Kränzle Barrel and Cellar Steamers

Kränzle barrel and cellar steamers are low-pressure electric steam generators, manufactured locally in stainless steel by Kränzle South Africa for wineries and food processing plants across the Western Cape. They are used to disinfect the inside of wine barrels after washing, so that wine held in barrel is protected from spoilage.

The major benefit of steam is the rate at which heat is transferred to the treated surface, giving an instant transfer of heat to every surface the steam touches. The steamer supplies continuous steam, which raises the kill ratio and lethal dose on bacteria and mould. Because heat does the work, the cellar uses less water and less chemical, which also means less effluent under the strict rules that govern a cellar's waste water.

Steamers are used across the cellar:

• Barrel steaming after washing with the Kränzle barrel cleaner.
• New barrels, where steam helps hydrate the wood before first use.
• Tanks, for sanitising and removing tartrates.
• Bottling and filling lines, which the steamer is also used to steam.
• Pipelines and filters, which are steamed in the same way.

Choosing a steamer

There are four ratings, all 400 V and built from 9 kW heating elements. The 9 kW makes about 13.5 kg of steam an hour and the 36 kW about 54 kg, with the 18 kW and 27 kW in between; the 9 kW and 18 kW suit small to medium wineries, and the 27 kW and 36 kW medium to large ones. Each has a stainless steel frame and body, a temperature indicator, overpressure safety, a steam trap to remove water and a low-level control on the incoming water, and each is supplied with a 10 m power cable, a 7 m hose and a wine barrel diffuser. The larger ratings need a bigger supply, so it is worth checking the electrical capacity on site before choosing.