Bathroom exhaust fan options for electric indoor brewing?

[blacksquid]

As I moved into a 2bdr condo, I finally went ahead and ordered everything to move on from my old propane burner to a single element/controller for my keggle. I've been reading for months about this and now that I planned and bought most of the things needed, I see that I overlooked the most important part: ventilation. I usually brew 10G batches and my boil off rate is usually around 1-1.5G/hr.

Now, I read through all of the "exhaust fans" threads on here but most of them end on a good note with "Oh, I got the space, so I bought a 8", 2000 cfm vortex fan and a custom made 300 sq-ft hood". I don't quite have that luxury.

This is the most powerful/quiet bathroom fan I found that could easily replace the one that's already installed: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/300-cfm-2-sones-blower-fan/959819. Expensive but if it works and pleases the eyes (and ears!) of SWMBO...

Apart from that, anything very temporary that could be easily dismantled and taken out in the shed? My kitchen window is about 10 feet from where I'll brew: simple flexible duct and plastic hood?

If no option would work well, I guess I could brew on my back balcony (about 25-30' from my 220v 30a socket), would I need bigger wire than 10/3 for an ext. cord? (5500w element)

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[ImNoExpert]

I'm sure you've read this right?

 

[blacksquid]

I'm sure you've read this right?

I did and it's very GiantCustomMadeHoodAndVortexFan-centric - I'm sure you read the 2nd paragraph of my post.

 

[ImNoExpert]

I did and it's very GiantCustomMadeHoodAndVortexFan-centric - I'm sure you read the 2nd paragraph of my post.

I did. I guess I think Kal's write up is more valuable for the information about how much cubic feet of flow you need for your set up and distance of outflow ducting. I think that's probably more important thing to think about.

As for the "giant hood", I think that can be tailored to your set up. I see people on here who make them out of wood or foam-board, and I know there's a thread on making one for cheap out of a giant stainless steel bowl. Or you could run it with a fan in the ceiling. As long as your set up gets the heat/moisture to a fan rated for the correct cf/m, you should be golden.

 

[Weezy]

Where does Kal give guidance on sizing the fan vs. Batch size?

 

[evanmars]

http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/ventilation

"Electric based brewery: Divide the element size (in watts) by 17.6 to obtain the required CFM (cubic feet per minute).
In our case we use a 5500W element in our boil kettle. 5500 / 17.6 = 312 CFM.
We therefore require a fan that can move a minimum of 312 CFM in order to ventilate our electric brewery properly.
Fans this size are readily available and reasonably inexpensive."

 

[Hamaki]

I suspect that a hood large enough to cover three vessels, mounted well above the top of the vessels would require a much greater flow to effectively eliminate steam than would something like the stainless steel bowl concept mounted immediately above a vessel. Think of a vacuum cleaner easily picking up dirt near the inlet but not so well from farther away.

I've been wondering if a bowl coupled with a low cost 4" inline booster fan, such as http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0069GE9N8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20, would be effective if exhausted through a relatively short duct. I think that the proximity of fan to steam source would greatly reduce the need for high CFM. Any experience with these style fans?

 

[evanmars]

For just more than a buck less, you get 140CFM more (240CFM). 6"
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KMTYFK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[blacksquid]

Hey guys,
thanks for the replies. Indeed I did use Kal's/Blichmann formula to calculate for my element size and that's why I chose the 300 CFM bathroom fan as a minimum. It's still underpowered but I'll only use it on my BK.

Many posters argued that a hood was needed to keep the condensate restricted to the duct so... I guess I'm wondering if anybody had experience with a powerful bathroom fan like that one or if I'd have to go ghetto with a duct/inline fan going through the kitchen (not sure that's gonna fly) and a sliced open garbage can hanging over the BK.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Apart from that, anything very temporary that could be easily dismantled and taken out in the shed? My kitchen window is about 10 feet from where I'll brew: simple flexible duct and plastic hood?


Thanks for your suggestions!

You could consider just putting a fan in a nearby window rather than trying to suspend some sort of temporary hood and ductwork. I think the box fan pushes like 1300 cfm. While it won't capture the steam directly off the kettle, it will likely create enough flow to effectively ventilate the entire 2 BR condo if you slightly open a few windows to provide makeup air.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Holmes-HBF2...159?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item417aa8d8df

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Holmes-HAWF...722?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51c0593502

Or this more powerful window fan at 2470 cfm....this will surely put a nice breeze in the dining room curtains...haha
https://shopping.yahoo.com/77026768...ith-storm-guard-housing/?bfr=50.0#description

 

[Hamaki]

For just more than a buck less, you get 140CFM more (240CFM). 6"
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KMTYFK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Same seller offers 8", 400 CFM model for a few bucks more (meeting Kal's calculated rate) but I note it says 140* max operating temp. I'm wondering if any of these fans would last in a bowl/hood over boiling wort, especially if located just a couple inches above the BK to maximize efficiency.

 

[brettwasbtd]

No way you could brew closer to that window? Some sort of a roll away stand?

 

[blacksquid]

No way you could brew closer to that window? Some sort of a roll away stand?

Not quite, as that would be right on the newly installed floor... will not roll with SWMBO.

 

[brettwasbtd]

Would this new exhaust fan be in addition to an existing kitchen fan or dependent of? If you dial back your boil to just enough to turn the wort over you may be ok. The problem with just one fan to the window is that ten foot run.

 

[Weezy]

Just brainstorming....
how about a tight fitting hood, right on top of pot (like pro BMs and Braumeister has one as well)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E0JKKQ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

with direct exhaust tubing to the window
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015UGPWQ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Duct fan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F6BL11U/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

They've even got QDs.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028BAAWW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Hamaki]

Just brainstorming....
how about a tight fitting hood, right on top of pot (like pro BMs and Braumeister has one as well)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E0JKKQ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

with direct exhaust tubing to the window
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015UGPWQ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Duct fan
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F6BL11U/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

They've even got QDs.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028BAAWW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

That's pretty much what I was thinking except I'd suspend the bowl an inch or two above the BK so that makeup air can get into the system, enabling flow closer to the rated CFM. My only concern is whether hot, moist air would kill one of these fans in short order. Seems that many have used the more expensive vortex fans successfully but I haven't seen anyone report on using a booster fan in a steam hood.

 

[blacksquid]

Thanks for the ideas guys, that's pretty much what I had in mind. It seems right now that indoor brewing will not be in the cards. I guess I'll invest that in a 220v extension cord for now...