Counter flow chiller

[Brendandrage]

Hi all
I've been thinking about getting a chiller for a while now and after looking around I think a copper counter flow chiller would be best for me.
Does anyone know where a good deal can be had on one of these or are selling one or suggest a reason why I should not buy one I would appreciate it.

Cheers Brendan

 

[elcarter]

If your dead set on copper then;

http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/bathroom-plumbing/plumbing/pipe-fittings/copper-tubing

Wrap it around something round like a keg.

Reece plumbing HVAC have always been nice and offered trade prices to walk-in's. Sometimes cheaper but come in 6m Lenthgs. i just bent it in half and brazed it together at the bottom.

 

[_HOME_BREW_WALLACE_]

I made one at the start of last year. works well.

http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/77484-diy-weldless-counter-flow-chiller-cfc-for-a-bit-over-50/

I use a little brown pump to recirc with this and a small esky with ice. i dont use the pre-chiller any more. cost about $55 iirc. Hope this helps.

Cheers.

 

[barneey]

Easy to clean

 

[sp0rk]

Reece plumbing HVAC have always been nice and offered trade prices to walk-in's. Sometimes cheaper but come in 6m Lenthgs. i just bent it in half and brazed it together at the bottom.

That's true here too, Reece are pretty good with their copper pipe prices
However their copper fittings prices are stupid, they wanted $21 for a 2.5" straight joiner
Tradelink wanted $6...

 

[fraser_john]

Easy to clean

That is a crazy simple alternative to buying one! No bending required either. Nice.

 

[shoff71]

Barneey, I have been looking at building one similar to your design. do you get leaks on the ends where the silicon tubing is? Noticed that you don't have any clamps on them.

 

[barneey]

A commercial example can be found at "jadedbrewing".

To answer the silicone clamp...no clamps required, its standard UK 15mm OD copper with a 12.7mm ID silicone hose, the suction between the two is enough.

This is one of my previous builds, both use Olives & indents to aid cooling (convolute)

 

[barneey]

Note the commercial examples are smooth bore.

BTW in the UK we tend to refer to these chillers as "Goats" due to the brush you can buy to clean them http://gnltd.co.uk/goat-nutrition/smallholder-equipment/long-brush2-0m.html as advertised on the Goat Small holder shop.

 

[shoff71]

barneey, great detail of the build. thanks

 

[shoff71]

barneey
Another couple of questions. What is the length of the long straight sections and what kind of performance do you get out of it (say how long it takes to get the wort from 100degC to within a couple of deg of your supply water temp?

 

[billygoat]

Note the commercial examples are smooth bore.

BTW in the UK we tend to refer to these chillers as "Goats" due to the brush you can buy to clean them http://gnltd.co.uk/goat-nutrition/smallholder-equipment/long-brush2-0m.html as advertised on the Goat Small holder shop.

GOAT also stands for "Greatest Of All Time".

 

[barneey]

On the non painted goat, approx. 5mins 100c to 20c using 10c cooling water, it has a lot to do with coolant flow rates / temps etc.

SetSmash is a fellow Englishman took the idea even further and has produced a table of results, I'll PM him on the UK forum to see if he is a member here or if I can publish the table / results.

The lengths of pipe are 1m long (15mm) thereby you can get 3 lengths out of a 3m standard (UK) length, the outer 22mm coolant pipe is therefore slightly shorter.

 

[barneey]

Setsmash isn't a member on this forum but has kindly allowed me to publish this.