Wort Aeration with Oxygen

[barneey]

Hi All,

I know several members on here aerate their wort with pure oxygen.

Rather than go down the disposable cylinder route would a normal refillable oxygen cylinder do the job?

Adams gas is 10mins away from me http://www.adamsgas.co.uk/index.php?pag ... &Itemid=54

If so can anyone recommend a cheap reg and flow meter set to use with this cylinder? + I would be buying a stainless stone.

Many Thanks

[gregorach]

Shouldn't matter what sort of cylinder you go for, it's all O2 at the end of the day. Can't advise as to regs, but this is the flow meter I use.

[skydivedan]

Hi gregorach. how far does your oxygen go?

[gregorach]

I don't know, I'm still on my first cylinder... Not sure how many brews I've done off it without consulting my records, but it's got to be at least a dozen.

[skydivedan]

Thanks dunc. Think i'll have a read up on using oxygen..

[barneey]

Thanks for the replys, the thing that drew me to this cylinder is that £36.00 buys you the equivalent of 13 x 1ltr disposable bottles. So based on gregorach records 13 x 12 = 156 brewdays.

Just have to find a reg now.

[gregorach]

Yeah, it's the cheaper way to go, provided you don't have to pay cylinder rental and you've got somewhere to keep the bloody thing. Me, I'm on the top floor, so full-sized cylinders are definitely out.

[asd]

Hi,

I know the Americans strongly advocate oxygenation, and I've read up on the reasoning but does it really make a difference to your average brew? Do commercial breweries use it?

Regards,

Simon.

[gregorach]

Many commercials do, yes, but by no means all. How much of a difference it makes really depends on what sort of beer you're making and what sort of yeast you're using. I definitely get more reliable, consistent and rapid fermentation after moving to using O2, but the main impetus for me was to go to a completely closed run-off, after I calculated the rate at which spores land in to an open bucket... But if you're using dried yeast, then it probably won't make much difference at all.

[barneey]

Yep no cylinder rental, but a hefty £55.00 bottle deposit (refundable). Even if I only get a fraction of the brewdays out of it, still works out at £0.20 to £0.30 a brew per £36.00 refill. Quess they wont be seeing that bottle again for a long time

I`m having trouble sourcing the flow meter, I followed another of Gregorach links cheap enough to buy but £8.00 postage???. If anyone is thinking of buying one let me know I share some of the postage. Unless anyone knows anywhere else to get them?

Thank for your help.

Cheers

[barneey]

I`ve had a look on ebay for a flow meter anyone know if this would be any good in a more stripped down version?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Twin-Oxygen-F ... 2a1aaff135

Thanks

[barneey]

Reg and flow meter now sorted

Gregorach with your method of 1 litre per min for a 60 second aeration (pale ale), could you please let me know how this was calculated.

Many Thanks

[gregorach]

I didn't calculate it, I took it from data quoted in White & Zainasheff's "Yeast", which was based on studies done by White Labs... I use 60 seconds for ale and 90 seconds for lager. If you want to fine tune it any better it's a long and involved process of experimentation involving D.O. meters and many lab-scale trail fermentations to establish the oxygen demand for each strain you use. And a worthwhile D.O. meter will set you back a few hundred quid at least...

[barneey]

I`ve just sent off for a copy of the book you have mentioned to have a read through, early Bday present + reading material. Not wishing to spend anymore funds the 60 or 90 secs will suffice.

Many Thanks

[barneey]

I`ve done a little more internet reading on oxygen flows, if possible could you check / comment on the below?

If I required 8mg/l of oxygen for a 45ltr batch = 360mg of oxygen = 0.01125 moles of oxygen x 22.4 l/mole = 0.252 litres of oxygen required to supply 360mg at a concentration of 8ppm to 45 litres of wort.

Say a flow rate of 1litre per min x 15 seconds would give this aeration? without any wastage.

Reference for figures taken from http://byo.com/stories/wizard/article/s ... g-aeration