%

    I know the overall load is relatively small compared to liquor/wort cooling, end-of-fermentation cooling, cellar, etc., but I would like to have a reasonable estimate.

    Does this look about right? Comments appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Gregg
    Gregg

  • #2
    There are many variables including some you can't plug into an equation. What
    yeast? Ale or Lager can make a huge difference. Specific strain can make a big difference and specific pitching temp or if allowed to rise some can also,and or course # of generations/strength/viability. Fermenter geometry can make a difference as well. Believe it or not the moon and other cosmic forces even can make a difference. I imagine you are trying to size refrigeration? You can only get a rough estimate on a time line like that. If that's all you need and you are fermenting with a basic ale yeast I'd say your daily percentages are roughly ok except day two and three should be higher say 33% and 30% respectively and day one should be higher as well I guess...
    canyon

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    • #3
      Thanks. As you say, there are many variables, so I just need an approximation. Any comments on the 652.4 kJ/kg heat of fermentation?

      Gregg
      Gregg

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      • #4
        heat of fermentation

        fermentation generates 252 BTUs of heat for every lb of extract lost. For Ales, in our brewery, I look at a peak rate of fermentation of 0.4 °P/hour (That's generous but better to aim high). Using the formula:

        (P+259)*P*B/100= lbs extract/hour

        Where P is the peak °P/hr and B is the volume of fermenting beer (in Bbls)

        gives 14.5 lbs/hr for a peak rate if 0.4 °P and a volume of 14 Bbls.

        Take that times 252 and you get a cooling load of about 3,660 BTU/hr

        FYI, I usually use 0.15 °P/hr for calculating lager loads.
        Steve Bradt
        Regional Sales Manager
        Micro-Matic Packaging Division
        Eastern United States and Canada
        sbradt@micro-matic.com
        785-766-1921

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        • #5
          Thank you, Steve; our figure of 652.4 kJ/kg converts to 280 BTU/lb, close enough to your 252 BTU/lb. The details of your fermentation heat calcs. are useful too.

          Gregg
          Gregg

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