Lenght of coil Herms

I was thinking of building a small HLT to sirculate the mash through so my idea was having something like a 3" SS pipe about 15" long and a 2500W element inside. Then having a small copper coil inside that 3" pipe with the heating element in the center.
How long would i have to make this copper coil and what diamater? the diameter would have to be small because making a small coil to fit inside a 3" pipe would be tricky.


Why i want to do this? to have faster change in temperature during mash.

 

Why not just use a ULWD RIMs tube? At this point you are already adding another element, and another vessel. The only difference is that you are not allowing the wort to have direct contact with the element, which would just increase efficiency in this design.

 

Hmmm.... yess.... That might work. I must be overthinking everything. I guess i was afraid of burning the wort or something. thanks anyway.

 

You are basically building a tube and shell heat exchanger with a direct heater installed.

 

I would be worried with the price of a big SS pipe! Also you need a liquid to exchange heat. If its water you need some kind of agitator to keep your temperature evenly distriduted and you need some kind of pressure release valve to avoid making a bomb. I would say that the external container for your built could be anything that can tolerate heat. Like a large ABS tube. Your wort will only be in contact with the copper tube. For the lenght of the coil I would not consider less than 15 feet and a small diameter to be able to coil it without kink like a 1/2 OD. You could look to modify a hybrid wort chiller for your projet.

 

You will need at least 1/2" od tubing and it can't coil that tight. A rims would work great and at least you can see and clean the element.

 

Take a look at www.homebrewersassociation.org/pimp-my-system/hex/

 

Or look online for the HERM-IT another approach.

 

The price of a big SS pipe for me is irrelevant. I work at a Diary as an automations engineer and we throw away lots of used SS pipes in different diamaters and lenghts, and yes i was thinking of using water to exchange the heat.
I have also taken pressure into consideration.

That was just what i was looking for! heh looks nearly exactly the same as what i made so far. Except i was thinking of entering the coil in the bottom.
that would also save me some space instead of running the coil back up on the side. I dont think i have any 4" pipe so 3" will have to do.

I was thinking of having an open top on it and running a pipe from my HLT to the "HEX" so if the level goes bellow the float switch it will automaticly refill itself. But if i gain more from making it air tight and adding a pressure relief valve i might do that.

 

you should check out my $50 HERMS system, link in sig.

 

I was thinking about doing this except using a corny keg shell instead of a pipe/tube. Decided against it as you would just have to have another vessel to heat sparge water in, etc. thrn I decided to just stick with no sparge BIAB lol

 

Heh. I like your simple thinking but for my system i want everything stainless. all the beer pipes/water pipes will be 3/4" and 1" SS pipe and im using a PLC with temperature inputs as PID's so that i can control and view values/temps from a touch interface.

http://s23.postimg.org/vc3fl9lyj/homebrew.png
to give you a basic idea (not done drawing)

My apprentice made a square tank(60L ~16Gallons) with element for hes exam that i will be using for the sparge water and heating water for CIP. So i got my HLT for free.

 

I was meaning more for coil size examples and small dedicated HERMS containers.