What size material will plug/pass through a typical plate chiller ?

[brewman !]

For those of you who actually use a plate chiller, what will pass through and what will plug them ?

How large can the particles be ? How much space is between the plates ? Are there channels that allow larger material to pass ?

If one gets milled grains in the wort, will they plug a plate chiller ?

Does anything other than hop pellets plug a plate chiller ?

Thanks.

 

[augiedoggy]

Ive never plugged mine so I cant tell you what the cut off is for sure but I know they well plug to some degree if you try to pump hops through them. Thats why its very wise to either prefilter it somehow or use a hop basket, spider or whirlpool... Ive been using my longer 20 plate duda chiller for 4 years now and ive never had any plugging or residue other than an occasional stray piece of hop matter ... I use a 6x14 stainless hop spider. and a piece of stainless braid as a last chance filter attached to my diptube. I still get a minimal amount of trube in the bottom of my conicals but nothing like I would if I didnt.

if your determined to pour your hops directly into the beer than you will have issues with the plate chiller like so many here who complain of it... in that case a CFC chiller is a smarter option.

 

[panaceabeachbum]

I have a 20 plate chiller from Duda, it will plug pretty easily with hops even with careful whirlpool . I use a strainer from glacier