Idea for an econo jacketed conical

[prrriiide]

Has anyone ever used a poly induction conical with 1/4" or 3/8" copper tubing coiled around it with glycol running through the tubing? Put a hot water heater insulation blanket over the whole deal and it should work, shouldn't it?

Figure $100 for the 15 gal. full dump tank from Tank Depot incl. shipping
Figure $20 for a water heater blanket
Figure $50 for a 20 ft. coil of copper tubing and fittings

Even if you wound up spending $300 on making a glycol chiller, you've still got a glycol-jacketed fermenter for under $500.

Thoughts??

 

[mcflyfisher]

There are two things that would keep from doing this. First the poly is not a good conductor. I am sure it could be cooled with a jacket, but I doubt 20' of copper will be enough. I am not an engineer, so I won't put all the numbers and equations up. (I may be wrong, and that is another reason not to prove it with math.) The other issue I have with this set up is the durability of poly. If I scratch a bucket, it is like $8 to replace. If I scratch the conical it is like $100 to replace, and I have to remove all the stuff I put on it. This seems like a great idea to retrofit a stainless conical. Of course for anybody but me, a poly conical might last for 20 years. I know I would scratch it on about the third brew, then I would be too cheap/stubborn to replace it and would start making sour IPAs, sour APAs, sour Stouts, sour Porter, . . . you get the idea.

 

[Cape Brewing]

This has been talked about a bunch of times and a few folks have done it. The way they do it though is mount the copper coil through the lid and basically have a "full time immersion chiller". They then hook up a temp probe to a PID that automatically kicks on the pump on the glycol chiller, pumps the chilled glycol through the coil and cools the wort. You can wrap the conical on coils but as was just mentioned, poly is a horrible conductor and it'll take a ton to actually get the temp down inside.


I agree on the scratches and you have to be careful but I don't think it is a huge issue. You just have to take good care of them. I have four 30 gallons poly conicals and I haven't had any problem with them.

 

[wyzazz]

The way they do it though is mount the copper coil through the lid and basically have a "full time immersion chiller".

Cough... ...copper after fermentation is bad ju ju... ...cough.

 

[JetSmooth]

Cough... ...copper after fermentation is bad ju ju... ...cough.

Just pull it out on the last day. That was it's not in there afterfermentation. :cross:

 

[wyzazz]

Just pull it out on the last day. That was it's not in there afterfermentation. :cross:

Lol, nice!

 

[Cape Brewing]

apparently a fair number of brewers are being poisoned to death as we debate it then.

 

[wyzazz]

apparently a fair number of brewers are being poisoned to death as we debate it then.

I don't believe I mentioned being poisoned to death however, copper accelerates the oxidation process in finished beer if I remember correctly. Before/during fermentation the yeast actually use it as a nutrient to some extent.