Making a Counterflow Chiller - Hose Diameter?

[JungMin]

I have read the many posts about making a chiller, but most just mention 3/8" (9.52mm) as the outside diameter of the copper tubing. What inner diameter hose should I use??

I can get 15m (50') of copper tubing for $28 and 50' of garden hose for $10. Seems like a pretty good deal based on what others have posted here.

Here in S. Korea, all the hose I have seen at the hardware shop is 16mm (5/8"). Is that pretty much standard? Or should I be using something different??

Edit: Maybe this should have gone in the Equipment forum....sorry.

 

[Bobby_M]

Yup, 5/8" ID is about right.

I recently ran a bunch of numbers for the various cross sectional areas of CFC chiller designs.. Go to the bottom of this page: http://www.suebob.com/brew/brewref.htm

 

[JungMin]

Looks good. Thanks for that Bobby!!

 

[JungMin]

What is the optimal length for a counter-flow chiller?? 25'? I was thinking about 50', but this is starting to seem excessive. The longest I have seen online is 30'.

Do you think its worth making a 50' chiller?? I'd imagine the flow would be really slow.....

Thoughts?

 

[blaze379]

I used 50' 1/2" copper tubing inside 48' of 7/8" hose....came out looking like this......

Cooled the 20 gallon system real good, should work on the new 40 gallon system

 

[JungMin]

Looks good!! I just finished mine....

It's 25' of 3/8" copper tubing in 5/8" reinforced garden hose.

Thanks everyone for your help!!!

 

[Kauai_Kahuna]

That looks really nice, great job and I'm sure it will chill pretty well.