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Tiny/Nano Glycol Chiller recommendations?

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  • Tiny/Nano Glycol Chiller recommendations?

    We're a brand new brewery running a 3 bbl system with 2 FV's and 1 BT. Currently we're using one of those small glycol chillers designed for tap-lines and it's pretty obvious we're going to need to upgrade before long. So I'm looking for recommendations for what brand/model we should consider.
    I'm currently eyeing up this 3/4 hp model from UBC:



    Anybody using this chiller and if so are you happy with it?

    Otherwise I'd like to hear other recommendations about other brands (Advantage? Pro Chiller? G&D? Other?) Bear in mind that we have no grand plans or desire to expand beyond possibly adding a 3rd FV - so we don't and never will need a 20-ton rooftop model or anything like that.

  • #2
    Originally posted by somenerve View Post
    We're a brand new brewery running a 3 bbl system with 2 FV's and 1 BT. Currently we're using one of those small glycol chillers designed for tap-lines and it's pretty obvious we're going to need to upgrade before long. So I'm looking for recommendations for what brand/model we should consider.
    I'm currently eyeing up this 3/4 hp model from UBC:



    Anybody using this chiller and if so are you happy with it?

    Otherwise I'd like to hear other recommendations about other brands (Advantage? Pro Chiller? G&D? Other?) Bear in mind that we have no grand plans or desire to expand beyond possibly adding a 3rd FV - so we don't and never will need a 20-ton rooftop model or anything like that.
    We've been using the 3/4 hp from UBC to run 4 3BBL single wall fermenters. So good so far. This was also purchased used from another brewery.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by saltyturtlebeer View Post
      We've been using the 3/4 hp from UBC to run 4 3BBL single wall fermenters. So good so far. This was also purchased used from another brewery.
      Cool! How long does it take to cold-crash a batch with this guy?

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      • #4
        I have been running 3 of those UBC 3/4 hp chillers for the past 2 years. Working great so far. 1 chills a 7bbl brite and a 4bbl brite. The other 2 run in parallel on 4 7bbl ferms and 2 4bbl ferms. I usually crash in stages for my process, 68-55, then 55-40, but each stage takes a few hours, maybe 4 hours or so. Should work great for your nano.

        Good luck.

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        • #5
          DIY Option

          There's also the option to build your own from window air conditioners. Cost each would be $300-400. Works the same way as a normal glycol chiller. You'll just have to search around if this is something you're interested in, there's plenty of nano-breweries that use this option. The great thing about it is that if something happens to one, all you have to do is replace the air conditioner for a couple hundred bucks and it's like brand new and it isn't any less reliable than a commercial version. You can search around for sizing, but I imagine 1 or 2 8,000 BTU ACs would be more than enough.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by DGuggenb View Post
            There's also the option to build your own from window air conditioners. Cost each would be $300-400. Works the same way as a normal glycol chiller. You'll just have to search around if this is something you're interested in, there's plenty of nano-breweries that use this option. The great thing about it is that if something happens to one, all you have to do is replace the air conditioner for a couple hundred bucks and it's like brand new and it isn't any less reliable than a commercial version. You can search around for sizing, but I imagine 1 or 2 8,000 BTU ACs would be more than enough.
            Hmm - that's a thought. Lord knows I've done a lot of DIY stuff around here already. I will look into it.

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            • #7
              One thing to be aware of with the beer line chillers: The pump is a positive-displacement pump, with no pressure switch or bypass. If your system isn't well designed, particularly with a bypass regulator between the two sides of the system, you can literally blow things up.
              Timm Turrentine

              Brewerywright,
              Terminal Gravity Brewing,
              Enterprise. Oregon.

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              • #8
                Ubc

                I sell a lot of the UBC units for draft line cooling. They are very reliable for their price. I actually just re-purposed one for a draft install for a breweries new location. It came from their brewhouse and had chilled 3bbl fermenters for 4-5 years. Still going strong. Get the 3/4HP with dual pumps. The second pump is only about $200 from Foxx. There is a write up on this site on how to hook it up.

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                • #9
                  you can get a bypass regulator from tractor supply. its in the pressure washer parts department. they had two- ones plastic, ones aluminum. NPT threads. 0-300psi i believe. no blowups like TGTim is talking about. some folks just use a gate valve or a partially closed ball valve.

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