Wort chiller as heat exchanger?

[skidkid267]

I have an immersion chiller that I would like to use in a pot of boiling water to run my wort through with my march pump while mashing in order to maintain temp and clarify the wort. Has anyone ever tried this?
I brew all grain in 5gal batches with a picnic cooler mashtun.

 

[JonK331]

That is called a Heat Exchanged Recirculating Mash System or "HERMS." You don't really need quite as long of a coil for HERMS as you do for a chiller but it certainly will work with more coils. There is tons of info on HERMS here. I don't use one myself so a search might be in order for more info.

 

[johnp]

I wouldn't use boiling water, the mash would get too hot.

If you can maintain a constant mash temp this would be called a herms system and many people do it except a temp controller is usually used.

My only concern is that it'd be difficult to maintain a Consistent temp on the stove.

*edit Jon beat me.

 

[itsme6582]

Are you the same person who suggest we try using old soda kegs?

Here's a Cadillac version of what you're talking about...
The Electric Brewery

 

[TheCatman]

A wort chiller is a heat exchanger...