immersion chiller

[Mobstar]

Good day,

I'm trying to build myself an immersion chiller however my Home Depot has crap in stock. The only 50' copper tube I can find is for A/C and refrigerators which means they only have an outter diameter of 1/2"

Can I make this work? or should I keep trying to find 1/2" inner diameter rolls of copper pipe?
None of the normal fittings fit on the pipe I found so I just left it there..

I'm looking to build this ASAP so any detailed parts list would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

[Mirilis]

WWW.coppertubingsales.com has cheaprolls if you buy the refrigerator stuff

 

[mosquitocontrol]

I'd be willing to say that 1/2" od would be too wide for heat transfer. But I guess if you can't find fittings that's a dealbreaker. I just used vinyl tubing and hose clamps on mine so size was variable.

 

[GreenMonti]

I don't understand why 1/2" compression fittings wouldn't fit this tubing???


IMHO, yes. That tubing will work just fine and dandy. I have 3/8 OD for my IC and it works great. I don't have 50' worth either. I am using about 25', but I do 5 gallon batches.

 

[JohnMc]

3/8" pipe fittings will sweat onto 1/2" tubing, and 1/4" pipe onto 3/8" tubing, if one doesn't like compression fittings.

heat exchange works better with more surface area/volume, so 1/2 or 3/8" tubing is fine, probably preferable to go with 3/8 for cost and what mosquitocontrol said.

 

[Mobstar]

I'd be willing to say that 1/2" od would be too wide for heat transfer. But I guess if you can't find fittings that's a dealbreaker. I just used vinyl tubing and hose clamps on mine so size was variable.

What size of tubing did you use?
my worry is that this tubing isn't as solid as the 1/2" OD pipe. I found 50' of it for $50 at Home Depot. it's a little more than 1/2 the price for 25'. I'll check out Rona later today. They usually have better prices. It's my last step before going All-grain!

 

[bendavanza]

1/2" soft copper is 5/8" OD, so you need 5/8" fittings. 1/2" hard copper fits 1/2" fittings.
1/2" soft copper is great for IC's .

 

[kmk1012]

Yep, I used 50 feet of 1/2" soft copper-actually has an ID of 3/8". I was very confused to begin with. Lay all the parts out at the store to make sure everything fits. That way you won't make three trips to the store like I did!

 

[Mobstar]

Yep, I used 50 feet of 1/2" soft copper-actually has an ID of 3/8". I was very confused to begin with. Lay all the parts out at the store to make sure everything fits. That way you won't make three trips to the store like I did!

Thanks for the info.
Home Depot doesn't stock a lot of sizes in soft copper. I managed to find 50' of 3/8" OD tubing and some compression fittings for garden hose attachments that actually fit. I just hope it will be solid and won't bend out of shape with regular use.

 

[JohnMc]

1/2" soft copper is 5/8" OD, so you need 5/8" fittings. 1/2" hard copper fits 1/2" fittings.
1/2" soft copper is great for IC's .

Actually, it goes by tubing and pipe:
Pipe is named for its historical ID; 1/2" copper pipe used to be 1/2" ID (the pipe walls have gotten thinner to save copper) and is set at 5/8" OD.
Tubing (the bendable stuff) is named for it's OD.

So, nominal 1/2" copper pipe fittings go onto 1/2 pipe, which is 5/8" OD and will go onto 5/8" copper tubing, which is also 5/8" OD.

 

[oceanselv]

I used the 25 foot 3/8" soft copper coil from Home Depot with a hose fitting on one end and high temp tubing on the discharge end. My chiller works just fine.

 

[Mobstar]

I just bought 50' of 1/2" OD copper tubing at Lowe's!
I'll be building it up tonight. The 3/8" fittings fit nice on the 1/2"OD tubing.
Before I start... is 50' too long for 5 gallon batches? I'll be rolling it up at 8" diameter. I just think it would be useless to have 1/2 the chiller sticking out of the wart.
Thanks!

 

[TheMarquis]

I'd be willing to say that 1/2" od would be too wide for heat transfer. But I guess if you can't find fittings that's a dealbreaker. I just used vinyl tubing and hose clamps on mine so size was variable.

I made my chiller with 20' of 5/8" OD tubing and it chills 5 gallons in 10-15 minutes depending on the temperature of the water. It was a bear to bend, but it chills very quickly.

I also used vinyl tubing and hose clamps. The same size vinyl fits over the 5/8" OD and the hose fittings.