BarefootFriar
Well-Known Member
I spent some time in my local "Big Blue" home improvement store looking at copper prices this morning. I can get a coil of 1/4"x50' or a coil of 1/2"x20' for approximately the same price. They also carry 3/8" in both lengths, and the price for 20' falls between the two I mentioned.
My question is one of economics. For a few dollars more I can get a larger diameter pipe, but it will be 30' shorter. On the one hand, I would think the shorter length would be better because there is more volume inside it (because it's larger diameter) and therefore more thermal inertia. On the other hand, the longer one might be better because more surface area is exposed to the wort, thereby transferring more heat.
I'm no physicist, so I pose the question to y'all. Which one is the better choice?
What if I were to spring for the 3/8"x50'? Would that be preferable to the 1/2"x20'?
My question is one of economics. For a few dollars more I can get a larger diameter pipe, but it will be 30' shorter. On the one hand, I would think the shorter length would be better because there is more volume inside it (because it's larger diameter) and therefore more thermal inertia. On the other hand, the longer one might be better because more surface area is exposed to the wort, thereby transferring more heat.
I'm no physicist, so I pose the question to y'all. Which one is the better choice?
What if I were to spring for the 3/8"x50'? Would that be preferable to the 1/2"x20'?