BrissyBrew
MashMaster
- Joined
- 28/4/05
- Messages
- 744
- Reaction score
- 19
I have inappropriately leaked this information elsewhere so I thought I would post it here.
I am getting some plate heat exchangers manufactured. I hope to have the “ChillOut” on the market for less than $90.00AU. If you are interested you will need to wait, it will be a couple months at least before they arrive.
A little information and Q & A:
304 Stainless Steel construction
male NPT threads (will also fit BSP fittings)
20 plates (some people think the number is important, it is not)
Surface area is about the same as the Shirron.
I could not justify more for the average person doing a 23 to 50L (5 -10gal) batch, unless I wanted to cater for the impatient market that are pumping the wort through at max flow. A greater surface area is simply not needed you hit a point of diminishing marginal returns, not just in cost but efficiency too. If you really want better returns you need to chill your cooling fluid. Which for Australians is what I suggest, as my tap water can reach 35*C in summer and is above 30*C for much of the year. Pumping some ice water, or glycol around will serve you much better and waste less water! My two cents worth chill your cooling water.
The plate pattern has an effect on cooling and hops clogging things up. The plates have ripples these ripples or ridges create turbulence and this is what disturbs the laminar flow, and hence results a better exchange of heat. Some patterns are more effective than others, however some are more prone to clogging with hop and hot break particles. My simple advice on that is install a decent pre-filter. Whirlpool and use a fine mesh filter. Cold break does not seem to be a problem for clogging unlike hops and hotbreak.
I am aiming for a product that will cost you less than a coil of copper, let alone the fittings, be made from stainless steel (the plates) and have 1/2" SS male fittings all ready to go. I wanted a decent chiller at a reasonable price, and could not find one, so now I am making them. The MashMaster "ChillOut" will not be on the market for a couple months at least.
In the meantime I am looking at designing a pre-filter or coming up with a solution that should work for everybody.
I am getting some plate heat exchangers manufactured. I hope to have the “ChillOut” on the market for less than $90.00AU. If you are interested you will need to wait, it will be a couple months at least before they arrive.
A little information and Q & A:
304 Stainless Steel construction
male NPT threads (will also fit BSP fittings)
20 plates (some people think the number is important, it is not)
Surface area is about the same as the Shirron.
I could not justify more for the average person doing a 23 to 50L (5 -10gal) batch, unless I wanted to cater for the impatient market that are pumping the wort through at max flow. A greater surface area is simply not needed you hit a point of diminishing marginal returns, not just in cost but efficiency too. If you really want better returns you need to chill your cooling fluid. Which for Australians is what I suggest, as my tap water can reach 35*C in summer and is above 30*C for much of the year. Pumping some ice water, or glycol around will serve you much better and waste less water! My two cents worth chill your cooling water.
The plate pattern has an effect on cooling and hops clogging things up. The plates have ripples these ripples or ridges create turbulence and this is what disturbs the laminar flow, and hence results a better exchange of heat. Some patterns are more effective than others, however some are more prone to clogging with hop and hot break particles. My simple advice on that is install a decent pre-filter. Whirlpool and use a fine mesh filter. Cold break does not seem to be a problem for clogging unlike hops and hotbreak.
I am aiming for a product that will cost you less than a coil of copper, let alone the fittings, be made from stainless steel (the plates) and have 1/2" SS male fittings all ready to go. I wanted a decent chiller at a reasonable price, and could not find one, so now I am making them. The MashMaster "ChillOut" will not be on the market for a couple months at least.
In the meantime I am looking at designing a pre-filter or coming up with a solution that should work for everybody.
