Hi guys,
Im part way through my build and before i drill the holes in my kegs to install the herms coil i just wanted to ask a few questions and get some advice. There are a couple of threads with similar information but its hard drilling it down so hopefully someone has some direct advice for the below questions.
Should i install a typical herms coil in my HLT or double utilise my CFC as both a chiller for the wort and a heater for the mash?
If i go with the herms coil in HLT then i will pump sparge water (that is maintained at temp) out of the HLT through the coil and into the MLT. This will serve to clean and sterilise the coil to reduce cleaning time. This option would also allow me to turn the HLT into a CLT with ice water during chilling, and either run the hose water through the coil as a pre chiller before it goes into the CFC, or allow me to pump the cold water from the CLT through the CFC.
My other thought was to do away with the herms coil in the HLT and run the CFC as the HEX to keep the mash up to temp. This would still require the HLT to be keep at temp and i can still pump the sparge water back through the inside of the CFC to clean and sterilise during the sparge so its ready to go when i need to chill. I can still turn the HLT into a CLT and have both chilling options im just trying to simplify and reduce friction in the system.
Im also not completely sure how much water is needed during the CFC cycle to get the wort down to the desired temp, is this likely to be the same volume of cold water as hot wort or is it disproportionate? Having the option of both pre chilling or using the ice water as coolant is appealing because im yet to see the efficiency, Im in Brisbane so the summer is hot and getting down to temp off purely tap water might be difficult.
Any idea about optimal length for herms and CFC length?
Thanks for the advice guys. Keep brewing.
#brewlife
Im part way through my build and before i drill the holes in my kegs to install the herms coil i just wanted to ask a few questions and get some advice. There are a couple of threads with similar information but its hard drilling it down so hopefully someone has some direct advice for the below questions.
Should i install a typical herms coil in my HLT or double utilise my CFC as both a chiller for the wort and a heater for the mash?
If i go with the herms coil in HLT then i will pump sparge water (that is maintained at temp) out of the HLT through the coil and into the MLT. This will serve to clean and sterilise the coil to reduce cleaning time. This option would also allow me to turn the HLT into a CLT with ice water during chilling, and either run the hose water through the coil as a pre chiller before it goes into the CFC, or allow me to pump the cold water from the CLT through the CFC.
My other thought was to do away with the herms coil in the HLT and run the CFC as the HEX to keep the mash up to temp. This would still require the HLT to be keep at temp and i can still pump the sparge water back through the inside of the CFC to clean and sterilise during the sparge so its ready to go when i need to chill. I can still turn the HLT into a CLT and have both chilling options im just trying to simplify and reduce friction in the system.
Im also not completely sure how much water is needed during the CFC cycle to get the wort down to the desired temp, is this likely to be the same volume of cold water as hot wort or is it disproportionate? Having the option of both pre chilling or using the ice water as coolant is appealing because im yet to see the efficiency, Im in Brisbane so the summer is hot and getting down to temp off purely tap water might be difficult.
Any idea about optimal length for herms and CFC length?
Thanks for the advice guys. Keep brewing.
#brewlife