It is the tanks’ dual-purpose design and setup that makes them unique. Each tank can hold 200 litres and can be used for a single fermentation or have four smaller (17 litre) tanks inserted to house four individual fermentations, all controlled under the same conditions. This is an important aspect of the tank design, reducing variability between fermentations and providing greater validity to results in trials. Repeatability and trial setup were the driving forces behind the decision to have the four inserts. With most research requiring triplicate fermentations, the BRI tanks have offset the risk of losing statistical strength by incorporating a fourth tank in case of a mishap like a stuck fermentation. Once fermentation trials are completed, the inserts can be removed and the tank returns to a 200-litre capacity vessel, suitable for another trial, blending or storage of larger volumes if required.
Both the 200-litre tank and the 17-litre tank inserts have been designed to ferment either white or red wine, allowing further adaptability. When the 17-litre tanks are fermenting white wine, they will have an agitator insert in place and when fermenting red-wine this will be replaced with a plunger. All tanks will have automated Brix and Temperature probes, maintaining optimal temperature control and real-time data analysis. This new data analysis and control interface system is the latest technology development by Vin-Wizard.
