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'''Wort Movement''': While cooling, wort does move via convection through the volume of the boiling kettle. This movement introduces hot wort to the surface of the chiller while cooled wort moves out of the way. However, this natural process can be helped along by swirling or whirlpooling the column of wort by a gentle stirring with a sanitized spoon. Recognizing the importanance of keeping the wort moving, some brewers go as far as using pumps or motorized stiring devices to reduce manual intervention. | '''Wort Movement''': While cooling, wort does move via convection through the volume of the boiling kettle. This movement introduces hot wort to the surface of the chiller while cooled wort moves out of the way. However, this natural process can be helped along by swirling or whirlpooling the column of wort by a gentle stirring with a sanitized spoon. Recognizing the importanance of keeping the wort moving, some brewers go as far as using pumps or motorized stiring devices to reduce manual intervention. | ||
| − | '''Coil Diameter/Length''': All else being equal, a larger diameter and/or longer length coil will cool faster. Both dimensions contribute to the overall surface area between cold water and hot wort. They also contribute to the volume of cold water exposed to wort at any given moment. Larger diameters may only benefit to a point as the very center of water the tubing may remain colder (unexposed). Longer lengths benefit only to the point where the water is heated to near equilibrium with the wort temperature. Conversly, if your output water is more than 10-20 degrees lower than your wort temperature, you could benefit from a longer length coil. In general, 3/8" OD x 25' long coils are well suited for 5 gallon batches while 3/8 or 1/2" OD x 50' coils are better suited for 10 gallons batches. | + | '''Coil Diameter/Length''': All else being equal, a larger diameter and/or longer length coil will cool faster. Both dimensions contribute to the overall surface area between cold water and hot wort. They also contribute to the volume of cold water exposed to wort at any given moment. Larger diameters may only benefit to a point as the very center of water the tubing may remain colder (unexposed). Longer lengths benefit only to the point where the water is heated to near equilibrium with the wort temperature. Conversly, if your output water is more than 10-20 degrees lower than your wort temperature, you could benefit from a longer length coil. In general, 3/8" OD x 25' long coils are well suited for 5 gallon batches while 3/8 or 1/2" OD x 50' coils are better suited for 10 gallons batches. |
Revision as of 13:58, 15 February 2007
Made out of coiled copper tubing these Chillers reduce the temperature of the wort by running cold water through the coils. The heat is transfered from the wort to copper and on to the water. This type of chiller is used by many to reduce the whole wort temperature below the DMS generating level. Cooling speed is affected by several factors including:
Temperature Differential: The colder the input water, the more potential it has to pull heat out of the wort. In some cases, tap water is not cold enough to cool the wort fast enough to be practical. In this case, the brewer has two options. Tap water may be fed through an additional coil (known as a pre-chiller) that is immersed in an ice water bath. The tap water temperature is dropped prior to entering the immersion chiller. Another option is to pump icewater directly through the immersion chiller using an inexpensive aquarium/pond pump. With the inflated price of copper, the latter method of pumping may be more economical.
Wort Movement: While cooling, wort does move via convection through the volume of the boiling kettle. This movement introduces hot wort to the surface of the chiller while cooled wort moves out of the way. However, this natural process can be helped along by swirling or whirlpooling the column of wort by a gentle stirring with a sanitized spoon. Recognizing the importanance of keeping the wort moving, some brewers go as far as using pumps or motorized stiring devices to reduce manual intervention.
Coil Diameter/Length: All else being equal, a larger diameter and/or longer length coil will cool faster. Both dimensions contribute to the overall surface area between cold water and hot wort. They also contribute to the volume of cold water exposed to wort at any given moment. Larger diameters may only benefit to a point as the very center of water the tubing may remain colder (unexposed). Longer lengths benefit only to the point where the water is heated to near equilibrium with the wort temperature. Conversly, if your output water is more than 10-20 degrees lower than your wort temperature, you could benefit from a longer length coil. In general, 3/8" OD x 25' long coils are well suited for 5 gallon batches while 3/8 or 1/2" OD x 50' coils are better suited for 10 gallons batches.
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