What is this pilot fermentation unit?
This pilot beer fermentation unit is a fully integrated two-tank system, designed for wort fermentation and beer maturation. Each tank reserves a minimum 25% headspace, making it an ideal choice for craft beer labs, brewery R&D, small batch trial brewing, beer recipe testing and micro brewery production.
The whole unit is mounted on a mobile trolley with casters for flexible movement. It combines two conical fermenters and a glycol cooling control cabinet in one compact package, saving floor space and simplifying installation. Customization is supported to match different project requirements.
Premium SUS304 Tank Construction & Sanitary Surface Treatment
Both inner and outer shells are made of SUS304 stainless steel with 2mm thickness, fully welded by 100% TIG welding under pure argon shielding to guarantee stable, clean weld seams. The interior surface adopts sanitary 2B finish, pickled and passivated. Optional 8K mirror finish is available. The inner wall is finely polished to 0.2~0.4μm, free of sanitary dead corners, which prevents bacteria buildup and supports reliable CIP cleaning. The outer shell uses oil brushed finish; 2B or 8K mirror surface can also be selected upon demand.
A 50mm thick low thermal conductivity PU insulation layer is equipped around the tank body. It effectively reduces temperature fluctuation and minimizes glycol consumption, keeping a stable temperature environment for yeast fermentation and beer conditioning.
Efficient Glycol Dimple Jacket Cooling System
Side wall and bottom of the conical tank are fitted with dimple plate cooling jackets, welded carefully without over-burning. The cooling system works with -5℃ 35% glycol liquid to achieve precise temperature control across the whole fermentation cycle. Both the cooling jacket and tank body have passed strict pressure and leakage tests to ensure long-term safety under pressure fermentation conditions. The tank features polished dished top and standard 60° conical bottom, and the cone angle can be customized. The conical design allows yeast to settle naturally at the bottom, convenient for yeast harvesting and separation after fermentation.
Full Set of Sanitary Fittings for Standard Brewing Operation
This pilot fermenter is equipped with complete sanitary fittings to cover the full brewing workflow. A pressure-bearing sanitary manhole is mounted at the center of dished top for easy internal inspection and tank cleaning. One top-mounted double clamp 360° rotary CIP spraying ball and port is installed, together with a 4-way CIP arm and butterfly valve, realizing full coverage CIP cleaning without dead zones.
On the tank top, mechanical PVRV pressure vacuum relief valve is fitted as the core safety component, with two optional pressure settings. It provides dual overpressure and vacuum protection to safeguard tank structure. Hydraulic shock pressure gauge is installed on CIP arm, and diaphragm type gauge is optional, delivering stable and accurate pressure readings even under workshop vibration.
Other standard sanitary accessories include full sanitary sampling valve with EPDM seal, horizontal rotating racking arm on cone with butterfly valve, removable discharge arm with butterfly valve for easy cleaning, and one sanitary welded thermowell for high-precision temperature sensor. Glycol inlet and outlet ports are arranged on side wall and cone with thick-wall pipe thread; top or bottom port layout can be modified.
Optional Extra Components for Advanced Brewing Process
For customers with special brewing needs, multiple optional accessories can be configured. The pressure adjustable bunging valve supports pressure fermentation and natural carbonation. Sanitary level tube and matched valves can be added for real-time liquid level observation. Carbonation port with carbonation stone is available if inline carbonation is required. Dry hopping port is not included as standard, which can be added separately upon request.
Stable Support & Flexible Connection Options
Four heavy-duty SUS304 support legs with braces are fixed under each tank. Four sets of heavy-duty foot pads are provided, adjustable for height and slope, to level the whole unit steadily on uneven ground. All valves and pipe fittings adopt sanitary tri-clamp connection, DIN union is also available for different regional standards.
Ideal Application for Pilot & Small Batch Brewing
This two-tank fermentation system is an all-in-one solution for R&D laboratories, craft brewery pilot tests, recipe development, teaching demonstration and small batch commercial production. Integrated glycol cooling control cabinet enables independent temperature regulation for each fermenter. Brewers can run separate fermentation or maturation process in two tanks at the same time. Complete sanitary fittings and reliable pressure safety components make pressure fermentation, beer maturation, CIP cleaning, sampling and beer transfer easy to operate. All tanks pass strict pressure and leakage tests, with hygienic design that guarantees beer quality and reduces contamination risk. Whether you are developing new beer recipes, running product trials or launching a micro brewing project, this compact pilot fermentation system delivers reliable performance and flexible expandability.