Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
i've been thinking about that for a while. even if you ran refrigerant through a wart chiller, in a barrel of water,to cool the water,it seems it would work.{if done properly} my cousin is a heating and air contractor,i will ask him if he thinks it can be done safely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
my coils are all made from refrigeration grade copper.there it a thicker grade available. i will have to ask a expert,cause im not one!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
how taxing on a mini-fridge unit would it be to run it non-stop for 4-6 hours a couple times a month? and no operation in between times... anyone have a guess?
Rob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
it might work if you used a fan to blow air on the compressor and condencer to keep it from gittin so hot?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Ah, now that i can do. or i could jsut manually cycle it on for a little while, then use some frozen 2 liters, then swithc the fridge back on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Okay, I really like the idea of the radiator in a fridge! And why does it have to be a mini fridge? A used regular sized fridge can be bought pretty cheap and you wouldn't need to worry about over taxing it would you? Plus you can use it to store your beer in ;,
Wineo: I tried putting the wort chiller in water. All it did was heat up the water. I ended up having to ice that water down.
Everybody's going to the bigger column. You guys are killing me! I hate it when everybody's got better stuff than me!
Cheers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Wineo:
I just reread your post and you were talking about running refrigerant through the wort chiller in a barrel. That's a pretty good idea. I am curious how you would do it.
I misread it the first time sorry. I thought you meant to run the water through the chiller in a barrel of water.
cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
I use round oudoor beer cooler that holds 72 cans. I bought at Sam's on clearance for $60.00. I just fill with water plug in and run thru tower. It works just fine. Making chiller with ref. system takes some time and parts. Making chiller is major project but if you have the time and money why not.
But my electric cooler works good and 2 litre bottles of ice are good too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
WVriver:
Are you bringing that cooler to the 'Shine and Music' gathering out on the farm tomorrow? I would like to check that thing out. If there are any other shiners around Ohio, Ky, or WV that want to join us you may want to PM wvriver for information.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
ok guys, since the major hold up on my setup and initial run over a week ago now was determined ,through your help and my assuming it was right, to be the cooling, i have been hung up on the cooling system and possible improvements.
i toyed with the following ideas:
- a 'radiator' on the cooling line between heat gain and the cooler with water ,wort chiller concept,
- just using a BUNCH of frozen two liters during my run ,no freezer space for food items concept,
- piped through the interior of a mini-fridge or fridge/freezer ,favorite idea until i found out about the last one,
- evaporative cooler ,bong cooler,: has anyone used or thought about doing this as a method of cooling the cooling line water? if so, got any results recommendations to throw in?
its a fairly cheap way, and since the methods main concern is water loss due to evaporation which isnt much of a problem only for several hours during a run, so i thought it could be a great way of helping reduce the amount of ice needed ,if any,.
Always wanting to 'improvise',
Rob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Robert,
Just read a post several days ago. Build an A frame or hoop with the legs in your water container. Drape a thick towel over it. Cut some holes in the return water line so as to disburse water evenly along the top, and atach to the top. Turn on fan. Modified swamp cooler!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Robert:
I received several posts suggesting this approach. I've heard of evaporative coolers called swamp coolers, but this is the first time I've heard it called a bong cooler. I'm not sure I want to go there. Anyway, if you do try this how about posting some pictures of how you do it along with the results. Even if it doesn't work.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
to save me some typing, and to give it more 'from the horses mouth', just google for bong cooler or wikipedia search for bong cooler... that is where i am learning from... here in a couple days ,maybe a week, i hope to have a schematic all drawn up on how i'm gonna try doing it... let ya'll rip that up so i can fix ,optimize, the problems in design... then build one and try it on just a pot of water being heated on the stove... see what kind of heat removal/,delta, T it can achieve...
Rob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
sorry for the double post, didnt mean to submit it yet...
rest of my post: it is basically an evaporative cooler of sorts... spray water through air cooling the water that doesnt evaporate by the use of energy to evaporate some of the water. just need PVC pipe, PVC wye connection, couple end caps, some barb connectors, and a small fan ,increases the efficiency A LOT from what i've read,... i plan on running it no fan and with fan in pot-of-water testing...
Rob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Rob:
There ya go, learn something new everyday. Bong cooler looks like a pretty good suggesiton!
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
What water temp do you think we should be using with the reflux still high end temp , low end temp. I'm no sure what temp is best. I would guess I'm at 60 entering 70-75 leaving. Any suggestions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
entering: i would guess as cool as you are willing to achieve ,as you go cooler, each =B0 if more difficult, diminishing returns,
leaving water temp: this will depend on heat input ,which is close to equa= l to heat needed to be removed,, water flow rate, and your water input temp... did i forget any factors here?
Rob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Just got the truck trans-oil cooler in the mail.
Attached two 14" 12v computer case fans to it and circulated a gallon of 35c water through.
Initially the output temp was around 3c cooler than the intake, and within 6 minutes the water reached 22c.
About 10 minutes later the system stabilized at 16c.
I"m pretty happy with the results. I just got the high capacity column from brewhaus today as well. The thing is a beast ,hope it won"t topple with my current keg,. Not sure how much heat it will generate, but I have a feeling this thing can cool it faster than the column can heat it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
PJ. I hope you got my email. If not Hampton Inn, 3021 Advantage Wy. Sacramento 1-916-928-5700 Whitewater
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.
