Fermenting in Totes

[TJC]

Has anyone used square stainless tote tanks for fermenting? Was looking at these http://www.gwkent.com/jacketed-350-g...wine-tank.html for saison use only where we would let them free rise. The plan would also include top cropping through the top manway, and quasi-crashing with the one-sided jacket before transfer. They also seem like they would make great conditioning tanks. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Travis

[jean5]

Has anyone used square stainless tote tanks for fermenting? Was looking at these http://www.gwkent.com/jacketed-350-g...wine-tank.html for saison use only where we would let them free rise. The plan would also include top cropping through the top manway, and quasi-crashing with the one-sided jacket before transfer. They also seem like they would make great conditioning tanks. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Travis

We have been fermenting in 452 gallon totes for 5 years with good success. We installed coils through the manway cover $300, 1.5" TC for RTD in the front side wall $50, a second 1.5" TC for a sample valve, racking arm going in through the 2" outlet made with 1" tube, 90 elbow and a 1.5" TC on the outlet connection, 2" TC on the top corner for blow off and a 2" TC in the middle of the manway for CIP. To date we have made Wits to high gravity barley wine with no issues.

Jean

[TJC]

Thanks Jean!

What about crashing and transferring? I am not sure if these can take a few pounds of pressure.
Do you mind sharing what brand tote you use? Thanks!

Travis

[polynomial]

Thanks Jean!

What about crashing and transferring? I am not sure if these can take a few pounds of pressure.
Do you mind sharing what brand tote you use? Thanks!

Travis

We were looking at these because they can take pressure: http://www.thecarystore.com/containe...-tank-26BS55#n

Haven't bought them yet. Am curious to hear what jean5 is using. I am also curious about the headache of cleaning.

[Natrat]

If they use a standard drum lid and ring, don't pressurize them! Some guys at the last brewery I was at tried it with a neoprene seal, and the ring was bolted all the way down...lid launched into the ceiling around 4 psi!

They hold CO2 ok to about 2 or 3 psi with a silicone ring, but I've not gone over that. If it has a different lid it might work, but I'm sure they aren't rated for 15 psi.