31 replies to this topic

[SchwanzBrewer]

Ok, I have a sump pump to circulate water through the plate chiller, but I'm just having problems figuring out how to keep the water cold enough. I also have a chillzilla that I can immerse in ice, but I just can't seem to get the temps down. How are you setting up the configuration of the chilling water to recirculate cold water and save??? I figure I use around 20 gallons just to get it to a crappy non-pitching temp... At least I have the chest freezer now and can get the temps down quicker.

I have a 120 quart cooler that I fill with 3-4 bags of ice and water. I dont have the chillzilla I have the one that is a bit less expensive. I'm pretty sure the wort is around 60 after one run through the plate chiller. I dont immerse the chiller either. The water is constantly circulating in the cooler with ice (50/50 water to ice to start). By the time im done its all melted and freezing cold water. Its completely full too, so im circulating about 30 gal.Cheers,RichEdit: I should add that I take about 5 gallons of that water and dump it into my swamp cooler (has 65-70 deg water in it already) and then put the wort in and pitch, so its plenty cool at pitching time.

Edited by rcemech, 20 May 2010 - 11:07 AM.

[Deerslyr]

I have a 120 quart cooler that I fill with 3-4 bags of ice and water. I dont have the chillzilla I have the one that is a bit less expensive. I'm pretty sure the wort is around 60 after one run through the plate chiller. I dont immerse the chiller either. The water is constantly circulating in the cooler with ice (50/50 water to ice to start). By the time im done its all melted and freezing cold water. Its completely full too, so im circulating about 30 gal.Cheers,RichEdit: I should add that I take about 5 gallons of that water and dump it into my swamp cooler (has 65-70 deg water in it already) and then put the wort in and pitch, so its plenty cool at pitching time.

Here is what I was doing (although I think I was using less ice)... I put ice and water in my 48 quart mash tun. Put the sump pump into it and connect it to the plate chiller. Coming out of the plate chiller, I had the water run through a chillzilla (essentially a small 25' IC) sitting in a bucket of ice. I've played with the configuration a few times. Can you take pics, or even a video, next time? I want to be able to get this process down better.

[SchwanzBrewer]

Here is what I was doing (although I think I was using less ice)... I put ice and water in my 48 quart mash tun. Put the sump pump into it and connect it to the plate chiller. Coming out of the plate chiller, I had the water run through a chillzilla (essentially a small 25' IC) sitting in a bucket of ice. I've played with the configuration a few times. Can you take pics, or even a video, next time? I want to be able to get this process down better.

I think I do have a video/pictures from my last brew day, but I'll have to upload it when I get home.Could be that you just don't have enough thermal mass to absorb the heat. I use a 120 quart cooler 50/50 ice/water (I did it with my 78q MT as well and it did not seem to get quite as cold). If you don't have enough thermal mass, ,unless you have a refrigeration system, you are only going to be able to get the wort so cold before the system hits equilibrium.Cheers,Rich

[Deerslyr]

I think I do have a video/pictures from my last brew day, but I'll have to upload it when I get home.Could be that you just don't have enough thermal mass to absorb the heat. I use a 120 quart cooler 50/50 ice/water (I did it with my 78q MT as well and it did not seem to get quite as cold). If you don't have enough thermal mass, ,unless you have a refrigeration system, you are only going to be able to get the wort so cold before the system hits equilibrium.Cheers,Rich

Wow! I just did some quick math and you are using around 30 gallons of water, some of it frozen (which comes at a cost)... I'm probably better off putting the chillzilla in a bucket of ice and having the water go from the garden hose, into the chillzilla, into the plate chiller and then into buckets for watering and cleaning. I think I used maybe five 5 Gallon buckets worth of water last weekend as I opted not to recirculate. I need to rethink what I'm doing here!

[SchwanzBrewer]

Wow! I just did some quick math and you are using around 30 gallons of water, some of it frozen (which comes at a cost)... I'm probably better off putting the chillzilla in a bucket of ice and having the water go from the garden hose, into the chillzilla, into the plate chiller and then into buckets for watering and cleaning. I think I used maybe five 5 Gallon buckets worth of water last weekend as I opted not to recirculate. I need to rethink what I'm doing here!

Yeah there is 30-40 lbs of ice in there.Cheers,Rich

[Deerslyr]

Yeah there is 30-40 lbs of ice in there.Cheers,Rich

plus water... hmmmmSo I'm starting to think that I should be just running the water from the garden hose through the plate chiller and to give the wort an extra boost, either run the water going into the plate through the chillzilla sitting in a bucket of ice, or run the wort coming out of the plate chiller through the chillzilla sitting in a bucket of ice. Then I can just collect the water and use some for plants and other for cleanup.

[SchwanzBrewer]

plus water... hmmmmSo I'm starting to think that I should be just running the water from the garden hose through the plate chiller and to give the wort an extra boost, either run the water going into the plate through the chillzilla sitting in a bucket of ice, or run the wort coming out of the plate chiller through the chillzilla sitting in a bucket of ice. Then I can just collect the water and use some for plants and other for cleanup.

You have a sump pump, cooler, and ice? why not just go simple and run ice water through the plate chiller like I described? (I use the Shirron)I would run the wort though the chillzilla, which is sitting in an ice water bath (this is critical that it is the ice water combo because then you are maximizing the surface area in contact giving you the best heat transfer in water as opposed to some air contact). Then if its still warm, I would run it though the plate chiller, which has ice water recirculating through it.I think that would do it just fine, in fact that would probably get you down past 60 pretty fast.Cheers,Rich

[Sidney Porter]

I use a the march 809. I think that I use in less in my process than most I only pump water. Living in fla with my sculpture in the garage I was concerned about mold and heat want wanted to avoid that potential. My set up is a 2 tier with the kettle on one side and the hlt and mlt on the other side. The mlt is directly above the hlt. so I pump the sparge water up to the mlt, gravity to the kettle and gravity to the fermenter. Most will say that I under utilize the pump, which is probably true. I use the sheap worm clamps with the braided pvc hose.The pump doesn't add any work but save a tremendous amount of physical effort and safety. I brew 10 gallon batches and before the pump (and sculpture) I would need to stack item high enough up and then lift hot sparge water above my head. Brew day (and the following day) is a lot more enjoyable.My day is also a lot shorter but I credit that to having 3 burners more than having the pump.

[Deerslyr]

You have a sump pump, cooler, and ice? why not just go simple and run ice water through the plate chiller like I described? (I use the Shirron)I would run the wort though the chillzilla, which is sitting in an ice water bath (this is critical that it is the ice water combo because then you are maximizing the surface area in contact giving you the best heat transfer in water as opposed to some air contact). Then if its still warm, I would run it though the plate chiller, which has ice water recirculating through it.I think that would do it just fine, in fact that would probably get you down past 60 pretty fast.Cheers,Rich

I was doing ice and water in the cooler, but the heat from the wort was melting it too fast and at a certain point it was coming out hot. I think I need to see video of yours to get a better feel for this.

[SchwanzBrewer]

I was doing ice and water in the cooler, but the heat from the wort was melting it too fast and at a certain point it was coming out hot. I think I need to see video of yours to get a better feel for this.

I'm telling you its not that complicated. Its all about thermal mass. You gotta have more ice water up front on the Chillzilla. It might just mean that you need 3-4 bags of ice. That chillzilla ought to be all you need. That thing looks hefty and has a lot of surface area. The only advantage to the plate chiller is that the exchangers are thinner and have a lot of surface area in contact with the cold source.If you have a lot of cold water it will exchange the heat and not warm up too much, so your wort ought to be nice and cool when you are done.The link works in firefox for me, but not chrome, but that might be because I'm running ubuntu. videoCheers,RichPS maybe running the hose water over the chillzilla on the way to the plate chiller that uses ice water will work.

Edited by rcemech, 20 May 2010 - 07:16 PM.

[BrewerGeorge]

plus water... hmmmmSo I'm starting to think that I should be just running the water from the garden hose through the plate chiller and to give the wort an extra boost, either run the water going into the plate through the chillzilla sitting in a bucket of ice, or run the wort coming out of the plate chiller through the chillzilla sitting in a bucket of ice. Then I can just collect the water and use some for plants and other for cleanup.

You will get MUCH better results chilling the already-cooled beer further with the chillzilla than you would with just chilling your hose water further. Even better would be to use the 'zilla as a second loop with ice water.

[Deerslyr]

You will get MUCH better results chilling the already-cooled beer further with the chillzilla than you would with just chilling your hose water further. Even better would be to use the 'zilla as a second loop with ice water.

I think this is where I am headed on my next session.