Whirlpool Immersion Chiller

[Chris Craig]

5.5 gallons in 10 minutes down to whatever temperature the tap-water is at... I'm guessing now that you meant 13 minutes from 212, so no, that is a little faster

I really should do a test for a 5 gallon batch too.  I'm not sure if it would be too much quicker.  Some of the chiller would be exposed at that volume.

[Chris Craig]

Did you use the ice method or just well water?

Just well water.  No pre-chiller.  I think that with my ground water being in the low 40s, a pre-chiller wouldn't make too much difference.  I'm not concerned with saving a couple minutes at the end of the chilling.

Again, my main goal was to get below 120F as quick as possible.  3:20 is damned fast.

[Chris Craig]

Nice job Chris! That's exactly what I plan to do!

Let me know if you need some help Roger.  I'd be glad to lend a hand.

[Chris Craig]

I'm re-running my Glacier pale ale next weekend using this chiller.  It'll be interesting to see the difference in the aroma.

[Richard]

Actually I forgot the main benefit of doing it this way : cold break in the Kettle.

[Kyle]

That is really good... I wonder though if the cold water was stratifying at the bottom? Next time you do the test, could you take a temp reading from the top of the liquid to confirm?

[Chris Craig]

That's a good point Kyle.  I didn't think about that.  Perhaps I should shorten the return arm so that it's higher up in the kettle.  Right now, the pick up and return are at the same height in the kettle.

[Chris Craig]

Actually I forgot the main benefit of doing it this way : cold break in the Kettle.

I honestly don't care about break material in my fermentor, but it would be nice to keep the hops out.

[Richard]

You have better (harder) water for clarity than I do

[pliny]

I honestly don't care about break material in my fermentor, but it would be nice to keep the hops out.

You having issues with hop debris getting in your fermenter?

I have setup similar to yours but I don't have any issues with hops in the fermenter.

[Chris Craig]

I haven't tried this yet.  I've been using a CFC, and I do get hops in the fermentor with that because I don't filter.

[pliny]

I don't filter

[Chris Craig]

Perhaps it's the keggle I was using as a kettle.  My pick up tube went straight down to the center of the bowl.

[Roger]

Hey guys I built this tonight. I was about to build it the same as yours Chris but thought I'd try something different they call it a ribcage immersion chiller ( http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/diy-int ... er-106415/ ) I added a whirlpool arm so we'll see! I figured there would be more space between the coils and no soldering. Its 1/2" copper coiled in opposite directions then interwoven making it look like a ribcage. Along with a whirlpool arm it should cool quite quickly. When I get a bigger pot I can open up the coils a bit but for now it fits nicely.

[fakr]

beautiful build!  Looks great!