[Noisebridge-discuss] how to build up cold room - cooling system tips

Ben Kochie superq at gmail.com
Tue Apr 23 02:14:34 UTC 2013


The coolbot looks like a good solution to the problem.  Basically what
it looks designed to do is cycle the compressor in such a way that the
coils don't get clogged up with ice.  It's possible that this could be
reproduced with a arduino/raspberry pi type device.

You probably only need 10-15cm of insulation if you do a good job
sealing each layer and preventing leaks.  One thing you could do is
use mylar sheet (like emergency blanks) and foil tape
(http://www.3m.com/product/information/Aluminum-Foil-Tape.html) to
create a heat reflective and air leak preventing barrier.  That should
get you a better insluation % than just foam alone.

On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 5:23 PM, Frantisek Apfelbeck <algoldor at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Thanks,
> Answers in the text as >>>
>
> Frantisek Algoldor Apfelbeck
>
> biotechnologist&kvasir and hacker
>
> http://www.frantisekapfelbeck.org
>
> "There is no way to peace, peace is the way." Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
>
> ________________________________
> From: Richard Conroy <richard.conroy at gmail.com>
> To: "091-food at googlegroups.com" <091-food at googlegroups.com>
> Cc: tastebridge tastebridge <tastebridge at lists.noisebridge.net>; 091 Foods
> <091-food at googlegroups.com>; "foodhackingbase at lists.hackerspaces.org"
> <foodhackingbase at lists.hackerspaces.org>; Noisebridge
> <noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net>
> Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2013 11:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] how to build up cold room - cooling
> system tips
>
> an airlock style double door will go a long way towards preventing
> temperature dilution.
>
>>>> yes  that sounds like a good idea, I should not go to the cold room very
>>>> often, maybe few times per day so there should not be too much air exchange
>>>> with the fermentation room
>
> The key thing with a cold room is how precise you need the cooling to be. I
> know a few guys who do lagering and that is tricky to get right.
>
>>>> The temperature in the cold room can range between 1-4C (34-39F) or so,
>>>> it doesn't has to be precise too much in this case because various brews
>>>> will be stored there.
>
> If your insulation is good then your cooling needs only be active in
> restoring the temperature.
>
>>>> I will have to decide on the insulation, I think that 15-20 cm (+-0.6ft)
>>>> of polystyrene should do the trick, with probably 2 drywall panels on the
>>>> top and some easy to clean painting. Option number two which may be more
>>>> easy here is to buy already made panels with steel coating on both sides and
>>>> polystyrene in the middle, they use it here a lot. However if I get that, I
>>>> need to get hands on some metal cutter and probably welding gear and I'm
>>>> quiet inexperienced with both ...
>
> Also if you can get your hands on a horizontal fridge like what you get in a
> supermarket for ice creams, it will provide a lot of protection as it is
> well insulated
>
>>>> I have seen guys using this type of freezer but hacked in Seoul exactly
>>>> for lagering beer, looked good, I may use it in the future for the same
>>>> process.
>
>>>> Many thanks, still doing research on the cooling unit but it looks like
>>>> that it should not be too difficult to turn the air conditioner to the
>>>> cooling device, there is a commercial kit called coolbot for some $300. I
>>>> want to find if they are open source and if they are not I want to find some
>>>> open source option. This will be amazing thing to do in Central America ...
>>>> I am sure some people do it already but many do not know how to do such
>>>> things, ohhh hackerspaces how much we need them!
>
>>>> Sincerely from Jeju,
>
>>>> Frantisek
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On 13 Mar 2013, at 13:00, Frantisek Apfelbeck <algoldor at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hi to all,
> I'm preparing proposal for a fermentation facility (which I will share soon)
> for a village project here in South Korea  Jeju) and part of that is build
> up of fermentation room and importantly for this email cold room. I would
> like to ask if someone has experience with building up a cold room or just
> knows the staff. I have used many of  them during my work both in industrial
> facilities and in academy environment but never build any by myself. The
> major think at the moment is the cooling unit - what would be the  types and
> prices. I wonder if there would be some way how to hack an existing air
> conditioner if so what types ... Important note we have access to a steady
> supply of electricity and water.
>
> Few details about cold room. The temperature inside should be 1-4C (34-39F),
> the space is around a=2 m (2yd 0.56b ft(; b=3 m (3yd 0.84 ft); c=2.5 m (2yd
> 2.2 ft), the measures are just approximate I need more details, the place is
> actually quite irregular in it's shape, part of it is under the stairs (I
> should have details next week, once I have I make and share a basic Google
> SketchUp model).  In order to get into the cold room we will have to walk
> through the fermentation room which will be set at temperature of 25C (77F)
> of similar size more as the cold room, just longer and more narrow. The
> floor are tiles and concrete below, walls are first the two layers of
> drywall and below I believe solid concrete but I have to check on that (I
> certainly plan to put in some insulation like polystyrene). Note - I have to
> say that I'm quite a bit worried about the transfer of the heat from the
> fermentation room to the cold room ...
>
> Up to now my impression about cooling systems which could be used is that
> they are above $1000 or even $2000 which is quite a bit, am I right?
>
> Well that would be the basic details. I plan to share the know how which
> will be accumulated during this project as usually so it can be used by
> people in the future. I hope to replicate the cold room in the future of
> course, first chance may be this summer at OHM 2013 in Holland with Food
> Hacking base project, if everything goes alright, the cooling space for
> supplies/brews is always an issue.
>
> Many thanks for any help!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> FAA
>
> PS I'm not sure at the moment how much I can share the financial details of
> the project (I think it should be fine, but I should ask first) but I can
> imagine $2000 going to the cold room (material/equipment) maybe a bit more
> but not too much ...
>
> Frantisek Algoldor Apfelbeck
>
> biotechnologist&kvasir and hacker
>
>
> http://www.frantisekapfelbeck.org
>
>
> "There is no way to peace, peace is the way." Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "091labs-food" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to 091-food+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com.
> To post to this group, send email to 091-food at googlegroups.com.
> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/091-food?hl=en.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>



More information about the Noisebridge-discuss mailing list