Cider Pasteuriser

[bennymanx]

Hi everyone,

A bit of a long shot but worth a go! I'm trying to build a pasteuriser for my growing cider business, they cost a bomb new. I've got some basic plans using a large insulated container to recirculate the water in the bath using a gas powered tankless water heater like this one Rinnai RL94iN Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater, 9.4 Gallons Per Minute - - Amazon.com Can anyone suggest an alternative that I could pick up in Blighty?? The heater needs to be able to heat the water to about 85 c. Also suggestions for a pump if poss!

Thanks for any help

Benn

 

[snowhead]

They cost a "bomb" because they're tried and tested and guaranteed to do the job.
The job being making safe a liquid which is for Human consumption.

Maybe you need to think about what you are proposing.

 

[Unregistered]

Actually, the design is from a chap who makes Rev Nats Hard Cider and sells well over 100000 litres of bottled pasteurised cider a year. The principle is to get the beverage up to a certain temp, thats it, if my mission was to drive at 30 miles an hour I could buy a fiesta or a rolls, both would acomplish the same thing however I would have to sell my kidneys for the latter.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Lets be a bit more helpful to this fine potential sponsor of the forum! 🙂

That Rinnai heater just looks like a gas multipoint, but I am not sure I understand what you are trying to do with it?

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks Ray. Here's a quick vid of Nat's pasteuriser, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=403800036329985
I thought about using something like this Redring 12kW Powerstream Instant Water Heater (RP12) - Water Boilers

but I could see an expensive electricians bill!!

Thanks again for any help.

 

[REDSAW]

you need to register for free on the forum, you will get better replies and help unreg!

 

[Ray Stafford]

OK, so you are just raising the temperature of the liquid in a bath for a fixed period?

The redring heater is electric, and will give you less flowrate of hot water (its about half the output of the Rinnai). If you have mains gas available, the cheapest way would be to use a gas fired combi.

However, I would recommend getting a cider-drinking gas engineer on board, as I think the design you linked to is hideously inefficient. Whereabouts are you based?

 

[Dotty]

Please register with us and start a new thread to receive additional answers to your question.

 

[Benn Quirk]

Hi guys,

All registered now!. I think Ray was suggesting using a combi boiler, would this be like the one in my house?? I live on the Isle of Man (85,000 alcoholics clinging to a rock...handy!)

 

[Ray Stafford]

Hi Ben

I mentioned using a combi boiler because I think a cheap combi is probably quite a lot cheaper than a water heater, although the former has more components than the latter, economies of scale make it cheaper to buy.

From what I understand, you just need to maintain a water bath at a given temperature for a period of time to pasteurise the cider? Have I understood that right?

And the water in the bath never comes into contact with the cider in the bottles? Does the water in the bath need to be food-grade?

 

[REDSAW]

Hi Ben

I mentioned using a combi boiler because I think a cheap combi is probably quite a lot cheaper than a water heater, although the former has more components than the latter, economies of scale make it cheaper to buy.

From what I understand, you just need to maintain a water bath at a given temperature for a period of time to pasteurise the cider? Have I understood that right?

And the water in the bath never comes into contact with the cider in the bottles? Does the water in the bath need to be food-grade?

you drink cider, ray!

 

[Benn Quirk]

That's precisely it, the cider in the bottles needs to reach 70 c and be held for 20 mins. The bottles are completely sealed an the cider will not be in contact with the water at all. (I have to go to work now, thanks for any replies).

 

[stevetheplumber]

any boiler will be capable of reaching 70 degrees and maintaining the temperature providing the container is well insulated i doubt if the water heater will

 

[stevetheplumber]

any boiler will be capable of reaching 70 degrees and maintaining the temperature providing the container is well insulated i doubt if the water heater will

 

[lame plumber]

but if you get rid of all the bugs, it wont taste right and that special effect, the cider cough and blow through wont occur 🙂 the world is going to the dogs..............

 

[stevetheplumber]

i would imagine comercial sterlisers run on steam and a pressurised container in much the same way as a pressure cooker

 

[lame plumber]

commercial production now tends to go for flash pasteurisation, does less damage to the product, quicker and heats and cools quickly. went to agricultural college, and had a a food tech friend as drinking partner long time ago now.

 

[REDSAW]

commercial production now tends to go for flash pasteurisation, does less damage to the product, quicker and heats and cools quickly. went to agricultural college, and had a a food tech friend as drinking partner long time ago now.

you turnip 😉

 

[julesverne]

I think a system boiler would be better than a combi if it was solely for pasteurising as less parts but if there is a need for hot water anyway then a combi wiuld be good.

Would this just be a case of huge tank to put bottles and water in then running a coil of copper or plastic inside to heat the water to a given temp. I would have thought fairly simple for a heating engineer to setup. Poss need a couple of rads on pipework to act as a heatleak.

 

[julesverne]

Not watched the video but also a pump or impellor inside the tank to circulate the water so it heats up evenly.