Blichman Therminator

I don't personally but I know a few people in my brew club who have done so for years and claim that it works just fine.

 

My Duda chiller works fine, as long as you don't try to push a full pound of hops through it

 

I use a Therminator on a gravity system. Works just fine. Can transfer and chill 5 gallons into a carboy in a matter of several minutes.

 

Definitely use a coarse filter before the chiller. Makes transfers in a gravity system a lot easier.

 

I did with a gravity system for a while and didn't like it. I know plenty of others have been a lot more successful than me with that method, though. I use a pump now and it makes everything easier.

 

How do you like the Duda chiller? Been thinking about picking up one this winter.. My ground water gets cold enough that time of year, and I'm more likely to brew more then.

I have a pump and all that, so I'm not worried about gravity.

 

I'm not sure what might be better about a Blichmann except maybe the name. Most of the plate chillers in my club are Duda. The first time I used it last January, 47F tap water chilled 5 gallons to 61F in about 5 minutes.

 

Nice to know. Thanks for the response. Other than cleaning it out, seems like the way to go.

 

can't remember exactly, but i think there is a better grade steel in blichmann's or some other superior form of brazing of the plates. Can't confirm that right now, but it was something along those lines. Anyway, been using my duda for 4 years now and been happy. It will have some rust on the water side when I don't brew for a while, but that has to do with the fittings i have on the water side which holds some water in there.

 

Mine works well gravity fed. As already mentioned, a filter helps. In the winter I use a Duda that's half the size. No matter what I do in the winter by slowing the water flow etc, the blichman is overkill. The beer comes out too cold.

 

IIRC, I believe it's a Chugger pump.

 

Not sure I understand your dilemma. Are you saying that the wort still comes out too cold even if you turn the water flow off completely? Not sure I could justify the cost of two plate chillers ($300+?) to 'fix' this problem.

 

What size Duda do yall use for your batches? I do mostly 10 gals, some 15, some 5. Looking into getting one of these.

 

I got the 12", 20 plate chiller. http://www.dudadiesel.com/choose_item.php?id=HX2320
I do mostly ten gal batches. 10-15 mins boil to pitching temp in the summer (water temp 65F-ish), 5-10 mins in the winter (water temp <50F). Beats the hell out of 50' x 1/2" copper coil in terms of portability and all around PITA factor.

 

How does cleaning/sanitizing it work? That's a big part for me, just spray off the IC and I'm done.

 

If I turn it off completely, it will spike. When I have it almost all the way off it's still too cold. A friend of mine copied my system and can use the smaller Duda year round. He has a well though and my water comes from Quabbin reservoir. It gets real cold in the winter.

 

To clean, I pump PBW through it for 10 minutes or so, reversing direction every now and then. Then flush it with clean water for a few mins. To sanitize, I just recirc hot wort through it for a few mins before turning on the water.

 

An advantage of a plate chiller is they can handle most any size batch. I use a 12" x 20 plate chiller for my 5 gallon batches, but it would be just as effective for 10 or 20 gallon batches. Obviously more chilling water would be required, but you match the flow of hot wort to the temp of your input water and it can run all day. In the summer my inlet water will reach 90º so forced to use an ice slurry for the final stages. Gravity feed works okay, but I never felt good about all that cold break going in the fermentor. So I use a mini-pump to recirculate to kettle (and whirlpool).

Cleaning is a minor PITA. I flush/back-flush/PBW-soak then bake in the oven for half an hour on brew day. I have a Duda which cost a c-note . . . ss QD's/tubing were another fifty bucks. Overall very pleased, will never go back to an immersion chiller.

If you are a tech-nerd, check out their spec sheet. Also, their tech reps were helpful to me before purchasing.