Reverse chiller

[braailus]

That is a whole new topic to consider. I wonder how they deal with this in counter flow chillers?

[Aleman]

We flush it out with an acid wash

I used to fill my CFC with boiling water after cleaning, and leave it full for the next time, with No oxygen in the pipe no verdigris could form

It's easy to cool wort from 100C to 30C using quite a small volume of water, you just balance the flow of water so that the temperature at the exit of the chiller is 'constant' . . . so as the wort cools you slow the water flow down. . . . It's getting from 30-35C down to pitching temperature of say 12-18C that takes a lot of water, and this is where your idea comes into it's own. You have two coils one sat in the wort, and that takes your tap water through, once you have cooled to 30-35C, you then feed your tap water through a coil immersed in ice water, and then through the coil in the wort. . . . very very effective cooling.

Remember that it is the difference between the temperature of your coolant and the temperature of your wort that determines the rate of cooling, and the amount of coolant used once you have cooled down to a sensible point.

[braailus]

Thanks for the info guys. I will track down some copper pipe, start bending and see where it leads

[Normski]

Hi braailus
As you are in South Africa. I think you should investigate the No Chill Method.
It's very popular in hot climates.
Pour the hot wort in to a container, shut the lid and leave over night to cool.
Norm

[braailus]

Hi Normski

I will look into it but we are in a very hot and humid (tropical area). In summer our minimum temperature stays around twenty deg c and maximum over 30 with very high humidity. This feels like the temperature is close to 40deg c. I am not sure if that is compatible with the no chill method.

I may have the wrong impression but always willing to learn something new.

Braailus

[Normski]

Hi Braailus

No chill is used a lot by Australian brewers.
Because they also have a shortage of water and a hot climate.
I really think you should look into this, before making a cooler that may be less efficient there in Africa.

Norm

[braailus]

Thanks Normski

I will look into it

[braailus]

I completed the heat exchanger this week and used it in our Red Ale brew today. Quite amazing to see how efficient it is. Brought 20 l of wort from rolling boil to 21 deg in 15 mins with tap water. Quite happy with the results.
Thanks for all the advice guys.