Quick question on coil orientation - oh er

[Bionicmunky]

Hi all,

Just looking at placement of the coil in my HE. Now if I mount it horizontally i.e. "/////////"

I'll get more coil submerged for less water and therefore would be more efficient, I think.

Is this the way to go??? or should I mount it traditionally in the vertically?

Thanks in advance,

John

 

[Wez]

You may find (as I did - with a nudge from Smod) that stirring the wort with a sanitised paddle while cooling will give you the fastest cool and best cold break, I think you are OK to lay it on it's side but personally I'd go vertical so that you can easily stir the wort around, also you will have less contact with the settled hop bed which means a less disturbed hop filter.

 

[Bionicmunky]

This was for my HERMS HE rather than cooling. Decided to stay traditional vertical.

HERMS thread update shortly :-)

 

[Wez]

:lol:

:thumb:

 

[EskiBrew]

I can see one disadvantage to mounting it horizontally - where would you mount the heating element. I guess you could mount it in the side however will the radius of the burco flatten enough to make a watertight seal?

 

[Vossy1]

Hi John,

My own personal point of view is the coil should be mounted vertically, and each coil should be on a slight downwards tilt. the reason for this is to allow any liquids to drain freely out of the coil prior to storage/non use. Mounting it horizontally will allow pools of liquid to remain in the lowest parts of the coils. If the coil is made of copper you really don't want it to be stored with water and air inside. If mounting horizontally you could always negate this by removing the coil from the HE after use and drying it in an oven.

EDIT, Alternatively fill the coil with water when not in use, much like domestic water supply piping

 

[prolix]

surely you want more water rather than less as it is the thermal mass and so temp will swing less if there is more water

 

[jamesb]

surely you want more water rather than less as it is the thermal mass and so temp will swing less if there is more water

That's true, but if you need to make a temperature change then it would take too long to achieve.