Need help configuring dairy tank for kettle

[farmerbrewers]

We're establishing a nano-sized microbrewery in a building on our farm for wholesale brewing for local keg sales to bars / restaurants.

We have obtained used dairy milk tanks, one of them is 100 gallon and we'd like to figure out how to configure it for use as a boil kettle if possible.
Here are some of the ideas we've thrown out:

-steam. The tank was originally used for cooling milk. It has a compressor that connects to the coils that run inside the double walls. One thought we had was to get a steam boiler that would run steam through these coils / pipes. However, this may be costly and someone has since told us we'd have to treat our well water to do this.

-immersible heating elements. Any ideas here would be greatly appreciated, as this may be the most simple solution for us.

-any other ideas?

Thanks!

[banjolawyer]

http://eaglerockbrewery.wordpress.co...iry-equipment/

[farmerbrewers]

Re: boil kettle from tank

Yes, I've seen the Eagle Rock Brewery page. However, what they used for a boil kettle was actually originally a cooking kettle (used to pasteurize milk).

What we are trying to use is a bulk milk tank, it was used to cool the milk.

Here is a link to a picture of one:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bulk+milk+tank+100+gallon&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=797&tbm=isch&tbnid=AkdS-8YdqKM_AM:&imgrefurl=http://www.sheepmilk.biz/sheepmilk.html&docid=NeiWNsZsf0ob-M&w=557&h=365&ei=iGV3ToeTMMSOsAKOvICMBQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=447&page=2&tbnh=122&tbnw=163&start=25&ndsp=31&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:25&tx=91&ty=67

[hammer]

Go electric. You can get 2 or 3 low density electric elements for about $20 a piece. 2 will be enough to boil 100 gallons. 3-4 will get you there quicker, but you will need to shut off two of them (most likely) to get a proper evaporation rate. we have used a homemade electric kettle for a little over a year now and aside from having to clean the elements after every batch they are trouble free and very energy efficient.

[Thirsty_Monk]

2 5500W heating elements are plenty for 100 gallons.

[J&B]

2 5500W heating elements are plenty for 100 gallons.

Now doesn't that seem to be a bit low on watts to get up to boiling quick enough? Sure, the wort temp would be about 70 C when injected to the BK so the step up to 100 isn't huge so maybe it would work. I'm planning for a 90G kettle and will not go lower than 20KW. On the other hand I will use it to heat water to infusion temp aswell but it will still take closer to 1 hour to heat that amount from room temp to boiling according to my calcualtions so 11000 W seem to be a bit low? Might be my calculations that are wrong though

[hammer]

2 are enough to bring 100 gal. to a boil and hold it at a steady, roiling boil. 4 will get you there faster. It will take you probably about an hour to go from 165 to boiling with only 2 elements. Not undoable, but 3 or 4 elements will speed up the process. Then turn off 2 and you should be good.

One word of caution about these elements, don't put them too close to the bottom of the kettle. I had mine positioned about 4 inches and had some scortching problems.

[callmetim]

Hey yellow hammer I would like to see how you wired these up. I am looking at using a combination of direct fire - whcih I am currently using on my 60gallon kettle - and electric once I go to my 160 gallon kettle.

I can go to Home Depot and get a 5500 watt element for $20 but how do I enclose the terminals on the outside of the kettle?

I checked with Wattco and they quoted me around $400 for an enclosed 5500 watt heating element

[Capt. Bob]

Direct fire!
Stick a couple of big-ass propane or natural gas burnesr (300 to 400k btu) under there and your done. http://www.midwestsupplies.com/cast-...rner-only.html

[hammer]

Electric is way, way more efficient than direct fire propane. I used direct fire for about 2 months. Electric is much, much better for that size boil.

Callmetim - I can send you pictures. PM me your email address.

[farmerbrewers]

Re: boil kettle from tank

Hammer, we'd also appreciate seeing pictures of your setup with the electric burners. Are these immersible burners you're using?

[Rosie]

Scorching can be prevented if you recirc the wort once you put the heaters on and you gotta keep them clean otherwise you get hot spots for scorching...ask me how I know.

I have 24kw in 700 litres, wish I had more. Runoff gets the 24kw, roll with 12kw. Configure it so you can dial it in.

Cheers,
Jeff

[callmetim]

I bought a 5500 w heating element form High Gravity Brewing and a 1 inch nut from Bargain Fittings. installed the breaker and dryer outlet and the whole thing cost me about $100. Put it in a 60 gallon kettle and it works great.