Closed transfer from a Speidel fermenter to a keg

[BarbarianBrewer]

Probably the only thing I disliked about my Speidel fermenter is that I cannot do closed transfers because it is not pressurizable. When racking to a keg how do you keep room air from entering the fermenter and oxidizing the beer? As beer flows into the keg and swirls around, how do you keep it from mixing with room air? My solution was to push CO2, at 1-2 psi, into the top of the fermenter as beer drains out the bottom. This will keep the space above the beer filled with CO2. To do this I drilled a hole in a Speidel cap and inserted a tail piece through the hole. A washer helps keep it air tight. I hook the CO2 supply hose, with an inline shutoff, to kegging tail piece. On the keg end I have a transfer hose with a quick connect on one end and a open hose on the other end. I had to use a 1/4"-3/8" barbed splicer because the hose that connects to the quick-connect has a 1/4" (6.4 mm) ID and the spout on the Speidel requires a hose with a 3/8" (9.5 mm) ID. When it comes time to rack to a keg I purge the keg with CO2, replace the airlock with the CO2 supply cap (with CO2 valve shut off). Attach the transfer hose to the keg and the fermenter spout. The gas quick-connect piece will allow CO2 to escape as beer is filling the keg. Then I open the spout and turn on the gas. As soon as the keg is filled I shut off the gas valve. Note: I do have a Fermzilla, which is pressurizable but, now I have options and can have both fermenters going at once.

 

[Dave Y]

I have a pair of non- pressure capable fermenters, not including my old plastic buckets. I did similar to apply 1-2psi to them. Great work !

 

[Craigerrr]

I did something very similar when I had 2 speidels. Only differences would be that I didn't have a seal at the top of the fermenter, just hung a hose over the lip of the top opening. I opened the regulator just enough to hear a hiss of Co2 flow. On the keg side, I just drained from the spigot through the open keg lid through a silicone hose that reached to the bottom of the keg. I also covered the opening with a starsan soaked paper towel to more or less cover the rest of the opening. The keg was previously purged with Co2 by filling it to the tippy top with starsan, then pushing the starsan back out through the liquid post. I would only depressurize the keg and open the lid when I was ready to transfer.

 

[Dave Y]

I airless t/f by connecting a cylinder to whatever fermenter is in use. 2 of them have ports I can attach / use with ball lock fittings. 3rd one, I connect to the airlock hose. Not 100% airless but pretty darn close. From there it's out the spigot, into a sanitized hose, fitted with another ball lock "out" fitting to fill the keg from the bottom. If i know I'm only getting 5 gallons, the "in" port goes to a tube that goes into a container of star san solution. If I have more that 5 gallons or am using 2.5 gallon kegs, I run the "in" port to the out port of the next keg, then the out port to star san solution.

I'm hoping to sell / replace one of the fermenters with another pressure capable unit.

 

[Minbari]

My SS brew tech is rated for 5psi, so that is what I push at, it's slow, but it works and you avoid o2

 

[west1m]

I just connect the "in" port back to the top of the Spidel . As the keg fills (gravity) it pushes the co2 in the keg back to the Spidel.
Not real necessary but I do have a tee in the line with a zip lock bag purged with co2 just to stop any pressure difference.

 

[west1m]

 

[Bigbre04]

View attachment 33141

this is what i was going to say. you also can add a small amount of gas to a non pressured vessel to keep a blanket on top of the beer while it flows in.

key is to push the co2 in slowly as it is heavier then air it will stay. minimize flowrate and air movement to avoid mixing the air with it.

 

[west1m]

If the keg is properly purgeg , there is no air available in the transfer.

 

[Bigbre04]

If the keg is properly purgeg , there is no air available in the transfer.

yup, sorry that was poorly worded. if there was no way of doing what you showed then you could do it by dribbling co2 on top of the beer.

 

[BarbarianBrewer]

I just connect the "in" port back to the top of the Spidel . As the keg fills (gravity) it pushes the co2 in the keg back to the Spidel.
Not real necessary but I do have a tee in the line with a zip lock bag purged with co2 just to stop any pressure difference.

Genius! I may adopt your design!