RIMS heat exchanger materials; cPVC?

PlainJay · Mar 28, 2010

I am planning to build a new structure and include a RIMS system. I have seen the various plans for a RIMS heat exchanger built from either stainless or copper pipe. Has anyone considered using cPVC? Cost would be greatly reduced and heat loss would be less. I have found temperature ratings for the cPVC of 180F but as a variable for a pressure rating. The melting point is much higher and I really don't plan on putting boiling wort thru it. Thoughts?

PlainJay

Pick · Mar 28, 2010

That is what they make "Hot Tub" heaters out of. But, those typically run in the low 100's, with larger volumes of water. I guess it would be worth a try, worse that could happen is that it would melt!

bendavanza · Mar 28, 2010

Sounds like a real bad idea to me. Your chances of dry firing, stuck mash, etc are high and cpvc is going to melt under those circumstances, in a heartbeat. My rims tube was dry fired for about 10 seconds and already it was boiling in the tube and was scorching hot. Who knows what kinds of nasty chemicals would leach out of it when cpvc melts. Please go for stainless or copper.

willynilly · Mar 29, 2010

I priced CPVC, COPPER and SS when I built mine... SS was cheapest.

Sawdustguy · Mar 29, 2010

The only caveat of a RIMS brewery is a stuck mash which causes the RIMS tube to run dry. I would hate to see what would happen if that would occur with a CPVC RIMS tube. The stainless or copper RIMS tube would contain the disaster until the element burned out but a CPCV RIMS tube could melt and possibly catch fire. I am all for saving money but this is one place where being frugal is a very bad idea.

diatonic · Mar 29, 2010

I wouldn't use CPVC. The owner of my LHBS has a RIMS 'Brew Magic' system... once he dry fired it and burned up the element... another time he had it on with no flow and blew up the RIMS tube. I think he's finally learned his lesson about running it unattended on a timer for hot water in the morning when he gets in.