To counterflow or plate chill.

[RobjF]

Hey guys. I'm in desperate need of an up grade to my chiller. Currently chilling with an Emerson chiller in a two tier keg convertion brewery. Doing mainly 40l batches. I use tank water off my shed through the chiller and in winter have no dramas but after increasing my batch size during last summer had great difficultly getting those last few degrees needed. Have just about finished my 4 tap 500l keezer build and next on the list is a new chiller.
Pls any feedback on peoples experiences with counterflow or plate chiller would be great. Have been looking at importing a counterflow from the states but postage is almost as much as the chiller.
Thanks Rob.

 

[MartinOC]

I'm unable to find the thread immediately, but how about plumbing your immersion chiller so you run iced water through it from a secondary source (ie. bucket with iced water in it) right at the end of your chilling regime, in order to drop it that last bit. I seem to remember something about immersible pond pumps?. You'll never achieve cooler than your tank-water temperature.

If you don't find it with a search, I'll see if I can find it for you.

 

[RobjF]

I was considering using my immersion chiller as a pre chiller in my new chiller build. Chilling the water prior to the counterflow or plate chiller during the warmer months.

 

[MartinOC]

http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/77346-using-an-ice-immersed-wort-chiller/?hl=%2Biced+%2Bwater+%2Bchill#entry1119052

Yep, either way, it'll work depending on how you want to play with it.

Bear in mind that if you chill in the kettle, all the cold-break/trub etc. will stay in the kettle. If you use a counter-flow or plate chiller, it will all end up in your fermenter.

If you recirculate your boil via a whirlpool & chill it at the same time, you'll get the best of both worlds.

Edit: Choose whatever you reckon will work best for you & your system.

 

[dicko]

You can get the US counterflow chillers in Aus here.

You probably really wont get your wort any colder with a cfwc, unless you decide to use chilled water for the last few degrees.
It would be cheaper just to set up the cold water and the pond pump and continue to use your immersion chiller.
The best advantage is as been mentioned above, that you leave the cold break in the kettle with an IC.