Heat Exchanger Advice

[spears104]

Getting some brew gear for my birthday and I've decided that I want to get a heat exchanger so I can start using my new kettle. I was considering ordering a plate chiller from Duda Diesel. I'm aware of possible plugging issues but have built a hop spider and I'm currently gathering materials for a hop blocker. Any advice on what to get and where to get it? Thanks!

[Keggermeister]

Just get it. You will not regret it.
I have been using a plate chiller for 6+ years, and have never been able to plug mine that back flushing would not fix. Your pump will plug up way before the chiller will.

[chalmers]

Which chiller were you looking at, spears? We use a hand-me-down from X, a 30-plate (I believe) chiller. When it does not clog, it is beautiful. Used it last night (with a hop spider), and it cooled 40L from boiling to 70 in 15min. We do not use it with a hop spider, too many headaches.

[spears104]

I was thinking about the 7.5 inch long 30 plate unit. They have some longer 20 and 30 plate units on duda diesel but they probably have a higher pressure drop, and I will be starting out with gravity feed through the HEX, so I'll stick to the shorter unit.

[HotBreak]

The Therminator is what I/Keggermeister have had for almost 10 years now and it seems to be indestructable. cools wort down as fast as it can be pumped through and flushes out nicely!

[spears104]

Yeah the Therminator is a nice piece of gear. By the orientation of the nozzles it looks like it is a double pass plate heat exchanger, hence the high efficiency. The price is pretty hefty as its about $280 at NG. I might stick with the less expensive single pass units and maybe get a pump at the same time.

[gyorke]

For those with plate chillers how do you clean/store them? I was considering one for my setup but after some internet research it sounded like they would have more maintenance/cleaning pain than they provide benefit?

[mr x]

hot caustic

[Keggermeister]

hot caustic

Same.

[Jayme]

Is there a good place in town to buy caustic? I've been using PWB to date which works for me 90% of the time, but every now and then could use something more aggressive.

[mr x]

Yes, there is a good place in town to get caustic.

[GAM]

Yes, there is a good place in town to get caustic.

Is this sarcastic Rob?

Sandy

[Graham.C]

I think it's sneaky rob.

[Jayme]

I guess the Lye at Home Hardware would work wouldn't it?

[mr x]

That's one option, but I have a better one.

[Keggermeister]

I went and bought a 20L pail of Caustic CIP Cleaner from ZEP Manufacturing years ago. It was a hundred bucks well spent IMO.

Boys should buy a few buckets and split them up. Please Please label them properly though! PH 12 will fuck you up good and quick.

It still feels odd to run for the vinegar or Lemon Juice to neutralize it when I get it on my hands...

http://www.zep.com/ZepSearch/default1.a ... &country=U

[mr x]

I still know where to get a better deal.

sorry, still drinking

[TimG]

Haha.. you're great early morning word day entertainment Rob!

[Keggermeister]

I still know where to get a better deal.

sorry, still drinking

Somehow i knew you would say that!