Colde Plate Wort Chiller

[benbradford]

I am planning on using this aluminum cold plate in a cooler with 20lbs of ice for additional chilling. I already have a herms coil built into my bk that chills but is pretty slow and adds at least 30 minutes to my brew day.

I think that if I use the coil to do the initial drop and then when at around 120 start circulating the wort through the cold plate. They are designed with internal stainless coils that drop 70 degree beer to 40 degrees for drinking.

With a couple passes, it should go from 110 to 60 pretty easy. I also like that it has 3 potential lines that I can push 2 different beers through because my system is a dual batch system.

 

[benbradford]

Any thoughts?

 

[ScubaSteve]

As long as it is cleanable, I see no reason why it won't work. Alternatively, you could use the herms in the BK, then use the cold plate to run your coolant through...leaving the wort still in the BK...which is probably best for preventing infection and gives more time for gravity to settle things out.

 

[benbradford]

worked great the other day. I brewed two 15 gallon batches side by side. they both had herms coils installed and I was running cold water through both in a series. the wort closest to the water line in was pumped through the cold plate with 40lbs of ice in it. flow was kind of slow going back into the bk, but it chilled all 30 gallons to 70 in 30 minutes. happy with it, but probably going to continue thinking about a better system.

glycol?