DIY counterflow chiller

[vonski]

I've bent up a counterflow chiller. All in O.D. sizes, 1/2 and 7/8 soft refrigeration copper. Rolled both straight, close to impossible. 15' mark.

Spinning the 7/8 to make the 1/2 fit about 6 feet. Anchored the 7/8 against the shelf, while parlty spinning the 7/8 to fit the 1/2 all the way.

Closed up the ends and pressurized with nitrogen to 450 PSI.

All I could bend by myself.

Whish I used more length on the straight pre bend, hard to hold while bending. Used a Nitrogen tank to roll around. My wife held the length up as I preloaded the copper. She lowered the length as I bent around the tank. Rolled up nice with lots of work. I let the nitro out, it unsprung a ton.

Not sure where the water connections will land. Will figure that out later and sweat with lead free. A few kinks.

 

[helterscelter]

Wow. Cool. Did you pressurize the Shell or the internal tube or both?

 

[vonski]

Wow. Cool. Did you pressurize the Shell or the internal tube or both?

Yes. I used 15% StaySilv to sweat the 7/8 over the 1/2. Bent then released the pressure.

 

[JLeuck64]

Dude! Very nice build! Ya'll got some mad fabrication skills ( ;

 

[Spawn-Inc]

Nice, are you in the trade as well? I just built my immersion chiller but when i get some scraps from work i may build one.

 

[indymedic]

Does pressurizing the tubing help prevent kinks? I made a IC but have lately been thinking about building a CFC.

 

[vonski]

I pressurized the outer only with the 1/2 tube open inside it. I think it helped not kink. It kinked a little but mostly flattened out. It was impossible to roll myself. Lots of work.
This weeks project: After wort loss in its current set up I cut the keggle top off, flipped the cfc over to worldpool the keggle, took out a loop to face the connection the correct direction and moving the hose connections. Used 56% silver and white stay-silv to add the tri clover fitting. Has a fitting reducer 3/4 to 1/2 copper to adapt. Now when I'm done with it, disconnect the tri clover and it drains into the keggle. Not the exact position I wanted but used what I had instead of reinvent the wheel.

 

[vonski]

Getting there

 

[vonski]

Ready to be cleaned

 

[vonski]

Here's how much I cut out. What a nightmare. But I think we're ready to go.

 

[vonski]

First BIAB was fun, not enough head space was the main issue amongst a few others. Everytime anything changes is a learning curve. I like BIAB, not ready to three vessel all grain. Going to start with another fresh keg. Cannibalize the top 6 to 8 inches of the old keggle and welded to the top of the new with add tri-clover ferrules.
Oxygenator turned out badass especially the u-bend work perfect to hang it on the ferm.