HERMS Heat Exchanger Survey

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Bigscience

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I’m curious as to what setups people with a HERMS system use as far as materials, design, performance and their overall satisfaction. I put together a few questions below as a way to gather the info. After the results are all in, I was going to summarize. Thanks in advance for your feedback.


Coil Material (SS, Copper, Other) -

Tube Length -

Tube Diameter -

Coil Placement (HLT, MT, Kettle, Other) –

Chamber Fluid Volume (eg. HLT with 7 gal) -

Heating Method (Electric, Gas) -

Do You Stir Chamber Fluid (Yes/No) -

Chamber Temp Setting (Contestant eg 170F, Mash Temp, Mash +5…) -

Achievable Ramp (Deg/min) -

Used for Step Mash -

Flow Rate -

Mash Thickness –

Would you build it this way again or what would you change?
 
Coil Material (SS, Copper, Other) - Copper

Tube Length - 25ft

Tube Diameter - 3/8in

Coil Placement (HLT, MT, Kettle, Other) – HLT

Chamber Fluid Volume (eg. HLT with 7 gal) - 10 gal

Heating Method (Electric, Gas) - Gas

Do You Stir Chamber Fluid (Yes/No) - Manual stir

Chamber Temp Setting (Contestant eg 170F, Mash Temp, Mash +5…) - Target Mash Temp

Achievable Ramp (Deg/min) - 2 deg/min (slows as approcahing setpoint)

Used for Step Mash - Yes

Flow Rate - 1gal/min

Mash Thickness – 1.5 qt/lb

Would you build it this way again or what would you change? I'd use a sepparate chamber that's smaller and electronically controlled with SS tube.
 
I’m curious as to what setups people with a HERMS system use as far as materials, design, performance and their overall satisfaction. I put together a few questions below as a way to gather the info. After the results are all in, I was going to summarize. Thanks in advance for your feedback.


Coil Material (SS, Copper, Other) - COPPER

Tube Length - 25'

Tube Diameter - 1/2"

Coil Placement (HLT, MT, Kettle, Other) – HLT

Chamber Fluid Volume (eg. HLT with 7 gal) - 5gal

Heating Method (Electric, Gas) - Electric

Do You Stir Chamber Fluid (Yes/No) - YES, auto stir

Chamber Temp Setting (Contestant eg 170F, Mash Temp, Mash +5…) - Mash temp +3F

Achievable Ramp (Deg/min) - 1F/min
Used for Step Mash - No, see above...

Flow Rate - 2qt/min (this is a limit set by the mash and FB)

Mash Thickness – 2.0qt/lb
Would you build it this way again or what would you change?

Nope, building a new rig with different heating setup.

That is all I have to offer :)
 
I KNOW there are more people out there that have a HERMS set up. Please share the details so others can use the info for designing theirs. I know I'm looking to re do mine and this ifo would be really helpfull. Thanks in advance.
 
Coil Material (SS, Copper, Other) - copper

Tube Length - don't remember, maybe 25 ft

Tube Diameter - 1/2 inch

Coil Placement (HLT, MT, Kettle, Other) – HLT

Chamber Fluid Volume (eg. HLT with 7 gal) - 40 qt after coil in = 32 qt

Heating Method (Electric, Gas) - electric, two 1500watt

Do You Stir Chamber Fluid (Yes/No) - yes but not sure it's really moving much

Chamber Temp Setting (Contestant eg 170F, Mash Temp, Mash +5…) - start at strike then ramp to whatever I want

Achievable Ramp (Deg/min) - don't remember but it's not bad

Used for Step Mash - yes

Flow Rate - more than I need I choke it back

Mash Thickness – 1.5 qt / lb +/-

Would you build it this way again or what would you change?
sure, however I am going to build a new system and may go with gas heat for it
 
Coil Material (SS, Copper, Other) - Copper

Tube Length - 20'

Tube Diameter - 3/8"

Coil Placement (HLT, MT, Kettle, Other) – Other (2 gallon cooler)

Chamber Fluid Volume (eg. HLT with 7 gal) - 1 gallon

Heating Method (Electric, Gas) - Electric (1500W element)

Do You Stir Chamber Fluid (Yes/No) - Yes (7$ aquarium air pump)

Chamber Temp Setting (Contestant eg 170F, Mash Temp, Mash +5…) - Mash Temp

Achievable Ramp (Deg/min) - 1-2 Deg/min

Used for Step Mash - Yes (I use it to ramp to mashout)

Flow Rate - Not sure. Using March 809 with all 3/8" silicone tubing.

Mash Thickness – Varies from 1.3 to 2.0 (I aim for fixed sparge volume)

Would you build it this way again or what would you change?- Yes. It's very compact, simple and efficient.
 
Coil Material (SS, Copper, Other) - Copper (faster heat exchange)

Tube Length - ~20'

Tube Diameter - 1/2"

Coil Placement (HLT, MT, Kettle, Other) – Other (i cut a 1/4 off the top of a cornie keg)

Chamber Fluid Volume (eg. HLT with 7 gal) - probably 2.5 gal... a little more than i need

Heating Method (Electric, Gas) - Electric (1500W element)

Do You Stir Chamber Fluid (Yes/No) - no i should, i have been thinking about getting a small motor with a stirrer

Chamber Temp Setting (Contestant eg 170F, Mash Temp, Mash +5…) - Mash Temp 152

Achievable Ramp (Deg/min) - 1-2 Deg/min

Used for Step Mash - Yes (I use it to ramp to mashout)

Flow Rate - Not sure. Using March 809 with 1/2 ball valve on outport (its easy the faster the rate the slower the heat transfer)

Mash Thickness – IDK depends if i usually have around 10 lbs of grain in a keggle

Would you build it this way again or what would you change?- Yes. but i would probably make it smalerl but other than that it works perfectly
 
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