Equations Please

[Raoul]

Can you please send me the equations (or a good link) used to calculate the correct pressure to set your regulator to for a given beer with variables such as elevation & temperature? I would also like to have what you would use to calculate your ideal beer line length based upon this pressure settings (or vice-versa, that I have a 30 foot beer line run with the faucet X feet above the keg, so what psi should I use?).

What I was thinking is that the most common questions I see on this forum deal with calculating this settings. It would be trivial to put these equations into a little Windows program that people could download here and then put in their information and get the answer. I would be willing to do this if I am given the information. I could include the carbonation value for a few of the most common beers easily as well. Basically, compile everything we need to know to balance a system correctly.

Thoughts?

-Raoul

[Scott Zuhse]

Raoul, this has already been accomplished. A vendor called Selltech has a software program for the draught industry. Unfortunately, this is not useful since liquid temperature is so elusive. When 38F can be conquered and you have an ale or lager at 2.5 volumes of CO2 and you live at sea level, push this beer with 14 PSIG. God forbid the temperature changes. If it does, raise pressure one pound for every two degree change. Conversely, lower one pound for every two degree change warmer. If you have a 2.8 vol product - two pounds higher than a 2.5 beer.

If you really want to put system balance including restriction in a spreadsheet, call customer service at 866 327-4159 and ask for my number. Then we can discuss another twist - the use of blend gas and restriction. Cheers.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[Raoul]

Scott,

Thanks for the info. I see that Selltech has done an excellent job of this. However, I was thinking about a stand-alone Windows app. that would be FREE for people to download and use just to get their basic system balanced. Selltech's system seems to be more designed for bar owners and not our average kegerator owner.

I was really interested in the correction for elevation as well.

I don't have any knowledge of blend gas and restriction, but I would be willing to learn/experiment.-Raoul

[Scott Zuhse]

Please call me to discuss.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute