Peltier cooling

[Colin Macdonald]

Has anyone here got a Peltier cooling system for there beer and if so how are you getting on with it.

 

[kelper]

I have a six-bottle wine cooler for my 2 litre mini keg. It cools down to about 5 degrees and holds two kegs, one with tap and CO2 attached. It's a Peltier. It runs almost continuously consuming 50W. See my thread for piccies. I think you could take the guts out and use it to modify an Eski for more capacity. It has an external fan and and internal one which makes it more effective than a stand-alone Peltier unit.

 

[Richie_asg1]

They are not as efficient as a wet gas type refrigeration system, because they lack separation, so you need to power them all the time to separate hot from cold across the PN junction. You switch it off and it acts as a thermal bridge between outside and inside, but the fans help slow this down somewhat.
They are however cheap, compact and very convenient.

If you are cooling or warming something relatively small by a few degrees they are ideal, but not best at large temperature differentials or larger masses. Would be ideal I think at cooling beer lines, but not keeping a keg cool for long periods - too expensive to run.

I tried out 2 modules to make into a small fridge for a van, but gave up because of power demand and quite small cooling effort. I ended up with a scrap ice maker with a tiny compressor that was more efficient.

 

[aamcle]

Make it easy on yourself, just use the top section of a electric cool box. But as has been noted you don't get much cold for your £.

Aamcle

 

[Druncan]

Yup, suffering with our Northern warmer climes.
So, I need more cool space and am looking at a big hole under the bar,,,,
Spades and pickaxes ready for tomorrow.
Just Hope I don't find previous licensees,,,

 

[simon12]

I don't know that much about it but I think the technology could have use in temperature controlling a fermenter or helping wort cooling along side more usual methods. But as stated is no replacement for normal refrigeration technology for most usage.

 

[Richie_asg1]

It could work ok if you just use it to lower the daytime temps a bit during a warm spell.
Even better if you have solar panels providing the power - as you get the cooling free when the sun is strongest.
Stick the FV in a heavy cardboard box with the cooler as a lid on the top and should help bring the FV temp down by about 5 degrees.

But freezing bottles of water and putting them in there would probably do the same job.
Or build a swamp cooler.

 

[Druncan]

Change of direction.
Now got a peltier 30l keg cooler operational dropped from 26*C to 16.2 it uses 30w and my pond pump running @ 60%.
Today running off my van leisure battery (flattened an old battery last night) going to charge this with my solar panel.
The Peltier is a old little 6l mini fridge with an up-cycled 2l milk container filled with water and starsan and two holes for 3/8" pipe.

 

[pottsworth]

Change of direction.
Now got a peltier 30l keg cooler operational dropped from 26*C to 16.2 it uses 30w and my pond pump running @ 60%.
Today running off my van leisure battery (flattened an old battery last night) going to charge this with my solar panel.
The Peltier is a old little 6l mini fridge with an up-cycled 2l milk container filled with water and starsan and two holes for 3/8" pipe. View attachment 19480

Perhaps I missed something, but isn't that just a pump circulating coolant?

A peltier is a rather specific electrically driven cooling/heating device.

 

[Druncan]

The wee pinky cutsy thing in the pic is a mini peltier fridge,,,, :hat:
OKA an"specific electrically driven cooling/heating device."
Sorry, for the confusion, unless i'm mistook,,,, usually, ,,,, ,, as i'm old and sadly tired after a full restaurant,,,,
However, The wee pinky does cool OK, but as previously said, needs plenty sparky biff. Just hoping my 20w solar will suffice.
It's @ 16.4*C @ the moment!!!!
Gnite!

 

[pottsworth]

The wee pinky cutsy thing in the pic is a mini peltier fridge,,,, :hat:
OKA an"specific electrically driven cooling/heating device."
Sorry, for the confusion, unless i'm mistook,,,, usually, ,,,, ,, as i'm old and sadly tired after a full restaurant,,,,
However, The wee pinky does cool OK, but as previously said, needs plenty sparky biff. Just hoping my 20w solar will suffice.
It's @ 16.4*C @ the moment!!!!
Gnite!

Aaah got you now.

 

[Llamaman]

Change of direction.
Now got a peltier 30l keg cooler operational dropped from 26*C to 16.2 it uses 30w and my pond pump running @ 60%.
Today running off my van leisure battery (flattened an old battery last night) going to charge this with my solar panel.
The Peltier is a old little 6l mini fridge with an up-cycled 2l milk container filled with water and starsan and two holes for 3/8" pipe. View attachment 19480

Is the coolant being passed through the fermenting wort, or is it just cooled around the outside of the fermenter?

 

[Richie_asg1]

From the look of the foil on it I would say 5m of pipe coiled around the outside.

Having the fridge bit so far away and the cool pipes flapping in the breeze is loosing some of your cool - Don't loose you cool.

I would try and get the two a bit closer together - but leave the hot side of the fridge vents open.

 

[Druncan]

Good point, but I need that space for more kegs that are in the fridge. But, Yup, 5m of 10mm. It's running @ 15*C That little pump has been on 24/7 and doing fine!