ChemE
Well-Known Member
I finally got around to making my pre-chiller since water temperature here in South Carolina are already climbing. I brew ales so I don't need a system which cools the wort any colder than about 64°F. I also have no interest in spending $2-3 each brew for a bag of ice since that would be a significant fraction of the total cost of a 5 gallon batch which typically cost me about $10. To that end I wanted a system which could bring 5 gallons of wort from 90°F down to 65°F in a reasonable amount of time and using a bare minimum of water.
Exploded view of pre-chiller system
Pre-chiller installed in system
Note the the inlet to both the pre-chiller and the chiller utilize the same male garden hose disconnect which matches the female garden hose quick disconnect on the garden hose. This allows me to switch in the pre-chiller once the wort reaches a temperature close to ground water by moving the garden hose from the chiller inlet to the pre-chiller inlet and then jumpering the pre-chiller to the chiller with my jumper. It too has quick disconnects which match the pre-chiller outlet and chiller inlet. Switching the pre-chiller inline takes about 5 seconds (seriously).
Tomorrow I'm just going to charge the pre-chiller with 4 gallons of cold water from the refrigerator as well as a half dozen freeze packs from the freezer.
Exploded view of pre-chiller system
Pre-chiller installed in system
Note the the inlet to both the pre-chiller and the chiller utilize the same male garden hose disconnect which matches the female garden hose quick disconnect on the garden hose. This allows me to switch in the pre-chiller once the wort reaches a temperature close to ground water by moving the garden hose from the chiller inlet to the pre-chiller inlet and then jumpering the pre-chiller to the chiller with my jumper. It too has quick disconnects which match the pre-chiller outlet and chiller inlet. Switching the pre-chiller inline takes about 5 seconds (seriously).
Tomorrow I'm just going to charge the pre-chiller with 4 gallons of cold water from the refrigerator as well as a half dozen freeze packs from the freezer.