Is this pump enough to use with my counterflow wort chiller?

[cowboys703]

Seems to be a decent deal, just wondering if it is powerful enough to use for my wort chiller.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018X2XT4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[poptarts]

to pump water? that isnt close food safe so you cant use it on beer. I use a sump pump to pump water in and out of my counterflow, i wouldnt get anything smaller than something like this to do the job.

 

[IslandLizard]

To pump hot wort or pump chilling water?

It's safe for chilling water but definitely NOT food grade or able to handle near boiling wort. Don't use on the wort side.

Not sure if it's powerful enough to pump your chilling water. 36W is not a whole lot.

 

[cowboys703]

to pump water? that isnt close food safe so you cant use it on beer. I use a sump pump to pump water in and out of my counterflow, i wouldnt get anything smaller than something like this to do the job.

Yeah, I was looking for something to just pump water. Bummer that it isn't powerful enough since it seemed like a great deal

 

[WildernessBrewing]

Yeah, I was looking for something to just pump water. Bummer that it isn't powerful enough since it seemed like a great deal

For what it's worth if you comb through the HBT search history and the Amazon reviews for that 396GPH pump, there are a few people who mention using that exact model for recirculating ice water through their wort chillers in combination with a 3/4-in x 1/2-in threaded adapter and a garden hose. As long as you have some way of elevating the bucket of water+ice+pump to near your chiller height, I don't think it would be too much of an issue. That pump is rated for a max vertical column lift of 6 1/2-ft or so according to their website.

Besides, I kind of feel like water moving a little more slowly through the chiller tubing would exchange more heat than water rushing through it. I would just wait to switch over to the pump and ice water until after you've run the first few gallons out through the hose, otherwise your ice will be gone almost immediately.

edit: You can find the pump performance chart here, an HBT thread here, and an amazon review about using it with a chiller here and here

 

[day_trippr]

[...]Besides, I kind of feel like water moving a little more slowly through the chiller tubing would exchange more heat than water rushing through it.[...]

You lose efficiency, of course - the highest thermal transfer rate occurs at the greatest temperature differential.
Whether going slower can conserve water, I have no idea. Someone smarter than me could calculate the theoretical water usage at different flow rates while still hitting the same temperature goal and answer that question.

We have an amazing well, so for me it's all about speed...

Cheers!