heat exchanger cooled HERMs

[Minbari]

I decided to do an experiment today. the basis of the experiment is this:

"Will a HERMs coil used to cool down wort after a boil be cooled down significantly faster and lower temp with a heat exchanger to help cool the water in the HERMs tank."

Air temp: 71°F

setup for test:
1) heat 5 gal of water in the boil kettle to 180°F
2) fill Herms tank with room temp water to be used to cool boil kettle water.
3) circulate boil kettle water through HERMs coil in HERMs tank.
4) record temp of boil kettle every 5 minutes for 30 minutes.

control test:
5 gal of Boil kettle water: 180°F
HERMs tank water: 71°F

5 min: 144°F
10 min: 133°F
15 min: 128°F
20 min: 126°F
25 min: 124°F
30 min: 122°F

HERMs tank temp: 120°F

This is typical of how cool I can get the wort on brew day. getting the wort to pitch temp is accomplished the rest of the way using my glycol chiller.

2nd test:

5 gal of boil kettle water : 180°F
HERMs tank water : 75°F (water from hose was warmer)

this time the water from HERMs tank will be pumped through a 12" x 15" 4 core heat exchanger with a 10" cooling fan to cool the HERMs tank water.

5 min: 128°F
10 min: 113°F
15 min: 106°F
20 min: 102°F
25 min: 98°F
30 min: 95°F

Herms tank: 87°F

As you can see the temp of the heated water was cooled 27° cooler with the heat exchanger than without it. Not sure if this is a necessary step, but it was fun to biuld

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

I add ice inside the herms coil, then run my beer out through the coil, works great

 

[Minbari]

I add ice inside the herbs coil, then run my beer out through the coil, works great

done that and it does work really well. BUT, I never remember to buy ice.

in the long run a $7 bag of ice per batch vs $150 for this. it will take 20 batches to pay for itself

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

done that and it does work really well. BUT, I never remember to buy ice.

in the long run a $7 bag of ice per batch vs $150 for this. it will take 20 batches to pay for itself

I started freezing my own in a bucket, but again you have to prepare lol

 

[GFHomebrew]

I decided to do an experiment today. the basis of the experiment is this:

"Will a HERMs coil used to cool down wort after a boil be cooled down significantly faster and lower temp with a heat exchanger to help cool the water in the HERMs tank."

Air temp: 71°F

setup for test:
1) heat 5 gal of water in the boil kettle to 180°F
2) fill Herms tank with room temp water to be used to cool boil kettle water.
3) circulate boil kettle water through HERMs coil in HERMs tank.
4) record temp of boil kettle every 5 minutes for 30 minutes.

control test:
5 gal of Boil kettle water: 180°F
HERMs tank water: 71°F

5 min: 144°F
10 min: 133°F
15 min: 128°F
20 min: 126°F
25 min: 124°F
30 min: 122°F

HERMs tank temp: 120°F

This is typical of how cool I can get the wort on brew day. getting the wort to pitch temp is accomplished the rest of the way using my glycol chiller.

2nd test:

5 gal of boil kettle water : 180°F
HERMs tank water : 75°F (water from hose was warmer)

this time the water from HERMs tank will be pumped through a 12" x 15" 4 core heat exchanger with a 10" cooling fan to cool the HERMs tank water.

5 min: 128°F
10 min: 113°F
15 min: 106°F
20 min: 102°F
25 min: 98°F
30 min: 95°F

Herms tank: 87°F

As you can see the temp of the heated water was cooled 27° cooler with the heat exchanger than without it. Not sure if this is a necessary step, but it was fun to biuld

View attachment 22135 View attachment 22136 View attachment 22137

F'ing Awesome Dude!

 

[Over The Cliff Brewing]

I decided to do an experiment today. the basis of the experiment is this:

"Will a HERMs coil used to cool down wort after a boil be cooled down significantly faster and lower temp with a heat exchanger to help cool the water in the HERMs tank."

Air temp: 71°F

setup for test:
1) heat 5 gal of water in the boil kettle to 180°F
2) fill Herms tank with room temp water to be used to cool boil kettle water.
3) circulate boil kettle water through HERMs coil in HERMs tank.
4) record temp of boil kettle every 5 minutes for 30 minutes.

control test:
5 gal of Boil kettle water: 180°F
HERMs tank water: 71°F

5 min: 144°F
10 min: 133°F
15 min: 128°F
20 min: 126°F
25 min: 124°F
30 min: 122°F

HERMs tank temp: 120°F

This is typical of how cool I can get the wort on brew day. getting the wort to pitch temp is accomplished the rest of the way using my glycol chiller.

2nd test:

5 gal of boil kettle water : 180°F
HERMs tank water : 75°F (water from hose was warmer)

this time the water from HERMs tank will be pumped through a 12" x 15" 4 core heat exchanger with a 10" cooling fan to cool the HERMs tank water.

5 min: 128°F
10 min: 113°F
15 min: 106°F
20 min: 102°F
25 min: 98°F
30 min: 95°F

Herms tank: 87°F

As you can see the temp of the heated water was cooled 27° cooler with the heat exchanger than without it. Not sure if this is a necessary step, but it was fun to biuld

View attachment 22135 View attachment 22136 View attachment 22137

That is.....well way above my pay grade but it looks like you have a system that's gonna do the job. Nice work!

 

[come_n_brew_it]

12" x 15" 4 core heat exchanger with a 10" cooling fan

I tried searching to see what you used but did not find. Can you post the details of the exchanger and fan? Part numbers, manufacturer and/or retailer? TIA!

 

[Minbari]

I tried searching to see what you used but did not find. Can you post the details of the exchanger and fan? Part numbers, manufacturer and/or retailer? TIA!

MOSTPLUS Black Universal Electric Radiator Slim Fan Push/Pull 12V + Mounting Kit (10 Inch) Set of 2 https://a.co/d/3VqJMW7

12x15 Heat Exchanger Water To Air , Forced Air Heating with 1" Copper Ports Hot Water Coil for Outdoor Wood Furnaces, Residential Heating https://a.co/d/80YZISS

 

[come_n_brew_it]

MOSTPLUS Black Universal Electric Radiator Slim Fan Push/Pull 12V + Mounting Kit (10 Inch) Set of 2 https://a.co/d/3VqJMW7

12x15 Heat Exchanger Water To Air , Forced Air Heating with 1" Copper Ports Hot Water Coil for Outdoor Wood Furnaces, Residential Heating https://a.co/d/80YZISS

Thanks!

 

[Minbari]

Finally got around to finishing this. Now my brew controller can turn it on and off