Two Day Brew Process?

[grathan]

I'd agree, 40 amps would be faster, even in his aluminum foil pot. But 7 minutes is pretty darn quick...

 

[cjgenever]

I'd agree, 40 amps would be faster, even in his aluminum foil pot. But 7 minutes is pretty darn quick...

That's what I was saying... too fast. Efficiency and speed are important but only to a point. If you push too much it degrades the beer. If rather spend six to eight hours brewing ten gal of something better than I can buy than for hours making ok beer.

If speed were that important to me I'd go to the beer store.

 

[bu_gee]

I CALL BS! Your info is incorrect. most burners are 20-30% efficient according to John Blickman. Electric is close to 100%. My 5000w low density coil is equivalent to about a100,000 btu burner and WAY cheaper. I originally put two elements in my bk to speed up ramp times, but soon realized that one was plenty fast enough and removed the second.

Fwiw... Lp/lng could never keep up with my two element+ heat stick combo without excessive Melanoid production or even c caramelization , but who the hell needs to boil in five min? Both work well if the heat source is sized for the boil volume (and the operator understands how their system actually works).

Don't knock out till you try it, or at least understand the simple physics behind what you claim as truth.

Call it all you want it. I gave you real numbers from a real rig.

I was talking just simple output and made no efficiency claims but the 100% you're claiming /IS/ BS. No system is lossless and if you want to cherry pick a few stats by quoting the whole system loss for LP and the coil loss for electric to bolster a false claim, go for it, but don't say it is me who doesn't understand simple physics.

Also, I don't know who does your math, but 5000w is only about 17,000 BTU/hr.

 

[cjgenever]

100,000btu* 20%= 20,000btu... just estimate of a burner at high, efficiencies can be less or greater depending on many variables.

Yes, 5000w is about 17,000btu

I didn't say electric is 100% efficient. I said it is close.

I never said anything about the whole system when quoting efficiencies. The numbers I gave are for the heat source only.

The higher the gas is adjusted, the greater the percent lost to the atmosphere. All the heat from the coil MUST be conducted into the wort except for minimal loss through the base of the element.

Sorry I'm a jerk. I get pissy some days. My bad.

Both systems will make great beer if used correctly.

 

[bu_gee]

It really is based on your rig. It is possible to have efficient and inefficient rigs for both propane and electric. Empirically speaking, I'm getting closer to 35% and I don't actually have any real heat trapment mechanisms in place.

I think stainless steel vs aluminum makes a huge difference here because SS is quite bad at transferring heat. I'm just pulling a number from my butt, but I'd guess 20-25%.

Also, as a side note, typically the more energy you put into the system, the higher your temperature difference and the greater delta-T usually means higher efficiency. This is a highly dynamic system so it is hard to say how much of a temperature difference it really makes.

 

[grathan]

I bet aluminum would be better at cooling boiling wort too.

Though what about heat loss from the sides of the pot? Wouldn't that slow down the boil times?

 

[bu_gee]

I bet aluminum would be better at cooling boiling wort too.

Though what about heat loss from the sides of the pot? Wouldn't that slow down the boil times?

With propane, the sides of the pot get heated too. It is the only upside to losing hot combustion gases out of the sides I can think of.

 

[Zepth]

I bet aluminum would be better at cooling boiling wort too.

Though what about heat loss from the sides of the pot? Wouldn't that slow down the boil times?

Depends on the system. While aluminum is great at heat conductivity is that what you want? With stovetop or propane that can be a huge benefit since the heat source is external. With an immersion element that would lead to more loss through the pot. SS on a burner would not give heat as easily to the wort inside. Though an immersion with SS the poor heat transfer (compared to Al) would help as pot insulation and keep the heat in.

Not terribly science filled, I know. But "high thermal conductivity" can be as much trouble as it can be help.

 

[bu_gee]

Depends on the system. While aluminum is great at heat conductivity is that what you want? With stovetop or propane that can be a huge benefit since the heat source is external. With an immersion element that would lead to more loss through the pot. SS on a burner would not give heat as easily to the wort inside. Though an immersion with SS the poor heat transfer (compared to Al) would help as pot insulation and keep the heat in.

Not terribly science filled, I know. But "high thermal conductivity" can be as much trouble as it can be help.

Agreed. I would recommend against using an aluminum vessel with an immersion heater.