Last week, Northern Brewer had a 20% off sale on all purchases so I used that opportunity to snag a wort chiller. I ordered a copper model with vinyl tubing but I was sent the new stainless steel model with garden hose fittings. There's a $5 difference so I should call to get a credit if I do keep the SS version, but I'm wondering if I should stick with the copper since it has better heat transfer. Also, I don't currently own a garden hose (I live in an apartment) so the vinyl tubing with faucet adapter would probably work better for me. What do you guys suggest? Below are links for the items in question: ordered this http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/standard-chiller-3-8-x25-with-vinyl-tubing.html received this http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/stainless-steel-immersion-wort-chiller-w-garden-hose-fitting.html
I think you answered your own question, the one you wanted has better heat transfer and the fittings fit your current setup better. Time to pack up the one they sent you in error and have them send you the right one. The stainless one is probably more durable but unless you plan on abusing the copper one it's seems an easy choice.
Yeah I just got off the phone with them and asked for an exchange. It sucks that it'll probably take another week and a half to process this mistake. I was hoping to brew this weekend.
FYI, the heat transfer differences between copper and SS are negligible with a chiller. The advantages are that SS is cheaper, MUCH stronger, has better corrosion resistance, and easier to clean. When I was in the market, I bought a SS chiller for the reasons outlined above. I have been very happy with it, and would recommend it to anyone. The faucet adapter is around $2 at a hardware store.
I was wondering about the difference between stainless and copper for this item. Had I seen a similarly priced stainless when I was shopping, and had I seen this post first, I might have just ordered the stainless instead. And yeah, the adapter is cheep and easy to find.
Here is a simple test comparing a copper and SS wort chiller. The results were 3 Gallons From Boiling to 70° SS = 15.5 min Copper = 13.5 min
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_in_heat_exchangers Thermal conductivity (Btu/(hr-ft-F)Copper:231 Stainless Steel: 8.1 I don't call that insignificant but you're right about the durability and maybe ease of cleaning, personally I never had a problem cleaning the copper chillers if done right after brewing. Cheers
Thermal conductivity doesn't work that way...just because it is more conductive, doesn't mean it applies to every application. Though copper is 28x more conductive, it doesn't chill the wort 28x faster...
That's true but with the market price of copper compared to stainless steel there is every incentive for shops to push stainless as they charge almost identical prices. I like your video but I would like to see the time difference in cooling for a 10 gallon batch chilled to 62 degrees F between copper and stainless steel. I don't think it would only be a 3 minute difference.
You're correct, the difference would be greater for larger volumes and lower temps. How great a difference, and if it's enough to matter...is not something I can answer. However, he wouldn't be using the purchased chiller for 10 gallon batches.
If you know how to run the Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient, you find that the metal between two liquids is not the large resistance, it is the liquid to metal interface on each side that controls the heat transfer. A while back I ran those numbers and came up with SS as 89% as effective as copper in a liquid-metal-liquid application. The timed example above gives 87%. Those big coefficients are not the big knobs to turn. Your car has an aluminum radiator if built in the last 30 years or so. Cost, mass, duribility, are all considerations. When you have a gas-metal-liquid system, the material choice has even less influence.
IMO...the SS model with garden hose fittings is the more better choice. Poor user reviews about chillers with poorly performing worm clamps and vinyl convinced me to get Midwest's SS '$5 more' model with garden hose fittings. Some tubing and hose fittings from the Home Despot or bLowes. Viola! Works great in a kitchen brewshed.
