Gas Boiling Rings for HLT and Boiler

[kloorob]

Hi All,

I am sorry if I am posting a familiar topic, but my plan is to go all gas (propane) in my Brew Shed. Though I appreciate that electric may be a more controllable option, but providing a mew uprated supply will prove to be too difficult.

Therefore, what KW rating do I need for a circa 40 Lt batch, such as a large sheet steel stove with cast iron burner – Very High Output 7.5kW from Hamilton Gas Products @ circa £26 + P&P. or do I go for any thing bigger.

The other question is heat control, especially for the HLT?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[lord groan]

I haven't used gas so cannot advise on burner sizes but if you're doing this in a brewshed you'll need terrific ventilation, burners put out a lot of burned gas which you'd struggle to breathe!
Also if its a wooden shed the fire risk needs to be taken into account.
Does the existing supply have enough power to run a single 3kw element? My hlt is an old 33l burco with a digital temp controller set into the base, works really well off a single 13a socket, so much easier than gas to control the temp
good luck

[Aleman]

My large kit (130L) is gas powered I use the 400mm Double paella burner from Hamilton with a 50-150mBar adjustable propane reg (also from Hamilton). I also have a 7.5KW burner for use with smaller pans (when I'm doing decoctions, or preparing 5L starters in my autoclave ).

The important thing to remember is that unless you have some sort of shroud or wind break the vast majority of heat is lost up the sides of the pot and blown away by the wind. I use a heat shroud on my kettle and I get around 80-90% of the rating of the burner (as compared to the equivilent electric KW rating). my old kit was lucky to get 25-30%!

The large kit


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 of water from 25C to 78C in 25 minutes . . .

Ventilation isn't an issue for me as I boil outside

My HLT isn't powered as I heat all my liquor up in the kettle and then transfer it to the vessels as required. I just make sure that they are well insulated

[Clwrob]

Thanks for your help and advice, much appreciated.