What sort of time difference are we talking about when cooling say 25ltr down from near boiling to 20-25 deg ?
How long does it take you folks using your respective chillers?
Counterflow or Immersion chillers
-
Vossy1
-
PieOPah
-
Vossy1
-
Vossy1
-
jasonaustin
Looking back through my records...
25L + 10m Immersion : 40mins
25L + 15m CFC : 15mins
40L + 15m CFC (gravity fed) : 50mins
40L + 10m Immersion : 50mins (used ~250L water)
40L + 15m CFC (pumped): TBC
The 40L Immersion figure is much more efficient than the 25L Immersion as I positioned the chiller so that it cools the top of the wort. In my 25L days I just chucked it in (it rested on the bottom of the boiler) and the bottom got cold, but the top of the wort was much warmer.
The difference in times between the 40L and 25L CFC are because I cannot (and dare not!) raise 40L of boiling hot wort as high as I can 25L, so the gravity run through the CFC was pathetic - hence my latest (untested) brewery changes incorporating a pump. In the meantime I have returned to the immersion chiller.
Think the immersion chiller could be much more efficient than my figures suggest, but I am very conscious of wasting water, so don't turn the tap on full. Last time I used it I carted it all down the garden to the water butts, hence why I know how much water was used.
25L + 10m Immersion : 40mins
25L + 15m CFC : 15mins
40L + 15m CFC (gravity fed) : 50mins
40L + 10m Immersion : 50mins (used ~250L water)
40L + 15m CFC (pumped): TBC
The 40L Immersion figure is much more efficient than the 25L Immersion as I positioned the chiller so that it cools the top of the wort. In my 25L days I just chucked it in (it rested on the bottom of the boiler) and the bottom got cold, but the top of the wort was much warmer.
The difference in times between the 40L and 25L CFC are because I cannot (and dare not!) raise 40L of boiling hot wort as high as I can 25L, so the gravity run through the CFC was pathetic - hence my latest (untested) brewery changes incorporating a pump. In the meantime I have returned to the immersion chiller.
Think the immersion chiller could be much more efficient than my figures suggest, but I am very conscious of wasting water, so don't turn the tap on full. Last time I used it I carted it all down the garden to the water butts, hence why I know how much water was used.
-
Frothy
-
mysterio
-
BlightyBrewer
QUOTE (Daft as a Brush @ Aug 9 2006, 09:07 AM) Yep, you dont want to be stirring for the last 20 mins though as you want the hops to form a nice filter bed to filter out the hot and cold break, something that a CFC wont allow you to do (only the hot break gets filtered) ...
Good point about the cold break being left behind with the immersion chiller DaaB, I hadn't thought of that.
For me it takes about 20 mins to cool, and I use about 60-80L with my CFC.
Good point about the cold break being left behind with the immersion chiller DaaB, I hadn't thought of that.
For me it takes about 20 mins to cool, and I use about 60-80L with my CFC.
-
eskimobob
Quite an interesting discussion. I built http://www.forumforfree.com/forums/inde ... ost&p=7855 a while ago but so far have only used it on one brew. I tried feeding the wort in at the bottom rather than the top and it was hopeless 
If I was reading this thread having not made a CFC, I think I would be torn between building a IC and CFC. I guess it will depend on personal opinion at the time.
Once the weather cools down and I get the brewing gear out again I intend testing out the CFC properly
If I was reading this thread having not made a CFC, I think I would be torn between building a IC and CFC. I guess it will depend on personal opinion at the time.
Once the weather cools down and I get the brewing gear out again I intend testing out the CFC properly
-
Horden Hillbilly
- Moderator
- Posts: 2150
- Joined: Mon May 08, 2006 1:00 pm
- Location: Horden, Co. Durham
- Contact:
It's a cfc for me, for the simple reason that I liked the look of it! After cooling I always leave the wort for about 1 hour while I clean out my boiler and putting all the bits & bobs away, then drop the wort into another fv, aerating at this point. Regarding cold break, I always leave a small amount of wort behind in the cooled wort collecting vessel at this stage, leaving the cold break behind.
Regarding time probably about the same as the rest of you good folk, about 20-25 mins.
Regarding time probably about the same as the rest of you good folk, about 20-25 mins.
-
Vossy1
-
Road Runner
Immersion Chiller for me.
Simple reason, I didn't know about a CFC when Santa bought it for Xmas, 2 Xmas's back.
But having used it & read about all the CFC's you guys have, I think I'll stick with what I've got for ease of use. It usually cools to 25'c in under 30 mins.
I might at some point make a larger one that'll fill my boiler circumference a bit. That should cool the wort a lot quicker than the current smallish one I've got now.
Like all HBers, you get used to your own equipment & how it all works for you.
Simple reason, I didn't know about a CFC when Santa bought it for Xmas, 2 Xmas's back.
But having used it & read about all the CFC's you guys have, I think I'll stick with what I've got for ease of use. It usually cools to 25'c in under 30 mins.
I might at some point make a larger one that'll fill my boiler circumference a bit. That should cool the wort a lot quicker than the current smallish one I've got now.
Like all HBers, you get used to your own equipment & how it all works for you.