Higher than normal evaporation rate

[stillshinen]

Hello I have a Concord 60 quart pot and burner that I made into a brew kettle. When I'm doing my boils I end up losing almost one gallon per hour for a 5 gallon batch. I am wondering if anyone else has this pot and burner combo found on eBay. I am looking for some tips or tricks on how to decrease the evaporation Rate but still maintain a good rolling boil.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/CONCORD-Sta...hash=item20ed2c2296:m:mc327joUwv1YCL8N6Vc7z6g

 

[KyleWolf]

why do you want to decrease the evaporation rate? a higher boil rate equates to more boil off which means using more sparge water which in theory equates to higher efficiency. Also a gallon/hour is pretty typical. i don't think you can effectively lower the evaporation rate and maintain a strong rolling boil, as that rolling boil is a direct effect of the evaporation.

 

[mabrungard]

Pro's typically experience 5 to 8 percent volume loss during their boils, but they have covered kettles. Your 1 gal/hr evaporation rate is typical for our small homebrew sized boils and uncovered kettles. Producing a rolling boil is important, but it is not desirable to boil off your wort to an excessive degree. That will overconcentrate your water's mineral content and that can create off flavors. Partially covering your kettle with a lid is allowable.

 

[normonster]

Pro's typically experience 5 to 8 percent volume loss during their boils, but they have covered kettles. Your 1 gal/hr evaporation rate is typical for our small homebrew sized boils and uncovered kettles. Producing a rolling boil is important, but it is not desirable to boil off your wort to an excessive degree. That will overconcentrate your water's mineral content and that can create off flavors. Partially covering your kettle with a lid is allowable.

Martin, if I'm not mistaken Brew'n Water can account for a higher than normal boil off and the resulting mineral concentration, correct? We input the exact post boil batch size. Now that I think about it though I don't recall entering boil volume.....hmmm

 

[mabrungard]

No, there isn't an accounting for high boil off percentage. One work-around is to base the mineral additions more on the post-boil wort volume and then just add extra (hopefully low mineral) water to the kettle to provide for the boil off losses.

 

[stillshinen]

Looking back at my notes i started with 6.5 gallons and after my boil i had 4.75 for an hour boil at 1.75 gals. I need to back into this equation and increase my sparge water. I am concern when i do 10 gal batches in my 60qt kettle. I will take a look at those websites noted above.

thanks for the replys.

 

[Yooper]

Looking back at my notes i started with 6.5 gallons and after my boil i had 4.75 for an hour boil at 1.75 gals. I need to back into this equation and increase my sparge water. I am concern when i do 10 gal batches in my 60qt kettle. I will take a look at those websites noted above.

thanks for the replys.

The boil off will stay the same, even with a larger batch, if you use the same burner and pot.

I boil off about 1.75 gallons/hour in my system in the winter (it's dry where I live in the winter) and less in the summer. That is a nice rolling boil, but the kettle is not rocking or anything like that.

 

[stillshinen]

I am living in Singapore so I doubt that is has to do dry weather. I believe I will just need to increase my sparge water. Or should I increase mash water? Or should I split the difference amongst the two?

 

[Spartan1979]

I usually average about 1.5 gallons/hour boiloff with my system. I don't have any issues doing 10 gallons in a 15 gallon kettle. I do use some Fermcap in the boil.