Wine Fermentation Heat Generation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the heat generation during the wine fermentation process, specifically in the context of designing an HVAC system for a winery. Participants are exploring the amount of heat produced during fermentation, the factors influencing this heat generation, and the implications for temperature control in fermentation tanks.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant is seeking information on the heat generated from fermentation, noting the specifics of tank size, surface area, and expected fermentation temperatures.
  • Another participant mentions that fermentation produces heat, but expresses uncertainty about the exact amount generated.
  • A source is referenced that provides data on the energy changes during fermentation, suggesting that knowing the moles of glucose could help calculate total heat produced.
  • A different approach is proposed to calculate heat generation per liter of alcohol, with a focus on scaling this to the total volume in the fermentation tanks and considering the duration of fermentation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the exact amount of heat generated during fermentation, and multiple approaches to estimating this heat are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the specifics of heat generation, including whether the heat is purely sensible or if latent heat is also released. There are also references to calculations that depend on assumptions about fermentation duration and the amount of glucose involved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for professionals involved in winery operations, HVAC system design, or those studying fermentation processes in winemaking.

Steve Mitchel
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I am working on an HVAC system for a winery. Part of the heat loading during the peak late summer/fall season will be from the fermentation process and I am having difficulty finding information on the amount of heat generated from fermentation of wine.
Exposed wine surface area of each tank is 2.63m2.
Total fermenting volume of each tank is approx 4000L of wine before fermentation begins.
Expect maximum 6 tanks fermenting at a time.
Range of fermentation temperatures expected 14-22C.

Can anyone help me with this information and also; is the heat purely sensible or will there be additional latent heat released?
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
While I know during winemaking, the fermentation does produce enough heat to require some cooling of the must/wine, I am unsure as too how much heat is produced.

The best source I could find so far is here
Code:
http://tinyurl.com/4g7fxqx

It states on pg 2 that per fermentation reaction, in addition to ethanol and CO2, 2 ATP and heat are produced, the Total free energy change is -227 kcal and the conserved energy is 15 kcal.

If you know the moles of glucose, should be able to figure the total kcal then I would think.
 
Thanks I think that will work.
 
Find out how much heat is generated per liter of alcohol (I have used it before, but can't locate it now). In a 4000L tank, about 600L is alcohol, worst case. Now multiple the heat generated per liter by the amount of liters per tank. The shortest fermentation is in the area of 10 days if I recall correctly. So divide that number by 240 to get you capacity required per hour at peak fermentation, then add a percent to account for losses to atmosphere.
 

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