After some unit conversions I have compiled all the popular plate chillers and one that I got from a Chinese manufacture. As it seems they all appear the same construction, I was trying to figure out if it was worth while to get one from china. Heck Duda uses the same parts numbers and the therminator has a similar part number stamped on the back. The one from china is 316 stainless with 1/2 npt threads on all ports, but they can change the connection type.
the blichmann therminator plate chiller is a model b3-012 40 plate (as close as I can tell by dimensions), Retails for $199
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/therminator.html
The one I got a quote for from china is b3-022 60 plate, for 145 plus shipping
Another one I see suggested on the homebrewtalk forums from duda diesal is B3-12A 30 Plate, for 80 bucks.
The Shirron Wort Plate Chiller is b3-022 (it is actually 13 inches long by 3 inches wide, no exact match) 10 plate, for 70 bucks
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00309LB56/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
The rebel brewer Chillhog-4000 looks like a b3-012 40 plate, 199 bucks (looks identical to the therminator except for the position of the outputs)
Basic surface area for each one is as follows, using the formula width X height X number of plates
Duda 30 plate 652 square inches
Chillhog 4000 40 plate 744 square inches
Therminator 40 plate 870 square inches
Shirron 10 plate 390 square inches
Chinese 60 plate 2016 square inches
So the therminator may do better in test due to the higher surface area (my estimate on the therminator leads me to believe it is closer to the chillhog-4000 area), but its more than double the duda 30 plate cost. And the chinese one is bigger than the duda and blichmann, its about foot long and 3 inches wide where the other are 7.5 inches long and 3 inches wide, Which accounts for it's increased surface area. The shirron is a little longer and just as wide as the rest but it is only 10 plates, if they doubled the plates it would almost the same surface area as the therminator.
Here is the info page from the Chinese distributor that I am basing my measurements on.
http://iceage-hvac.en.alibaba.com/p...&edm_cta=read_msg&edm_time=realtime&edm_ver=e
Since more surface area is better, and the longer plate chillers have a lower pressure drop. Wouldn't the chinese one out preform all of the other ones? Also the chinese is lead free solder, and even listed as for use with wort.
the blichmann therminator plate chiller is a model b3-012 40 plate (as close as I can tell by dimensions), Retails for $199
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/therminator.html
The one I got a quote for from china is b3-022 60 plate, for 145 plus shipping
Another one I see suggested on the homebrewtalk forums from duda diesal is B3-12A 30 Plate, for 80 bucks.
The Shirron Wort Plate Chiller is b3-022 (it is actually 13 inches long by 3 inches wide, no exact match) 10 plate, for 70 bucks
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00309LB56/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
The rebel brewer Chillhog-4000 looks like a b3-012 40 plate, 199 bucks (looks identical to the therminator except for the position of the outputs)
Basic surface area for each one is as follows, using the formula width X height X number of plates
Duda 30 plate 652 square inches
Chillhog 4000 40 plate 744 square inches
Therminator 40 plate 870 square inches
Shirron 10 plate 390 square inches
Chinese 60 plate 2016 square inches
So the therminator may do better in test due to the higher surface area (my estimate on the therminator leads me to believe it is closer to the chillhog-4000 area), but its more than double the duda 30 plate cost. And the chinese one is bigger than the duda and blichmann, its about foot long and 3 inches wide where the other are 7.5 inches long and 3 inches wide, Which accounts for it's increased surface area. The shirron is a little longer and just as wide as the rest but it is only 10 plates, if they doubled the plates it would almost the same surface area as the therminator.
Here is the info page from the Chinese distributor that I am basing my measurements on.
http://iceage-hvac.en.alibaba.com/p...&edm_cta=read_msg&edm_time=realtime&edm_ver=e
Since more surface area is better, and the longer plate chillers have a lower pressure drop. Wouldn't the chinese one out preform all of the other ones? Also the chinese is lead free solder, and even listed as for use with wort.
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