IC with fountain pump & iced water

**Brewer3401** · 08-05-2007, 02:11 PM

I cut down my prechiller (don't use any more) to 35'.
Started with 106 F
Large bag of ice
Got down to 76 F in 10 minutes.

I'm going to buy a larger pump (240 gpm now - rated 7-8' of lift).

I'm disagreeing with the thought that the water coming out of the IC should be warmer than the wort. I think it should be colder than the wort.

I think the end point would be to have the water coming out of the IC 10-20 F colder than the wort.

Will report back, possibly this afternoon.

Note: I F/U, cuz I never start my secondary cooling until the wort is 100 F or lower. But, to be consistent, I have to do the next experiment with 106 F to keep things level.

HighPlainsDrifter · 08-05-2007, 02:26 PM

I too removed my prechiller and added a pump for ice water this weekend. I'm using a 330 gph pump rated for 4.5' of lift. I went from boiling at flame out to 75 degrees in eight minutes!!!! The trick is to stir the wort in the opposite direction of the flow of the water in your chiller. This creates a cross current heat exchange that is very efficient.

On a side note, my prechiller fits inside of my IC. I'm planning on connecting the two in order to add surface area.

**Yuri_Rage** · 08-05-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewer3401

I'm disagreeing with the thought that the water coming out of the IC should be warmer than the wort. I think it should be colder than the wort.

Where did that idea come from? Unless you are applying heat somewhere during the process, there is no way for the water in the IC to become hotter than the wort surrounding it - it's physically/thermodynamically impossible.

**EdWort** · 08-05-2007, 03:26 PM

I need pictures! Pics please!

jcarson83 · 08-05-2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yuri_Rage

Where did that idea come from? Unless you are applying heat somewhere during the process, there is no way for the water in the IC to become hotter than the wort surrounding it - it's physically/thermodynamically impossible.

I think the idea is that it should be at the same temperature as the wort if you are fully utilizing the temperature differential between the wort and the tap water. Otherwise your wasting the cooling potential of the water, but thats splitting hairs.

I've trying to figure out a way to do this without buying more copper since its so expensive right now. It's about 95 in the shade and the tap water isn't cool enough. 75F

Blender · 08-05-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcarson83

I think the idea is that it should be at the same temperature as the wort if you are fully utilizing the temperature differential between the wort and the tap water. Otherwise your wasting the cooling potential of the water, but thats splitting hairs.

I've trying to figure out a way to do this without buying more copper since its so expensive right now. It's about 95 in the shade and the tap water isn't cool enough. 75F

Don't buy more copper. Get a pump and run ice water through your existing chiller after the tap water has cooled the wort as much as it can.

**Yuri_Rage** · 08-05-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcarson83

I think the idea is that it should be at the same temperature as the wort if you are fully utilizing the temperature differential between the wort and the tap water.

I agree...but he was suggesting that there is an idea out there that the water exiting the IC should actually be hotter than the wort.