Gravity fed counter flow?

[brewbrew]

I'm thinking of buying the Malt Miller "Coolossus" counter flow chiller and using without a pump. The gravity head on my current set up would give a head differential of about 12 inches to the counter flow device outlet. I could increase this to 24 or 30 inches with a bit of carpentry. Will this work and can I get away without using a pump?

[aamcle]

It should do, it won't be quick though.

aamcle

[Jocky]

Any flow should be fine. It’s the coolant flow that is more of a priority.

[Tarmac]

Brewbrew, did you get one?

[IPA]

When using a CF chiller there are a couple of things to remember. You need a filter before the chiller. I use a BacBrewing Springer.do not let the wort cool down before run off. Immediately after use flush it both ways with hot water by means of a hose connected to a tap. Before use fill it with a cleaner and leave it over night and then flush it both ways with hot water as above. It cool 60 litres from 96° C to 22°C in 15 minutes using a pump. This saves at least 45 mins compared to an immersion chiller.

[MashBag]

This is a age old debate and It's all about surface area.
I have "jaded brewing" type immersion chiller.

And IMO beats the pants off these other contraptions

30litres wort 95c to 20c in 6-10. Makes 45 litres of washing up water. No pump. No filter. No hassle. No Sterilising. No back flush. No carpentry required.

If you add up the sundry items, I bet they are cheaper too.

https://brulosophy.com/2014/09/23/the-h ... -a-review/

[IPA]

This is a age old debate and It's all about surface area.
I have "jaded brewing" type immersion chiller.

And IMO beats the pants off these other contraptions

30litres wort 95c to 20c in 6-10. Makes 45 litres of washing up water. No pump. No filter. No hassle. No Sterilising. No back flush. No carpentry required.

If you add up the sundry items, I bet they are cheaper too.

https://brulosophy.com/2014/09/23/the-h ... -a-review/

Mashy it is simply not possible to cool that amount of wort at that temperature in that amount of time using an immersion chiller. If so why do you use the overnight no chill option.?

[MashBag]

It certainly is possible - I have done it.
https://jadedbrewing.com/collections/fr ... /the-hydra .. read it for yourself. It is to be fair a LOT of copper.

Why did they ground Concorde ? Because it was tooo slow! That is why I currently overnight chill.

[Jocky]

This is a age old debate and It's all about surface area.
I have "jaded brewing" type immersion chiller.

And IMO beats the pants off these other contraptions

30litres wort 95c to 20c in 6-10. Makes 45 litres of washing up water. No pump. No filter. No hassle. No Sterilising. No back flush. No carpentry required.

If you add up the sundry items, I bet they are cheaper too.

https://brulosophy.com/2014/09/23/the-h ... -a-review/

Mashy it is simply not possible to cool that amount of wort at that temperature in that amount of time using an immersion chiller. If so why do you use the overnight no chill option.?

I doubted it too, but it is possible. They've basically put three chillers in parallel, so as long as you've got the water pressure they suggest (22 litres per minute) and you stir the wort or agitate the chiller, it'll chill really fast.

Brulosophy have a few timings of it here too: https://brulosophy.com/2014/09/23/the-h ... -a-review/

[MashBag]

It really IS possible, and Tbh doesn't need that ammount of water. A quick check has my water flow at 30 lpm (ish) and I don't think that is unusual. When I run it, I find myself regulating the water by exit temp. The circ pump of the BM is on.

[IPA]

It really IS possible, and Tbh doesn't need that ammount of water. A quick check has my water flow at 30 lpm (ish) and I don't think that is unusual. When I run it, I find myself regulating the water by exit temp. The circ pump of the BM is on.

So you are no longer doing no chill ! What are you using for a hop filter if you are running the pump during the chill.? Plus you are standing by with a thermometer in hand while you control the water flow rate why? Surely the higher the flow rate the quicker the chill.

[Jim]

I used to use a home made 'hose and 8mm copper pipe' gravity fed counterflow. I had the boiler on the kitchen bench and the fermenter on the floor, so maybe 3 feet or so of head - more when the boiler was full. It used to take a while though - half an hour at least, and by the end it was just a trickle.

It worked well for years though.

[MashBag]

So you are no longer doing no chill ! What are you using for a hop filter if you are running the pump during the chill.? Plus you are standing by with a thermometer in hand while you control the water flow rate why? Surely the higher the flow rate the quicker the chill.

No sure I get you but....

I now chill overnight, cos that is quicker still.
Hop spider would be removed before chilling
No thermometer.
I control the water flow rate 'cos I do not agree with waste.
Higher the flow rate = quicker chill. Nah, don't think so. It didn't need to be full bore full time & there seems no point using more water than necessary. My aim was 'enough' to get the quickest chill.