Max batch size for immersion chillers

[dude1]

I'm considering switching from a 5 Gal (20L) setup to about 25-50 Gal (100-200L).

I'm so happy with the ease of cleaning an immersion chiller that I'd like to stick to this.

I'm wondering if it's reasonable to build a double-coil chiller or if batches this size would definitely benefit from a plate chiller.

Plus, if an immersion chiller is doable for such batches, what length and diameter should I shoot for?

Thanks

 

[mredge73]

I cannot imagine using an immersion chiller in this situation.
It takes nearly 50' of 1/2" tubing to cool down a 5 gallon batch effectively. You have to scale this up by a factor of 10.
Counterflow chillers are easy to clean but you will need a pretty large one as well.

Plate chillers are the most efficient and are much smaller.
To cool 50 gallons in 10 minutes you need 5 GPM wort flow rate, this is full flow on a march 809 pump. You will probably use a nano-brewery pump that can can do +15 gpm, just adjust it down to 5 gpm with a globe valve.
You can accomplish this with a 60 plate B3-36A; your cooling water flow rate will need to be 10gpm so you won't want to use long hoses.
The plate chiller will cost you under $300.

https://www.dudadiesel.com/search.php?query=b3-36a
http://www.dudadiesel.com/files/beerwortchart.pdf

If you wirlpool your wort first for a few minutes at maximum flow you can drastically reduce the amount of gunk that will go into the plate chiller making it much easier to clean.