"Perfect" uni-tank design?

[CharlosCarlies]

Looking into getting another tank built, and got to thinking it might be interesting to see what you guys would want in your "perfect" uni-tank.

As an example, I've seen some tanks w/ two "CIP arms" and was wondering what the advantage of this was.

[AnthonyB]

One arm is strictly a blow-off arm. The advantage to this is that for batches that have a really high krausen or for really full cast-outs, you won't get wort/yeast blow off as easily as you do with the arm that has a CIP ball hanging down 6-inches into the tank because you can leave that arm sealed.

[Bainbridge]

And you don't have to climb up to the top to rig a blowoff hose, you can just hook up one right from the arm. And when you want to cap the tank you just close the valve or slap a cap on it, versus get up on the ladder again.

[Natrat]

Check out the CIP solutions from Alfa Laval. One of those would be in my "perfect" unit!

[a10t2]

Reversible manway doors (that can be pulled out of the tank without removing the arm), and reversible gaskets.

1.5" mimimum diameter for the bottom port. Ideally larger for yeast drops.

[Lighthouse]

We had two built recently and specified a number of custom mods to an 'off the rack' tank design:

* Big 4 inch dry hop ports on the domes with a custom clamp-on stainless funnel for dry hop additions. Ports were set at 135 and 225 degrees (the tanks were built as mirror images) so that they could both be accesses from one overhead walkway.
* Dual CIP legs, as mentioned by others, one for blow-off and the recirc of fining additions, and the second for CIP. Custom y-piece links them during CIP.
* Removable dual outlet assembly, one drawing from an integrated stand pipe and the other from the cone bottom. Allows us to eject most of the solids off one before drawing clean beer off the second. Custom link piece to join them for CIP.
* Quality sample and micro sample valve gear from Keofitt as well as proper sanitary diaphragm-type pressure valves.
* 2 inch vent port with custom 'donga' pipe for rapid (and safe) heat up and cool down.

Very happy with these. Make sure that your pump/spray head combination will be adequate to clean you tanks properly (we had to upgrade our pump due to larger tank diameter).

[Sauce]

Depending on your cone to cylinder ratio...move your racking arm up 8 t 12 inches, especially if you are dry hopping to the extreme and fining in the uni.

JackK

[CharlosCarlies]

Great suggestions guys!

I'll add one of my own: sample port on the sidewall if at all possible. Maybe it was just specific to this one brewery, but we had to waste a lot of beer to get a relatively yeast-free sample.