Copper ferm chiller

[MStoren]

I want put a copper coil into my fermentor to control temps, but I’m not sure what effect copper will have (flavour, toxicity) when exposed to beer for 2 or 3 weeks. Anyone have any advice.

 

[day_trippr]

Don't do that.
Beer is acidic and will chew on that copper.
Bad juju...

Cheers!

 

[MaxStout]

You simply don't need the rapid temperature changes that the copper coils would provide. It's not like chilling a kettle of hot wort in 15 minutes. This is a long-term thing. Your fermenter full of beer is a large thermal mass. Once its temp is brought close to the target it doesn't take much to maintain a fairly consistent temperature. A good 2-stage temp controller, coupled with the freezer and some small heating device will do just fine. Over the course of a 2-3 week fermentation time, the short time needed to make minor temperature changes is insignificant.

 

[MStoren]

Don't do that.
Beer is acidic and will chew on that copper.
Bad juju...

Cheers!

Thanks. That seems to be what the internet is telling me too.

 

[MStoren]

You simply don't need the rapid temperature changes that the copper coils would provide. It's not like chilling a kettle of hot wort in 15 minutes. This is a long-term thing. Your fermenter full of beer is a large thermal mass. Once its temp is brought close to the target it doesn't take much to maintain a fairly consistent temperature. A good 2-stage temp controller, coupled with the freezer and some small heating device will do just fine. Over the course of a 2-3 week fermentation time, the short time needed to make minor temperature changes is insignificant.

Have considered many options. Immersion chillers will work best for me ( limited space). SS FTSs might work, but I’ll have see if I can retrofit into my fast ferment conical. Copper would have been much cheaper as I can manufacture myself. I have no way of bending stainless.

 

[MaxStout]

Have you thought about setting up a swamp cooler? Cheap, low-tech and effective.

 

[MStoren]

I want to able to control temp within a degree or two. I’m thinking I might wrap the copper around the outside of the conical now. Plastic doesn’t have great heat transfer, so I’ll probably wrap an insulator around the whole thing. Starting to get a little silly now. At some point I’ll just get the SS brew bucket and chiller coil and quit wasting my time.