CF50 Single Head Micro Cask Filler

This unit has been specifically developed for the micro cask brewer who wants to fill casks efficiently and economically.
It delivers semi automatic brim filling.
It will reduce beer losses to an absolute minimum.
It will provide a consistent black fill from an empty or full vessel (No Fobbing).
It will fill in a reliable consistent time.
It will reduce bending and back strain for the operator.
It will reliably inject additions such as priming’s and finings.
It will reduce racking time.

The CF50 Single Head Micro Cask Filler is...

Fully hygienic in design with food grade hoses and 304 stainless steel construction, with 316SS wetted parts.
Simple to operate, clean and maintain
Fills two cask sizes as standard (normally 9 & 18 gallon)
Will deliver 50 to 60 brim full firkins per hour
4.5, 10, 11, 22, 36, 54 gallon as options
Self-cleaning
Upgradable to 120 firkins per hour and more

The Microdat Cask Filler Range

The whole Microdat Cask Filler range has been designed around the original and very successful Black Sheep 5 head automatic cask filler, which is capable of 60 firkins per hour per head. The key feature of the Microdat cask filler is the pump units, which delivers the consistent black (fob free fill). The same pump unit is used on the semi automatic basic cask filler and all fillers up to the fully automatic Black Sheep type filler. Apart from the typical hose, tube and butterfly valve used by most micro brewers the alternatives for filling have generally been either the traditional Briggs Jack Back and racking cocks or a counter pressure racker. The Microdat filler uses the unique properties of the Microdat Hygienic Hose Pump (peristaltic) or Hygienic Metering Pump.

The Basic Filler Pump HHP Set

The Microdat Hygienic Hose Pump is a simple version of the Hygienic Metering Pump on the HHP the drive and feed back control is removed to reduce cost and remove the accurate metering capabilities of the HMP. The HHP can still provide an approximate meter fill since the pump delivers a fixed volume for every rev the HHP simply relies on a timed delivery as against the HMP which measure a fraction of a rev by a feed back encoder connected to a digital positional drive controller. Thus in filling mode the HHP delivers an approximate fill and the HMP delivers an accurate fill.

On the HHP filler pump set the large beer pump and the much smaller additions pump are both controlled by open loop variable speed drives. These special drives enables each pump to be slowly ramped up to a set filling speed to give the perfect black fill and correct volume of additions. The drive unit also provides the additional speed for cleaning the filler etc when in CIP mode.

Beer Flow Control

Beer as we all know is a unique fluid in that you cannot control the flow r text/javascript"> ate of beer via a valve or opening. If you reduce the flow rate through a valve or opening you will increase its velocity and the dissolved gas breaks out to produce fob. Great on top of a Yorkshire pint but not so good when filling a cask or keg. The traditional brewery methods of controlling beer flow when filling are the slow flow constant head vessel ie the Briggs Jack Back Racking Tank (the long horizontal vessel) combined with a Briggs racking cock. The almost constant head gives a consistent flow but the filling rate is slow and beer losses can be high. The cost of a Briggs Jack Back vessel and a set of racking cocks would also be very high and they are not easily cleaned by CIP. The counter pressure filler is common to both cask and keg and uses a gas to control the beer flow. The original Black Sheep 5 head and Moorhouses twin head filler was designed for counter pressure filling, however the success of the HMP pump unit removed the need for counter pressure gas injection to control beer flow. In keg filling the counter pressure gas can be 2 bar of CO2, in cask beer the counter pressure gas is much lower as you would blow out the keystone, usually around 1 bar.

To control the beer flow into the cask or keg the gas is released, lowering the pressure thus allowing the beer to flow. The problem for counter pressure systems is the gas is very expensive, the filler has to seal the cask and is thus expensive, also releasing 2 bar CO2 from a keg to atmosphere for each fill is not exactly very green. The Microdat pumped fill system uses a positive displacement hose (peristaltic) type pump, with a food grade hose liner, the pump is simple and very hygienic, the squashed and sealed tube acts like a moving cylinder around the hose, for a two roller pump you get two chambers of fluid for each revolution. With no revs you get no flow, the higher the speed the faster the flow. The head of beer feeding the pump has little effect on the pumps output and the gentle low shear action of the hose pump treats the beer nice and gently. The unique design of the Microdat new hose pump sets also includes a special pulsation damper, which soften the pumps pulses to give a very smooth and gentle beer flow. The only need for a gas when filling with a Microdat cask or keg filler is to blanket and protect the beer from O2 during filling however there is always some initial gas break out (CO2) during the initial first few seconds of filling and this is usually sufficient to provide a blanket between the beer and the escaping O2 from the cask via the vent.

The CF50 Single Head Micro Cask Filler

This entry-level system is designed to meet the needs of the microbrewer by providing a solution to beer cask filling in a modern microbrewery set up. The key is beer flow and the Microdat HHP provides the perfected controlled flow off beer and beer additions such as priming’s and finings etc. from the typical racking vessels of most microbreweries. Firstly the system does not require a dedicated racking vessel (like the Jack Back) beer can be supplied from almost any vessel at any reasonable head. The typical vertical conditioning vessels found at most microbreweries are easily handled without problem via the HHP or HMP system. The critical factor in any racking-beer filling system is to handle the beer gently. The feed from the vessel to the pump set should be 1.5 inch bore and ideally 2 inch bore, standard smooth bore brewery hose is fine. We normal use hygienic clamp fitting connections on hoses as these remain secure during pumping, RJT and Din fitting can unscrew and leak.

The basic filling system delivers the beer through a hose overhead via a swivel gantry system to one of two filling positions. The optional Microdat cask support and ejector provides the perfect support and location for Firkins and Kills during filling, however simple wood blocks can be utilised fixed to the floor. The Microdat cask ejector provides a simple foot operated ejection system alleviating back strains and improving operational efficiency.

The filling head on the basic filler is a simple ergonomically designed filling head and tube, which contains the filling control valve. The butterfly valve is located just outside the cask but is linked to the hand lever positioned at a comfortable working height, the hand lever also triggers the pump set operation to start and stop the filling operation.

Operating the Microdat CF50 Single Head Micro Cask Filler

Having selected the cask size via the selector switch the operator places the washed and keystoned cask on a filling station; he then inserts the head to engage the filling heads tapered plastic bung. The operator then simply opens the filling valve via the manual hand lever. The valve at open triggers the filling sequence by starting the main beer pump which initially slow ramps up to filling speed, the slow speed ramp enables the beer flow to cover the base of the filling tube with out gas break out and fobbing. After a delay the additions pump will also start up injecting finings etc into the main beer stream. If left alone by the operator the system will fill the cask to approximately 95% full. Whilst the first cask is filling the second cask can be readied and placed on the second filling station. When the first cask is filled to 95% a lamp will operate to signal the operator he will then be required to close the filling valve and re-open it fully. This will reset the filling sequence and allow the operator to top up the cask. When the cask is brim full the clear plastic vent pipe will show beer to signal to the operator to close the filling valve. Closing the filling valve will again rest the filling sequence. The operator can then withdraw the filler head and swing it to the second cask and commence filling. Whilst the second cask is filling the operator can close the first cask, eject it and set up the next cask.

The whole operation is simple but effective and apart from the manual top up operation there is little chance of beer losses from operator error.

Cleaning CIP

The Basic Microdat Cask filler uses the pump set to clean the filler unit by circulating cleaning fluids through the pumps and head etc. Circulating pre-rinse water cleans the system, then cleaning fluid, then post rinse water. The filler CIP can be undertaken whilst cleaning the beer supply tank or from separate supply tanks such as transit tanks. Three tanks would provide an ideal solution by a single tank could be used. The hose inlet to each pump is connected to the cleaning tank; the pump is run for a time in CIP mode i.e. at full speed. The return path for the cleaning fluids is via standard 1.5 inch Din Hose Liner and hose returning to the CIP tank. The hose liner replaces the base beer tube on the filling head.

Options for the Basic Filler

The standard Basic Microdat Cask Filler is generally has shown with twin HHP’s skid mounted on adjustable feet, with a single swivel mast, basic filling head, two beer tubes (9 & 18 gall) and the electrical controls with a 3m mains supply cable.

Optional Extras

2m 1.5 inch bore beer supply hose with hygienic connections each end
3m 1.5 inch bore beer supply hose with hygienic connections each end
4m 1.5 inch bore beer supply hose with hygienic connections each end
6m 2.0 inch bore beer supply hose with hygienic connections each end

2m ½ inch bore additions supply hose with hygienic connections each end
3m ½ inch bore additions supply hose with hygienic connections each end
3m ½ inch bore additions supply hose with hygienic connections each end
3m ½ inch bore additions supply hose with hygienic connections each end

2m 1.5inch bore CIP return hose and hygienic connections each end
3m 1.5inch bore CIP return hose and hygienic connections each end
4m 1.5inch bore CIP return hose and hygienic connections each end
6m 1.5inch bore CIP return hose and hygienic connections each end

Additional length on request
CIP manifold to connect the beer and additions pump inlet
Additional cask size filling for each additional cask size the unit will have additional control software, extra selector switch positions and an appropriate length beer tube.
Cask Filling & Ejector Stations (normally sold as a pair
Delivery to site (excluding off loading)
On site commissioning and operator training
Hard Copy operational and maintenance manuals
1 set recommended spares
Castors to replace the fixed levelling feet

Services Required

Mains electrical supply 240v 50Hz single-phase 16A

Beer Supply Min via 1.5-inch hose up to 4M

2.0 inch over 4m

Min Head 0m

Max Head 8m

Outside these parameters please consult Microdat

CIP Supply Pre-rinse liquor

CIP Cleaning Fluid

Post Rinse Water (This may be returned for Pre-Rinse)