Question about the "magical" height to diameter ratio for our brew kettles. A ratio of 1.2 to 1 is boasted by several retailers as the best ratio for our brew kettles. Indeed, if one checks the specifications for most brew settles available the ratio is in fact 1.2 to 1. This includes Blichmann, Spike Brewing, SS Brewing Technologies and the self-named Megabit 1.2 from Northern Brewer.
Is this magic ratio based on some "fill level" of the kettle in question? Or does it have more to do with the physics of the kettle itself. In other words, if one were boiling seven gallons of wort in a 10 gallon kettle, the pot would would have a ratio of 1.2:1, but the _liquid_ would have a different ratio. To take the example further, if one were to boil the same 7 gallons in a 30 gallon pot, the height to width ratio of the liquid would be dramatically different. (Yes, I know we don't boil 7 gallons of wort in a 30 gallon pot--it's just an example for discussion.)
I am thinking of upgrading to 30 gallon kettles and starting 15 gallon batches, but started to think about what happens if I were to brew 10 gallons such a set up. And could I ever do a 5 gallon test batch using 30 gallon kettles for my MLT and BK?
Thoughts?
Is this magic ratio based on some "fill level" of the kettle in question? Or does it have more to do with the physics of the kettle itself. In other words, if one were boiling seven gallons of wort in a 10 gallon kettle, the pot would would have a ratio of 1.2:1, but the _liquid_ would have a different ratio. To take the example further, if one were to boil the same 7 gallons in a 30 gallon pot, the height to width ratio of the liquid would be dramatically different. (Yes, I know we don't boil 7 gallons of wort in a 30 gallon pot--it's just an example for discussion.)
I am thinking of upgrading to 30 gallon kettles and starting 15 gallon batches, but started to think about what happens if I were to brew 10 gallons such a set up. And could I ever do a 5 gallon test batch using 30 gallon kettles for my MLT and BK?
Thoughts?