What size propane?

[chris2012]

I'm just looking at propane tanks to price out how much switching to gas might cost, I'm wondering if my calculation bears out in reality?

https://www.calor.co.uk/shop/gas-bottle ... ottle.html

Looking at:
https://www.londongases.co.uk/blog/how- ... -will-last

It seems you multiply the capacity by the kW they tell you.

So with the 6kg of propane, am I right in thinking:

6*11= 66kW total energy.

So using an 8kW burner, for 1 hour, it'd consume 8kWh.

66/8 = ~8.25 hours of burn time?

An 8kW burner could be excessive for 5gal batches? Although I understand they're not ~100% efficient like electric.

What size gas tank for 5 gal batches do you peeps have out of interest?

[bottles]

Can't help in using propane for brewing. But have used quite a bit of gas in my time. I'd look at what storage you have for gas bottles then buy the biggest you can work with. It's cheaper that way and less likely to run out midway on a brew day.
Last time I used calor gas delivery was free on there 48kg bottles.
Andrew

[chris2012]

Cheers Andrew.

I need to check how much my CO2 tank weighs, as that's pretty awkward for me to move heh. (It's a 20 litre tank). I guess I could get a trolley though if necessary for the propane.

[jaroporter]

i used a 13kg for a bit, think it was cheaper by weight than the 19kg ones..
you do get a fair few brews outta that, afraid i can't be more specific as it was a while ago. but if you search on here i know there's plenty of threads on this topic where people have given a more exact number.
key is to shield the flame and whatever sizes you choose, budget to have a second cylinder to switch in when the gas runs out midboil

[sbond10]

I use a 19kg one got around 13-14 brews out of it if I remember rightly on a 7.5kw. Fairly easy to man handle up the garden best value in terms of weight vs quantity.
I echo comments made about getting a second just in case cylinder. I regularly look for half full ones on frees I don't mind the brand on this one just as long as it's a propane. But my big one is calor as there one of the cheapest atm
Hope this helps any further questions feel free to ask

[chris2012]

Thanks a lot. I'll price up some around 13 - 19kg ones then

Also I was looking at this burner - https://gasproducts.co.uk/foker-large-t ... 03120.html which I noticed in another thread.

I assume, then I'd just need the pipe and regulator.

[Haydnexport]

ive got a big foker built into a stand i bought a while back that i dont use anymore, ill add some picks if your interested, can supply hose and the regulator too.

[sbond10]

I consider this well worth it considering cylinder deposit is only a fiver considering it's normally 30 quid

https://gasdeal.co.uk/product/19kg-prop ... -cylinder/

[chris2012]

sbond10 - That's cheaper than I thought!

Edit: Wait, the whole price is £33, or am I misreading? As that's very cheap.

Haydenexport - yeah if you don't mind PMing me some pics that'd be cool, that's the 8.8kW one?

[sbond10]

sbond10 - That's cheaper than I thought!

Edit: Wait, the whole price is £33, or am I misreading? As that's very cheap.

Haydenexport - yeah if you don't mind PMing me some pics that'd be cool, that's the 8.8kW one?

Well flogas use to charge 5 quid for rental of the cylinder now it's 30 So I honestly don't know if where misreading it

[chris2012]

I've just had a little look at some of the burners on US sites:

http://www.northernbrewer.com/dark-star-burner-2-0

If I've used google's conversion thing properly, that's a 19kW burner?!

[Fil]

when considering gas or electric (i went electric) I looked at paella burners for higher Kw outputs..

[sbond10]

Just to give a rough idea my 7.5kw burner (came from gas products but mm and Powell both sell the same unit)
I can go from 50 to 70 in 15-20 minutes and from 65 to boiling in around 30-40 minutes . The most important factor is wind shear you've gotta stop the wind blowing the flame or you lose heating power sort that and your on easy street.
The problem with these high power yank burners is they gobble gas ( in America propane is cheap ) yea going from 65 to boiling in 10 minutes sounds great but if it's gonna take an extra 5 quid s worth of gas I'd rather use the time to clean and prep other bits. After All brewing should be relaxing not a mad rush

[chris2012]

Cheers sbond10, that's very insightful. I hadn't considered propane being cheaper in the US too.

I just found this too:
https://byo.com/body/item/1927-propane- ... ed-brewing

Which seems to indicate the efficiency of gas in transferring heat to the wort is a lot lower than I thought.

I was thinking it'd be at least 70% efficient, but according to that, it's less than 50%.

[Aleman]

I have an 11KW Paella burner for my big (130L) boiler. I also went for a 4Kg/Hr (50-150mBar) regulator as the normal (22mbar) ones are only rated to 1kg/hour and that isn't going to cut it with high KW

FWIW I did have a double bullfinch unilow furnace for my 100L keg system and at 2Bar (Yes TWO BAR) I would get through a 19Kg cyclinder in 3 and a half brews!! . . . That was putting out 38KW, and sounded like a Vulcan at full chat .

My big boiler has a full height heat shield using air escaping round the side of the 'pot' to insulate the pot from heat losses. It is at least 70-80% efficient compared to a similar sized electric element. This is the 150L copper, with the Paella burner underneath it


With the shroud fitted and the burner doing it's stuff


at 37mBar . . . it took 40L or water from 25C to 78C in 25 minutes . . .