Project Details

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Expandable, Multi-Tier, Adjustable Heat, High Capacity Oast Design for On-Farm Hops Processing

Company: Hoffman Appalachian Farm

Major(s):
Primary: ME
Secondary: EGEE

Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO

Intellectual Property: NO

An oast, or hop kiln, is an apparatus designed for kilning (drying) hops as part of the brewing process. Hops are to be dried within 24 hours of harvesting to preserve their use for an extended period of time. Oasts are typically a specialty piece of equipment specific to hops, and as a result particularly for smaller hop Farms (under 10 acres), are not available for sale commercially at this scale. The design should also allow for the drying of hemp as a secondary crop. This is a new, but growing endeavor for Hoffman Appalachian Farm as well and uses a similar drying/processing process. This project will design and construct a multi-drawer, multi-tiered, adjustable heat, oast system that fits the space specifications available at Hoffman Appalachian Farm's barn attic. After harvest, hops will be delivered via a conveyor system to the attic, and then distributed by variety within the various drawers. Air will be drawn into a central distribution system and passed through the drawers that will have slatted floors to allow the maximum volume of air to pass through them. An adjustable, low-heat source will be added to the central distribution system to shorten the drying time, while still preserving the quality of the hops. The drawers will have slatted bottoms that can be turned to allow the hops to drop to the next level of drawers, helping churn the cones for better, more efficient drying. This is identical to the drying system used by much larger oast houses in use by commercial hop growers in the Pacific Northwest and Germany. When drying is complete, the system's design will then allow for the hops to be passed through a collection tube, down to the base level of the barn where they can either be bagged or entered into a pelletization system. The design will allow for modular expansion of drawers when needed for increased drying capacity, taking advantage of the existing airflow/distribution system, as well as the collection system to the lower floor.