whirlpool adapter to welded fittings

[mdscole]

I have a kettle with three welded 1/2" npt fittings. One is the out, one is the thermometer and the last one was capped.

For christmas, I received a pump and wanted to give it a go for whirlpooling during cooling with an immersion cooler. So I installed a ball valve and barb fitting.

I assumed that the inside of the kettle was threaded like the outside. nope. The threads are only tapped from the outside. I was hoping to simply install a 90° fitting inside the kettle to get the swirl action going.

That's not happening.

Anyone know of a workaround that does not involve cutting another hole in the kettle for a weldless fitting?

 

[IslandLizard]

I use my "thermometer" half-port for whirlpooling. It's about half way up the 8 gallon kettle.

The outside has a 1/2" nipple, a 1/2" 3-piece valve and a male camlock. On the inside, because there is no thread going all the way through, I use a #2 drilled rubber stopper with a (flared) 90° 5/16" OD "whirlpool arm" through it. The arm remains inside the stopper due to the flare that's on the inside and the rubber stopper remains where it is due to a tight fit and friction on the threads.
That flared 90° whirlpool arm is actually a "racking arm" from an older 7 gallon Blichmann conical I rarely use.

I get a nice whirlpool-like recirculation, but it can be probably better with a more dedicated, appropriately shaped 5/16" or 3/8" tube with a tapered nozzle at the end. I guess I need to keep using the rubber stopper with that half-port.

I should really get a real whirlpool arm and start using the conical again. But plastic brew buckets are so easy...

So for you, think about using a drilled rubber stopper on the inside of the half port, with some sort of angled tube in it. It may need a flare to prevent it from being pushed out the stopper, although it may hold on friction alone. I should try that.

 

[mdscole]

I think I found a solution: https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/spincyclereverse.htm

 

[IslandLizard]

I think I found a solution: https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/spincyclereverse.htm

Wow! Leave it to Bobby to invent something as simple and elegant as that.

I wonder if a (slight) taper at the end, forming a nozzle, would increase the whirlpool speed. E=mv2

 

[mdscole]

The part is perfect. The radius makes its way through the half bung easily. Here's some pics:

 

[Bobby_M]

The part is perfect. The radius makes its way through the half bung easily. Here's some pics:
View attachment 667065 View attachment 667066 View attachment 667067 View attachment 667068

Glad it worked out. Looks like my welding at that impossibly small joint got better since my own picture was taken. I have to install the cheater lens in my welding helmet for those.

 

[mdscole]

Feel free to use my photos on your site!