Just throwing some ideas around while I'm designing my eHERMS system. While debating whether to use 3/8 or 1/2 tubing, I came across people using chillzillas for HERMS duties. They all seemed to have thermal loss issues however since the chiller is usually mounted a bit away on the brewstand. To INCREASE efficiency over a regular HERMS coil, could you immerse the chillzilla (or any all copper CFC) in the HLT/HERMS tank, run your wort through the outside of the chiller where water usually flows, and pump your HLT water through the inside counter to the wort flow(this also prevents hot water stratification in the HLT). This way, you have hot water both inside and outside of your wort and less chance of creating a stale laminar flow in a HERMS coil. I havent done any calculations on this, but I assume it would be very efficient given the nature of ALOT of contact between the wort and hot water. Aside from the cost, would this be a decent idea? Anyone beat me to it and already treid it?
'Immersed' CFC for HERMS system
- Thread starter hot_carl
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I may be no expert here, but it seems to me that using a counter flow chiller for a HERMS coil seems like overkill since you are only trying to maintain temperature and not have a drastic change in temperature like you do when chilling your wort.
I ultimately went with 1/2" over 3/8" tubing from my original plan which was to reuse my old immersion chiller. The chillzilla idea could work, but it seems like an expensive solution.
I ultimately went with 1/2" over 3/8" tubing from my original plan which was to reuse my old immersion chiller. The chillzilla idea could work, but it seems like an expensive solution.
Maintaining temp is only half the battle...efficiency is neccessary when doing step mashed or mashing out as the quicker the steps or temp changes can be made, the better. If I can have good flow AND quick temp change, it seems like a win. This is, however, dependant on how quickly I can change the temp of the water bath it is in. The main reason for the idea is to be able to maintain a small volume of water so that temp changes are more rapid, and the smaller I can make my heat exchanger, the better. Conversely I was thinking of making two 1/2" coils one with a diameter of 1.5" less and splitting the wort flow between the two with a tee on the in and out...
I have used the Chin Chiller as a HERMS and the control is quite good and it is easy to raise or lower the temp by controlling the water temp. Putting in a kettle might make it slightly quicker(miliseconds) but not much. the heat exchange is internal to the chin chiller and not on the outside. I do not think it would make much difference. I know some people put the plate chillers in ice but I put chilled water through them and they are ice cold to touch when passing hot wort through them. Since I used the Chin Chiller as both a HERMS and A Chiller, I mounted it extrenal to the HLT.
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