MG Thermal Consulting

Sorry 'bout that- www.mgthermalconsulting.com

Jess and I supplied our equipment independently- my chiller system, his exchanger. PM or email me and I can give you some idea of costs- the type equipment used on the VT distillery is on my website, however.

Is the "way too long" a function of you not being able to source a cold enough process water for cooling, or that you do not have enough exchanger to satisfy the heat load. The higher temp (from near boiling to 140F/60C) can be done fairly quickly with whatever heat exchanger you use, but as you near the target mash temp, it takes longer and longer to reach your target- this is a function of the heat exchanger and how cold your process water is. This is why it is a struggle to reach 80F mash down South when the city water source of cooling is 85F in the summer and higher production requirements push toward using refrigerated sources (cold liquor tanks or packaged chillers). To chill the mash without a source cold enough or a heat exchange source large enough makes you suffer on the production end, simple as that. Give Jesse a call, I have seen his work and it is top notch. He will ask you all the questions needed to supply a proper heat exchange system, whether it is a coil-in-tank or an external shell & tube.

Problem with steam jackets is that they are not designed for any particular heat transfer rate, so you have indefinite times on cooling side. The best way I've come across is Jess' external exchanger, you can pipe it for city water or closed loop (Jess and I have just supplied one of his exchangers and my cooling system just being installed up in VT., a 500 Gal mash cool). I used a 10 ton chiller with a customer supplied indoor tank with isolation exchanger and added an optional drycooler to chill the glycol circuit to cut down on the KW used by the chiller when fermenting and condensing are the only loads. If the cold liquor tank is what you're considering, for a 420 gal mash cool, you'll need a big tank, it's better use of space to set up a chiller with a smaller poly reservoir, IMO. Either way, I recommend getting the Trident exchanger and fitting it to the city water line ( you can always Tee over to the jacket if your city water gets too warm. Give me a call and I can run through it with you. Mike 678-773-2794

Crabcakes for me!!

I have equipment purchased by a controls /automation engineer for a juice plant in CA that has expanded to PA. If you'd like I can give him a shout to see if either he or the juice company could have an idea for you. Shoot me over and email if you want me to follow up. Regards, Mike

Good cop/bad cop?..LOL

I'm anxious to see my chiller system supplying the cooling water for your mash exchanger to our mutual customer down the road. I was hoping it would be this year, but time is running out before the snow falls!

..short and sweet intro!

Are you cooling mash or wort????

Last posting is incorrect, the 2 ton is 208-230/1/60.

I have a line of small chillers (less than 2 HP) that can be used for small set-ups. Around 8-10,000 btu/hr with circulator pump. I can send you a picture, if you are interested.

Good News! If you get in a bind on cooling options, let me know, I have several slightly used chillers in stock along with new options on mash coolers and air-fluid exchangers.

If you dump water for mash cooling and condenser cooling, all that adds up quickly to the point it is cheaper to pay for the closed loop chiller than the headache of water plus sewage. Largest load is the mash crash cool and condenser considerably smaller. It depends where you start, how much are you starting with and how long it takes to process.

Good Luck!! I guess even the baby steps seem like hurdles if you look at them long enough!

I will check with a control package installer in LA who I am currently working with on a juice plant and let you know.

You pretty much have to go "local" to someone who knows local codes, and with luck has done a distillery or brewery. What State (or city) are you locating the still, and I'll let you know if my associates have anyone nearby.

Good luck! If you need and help on the chilled water loop, give me a shout.

Also have a 3 ton, 460/3/60 and 2 ton 460/3/60. They have integral coil-tank design, circulating pump and operating limit of 28F (with glycol mix).

I am having used 2 ton and 3 ton chillers rebuilt for sale. They are both 460/3/60. I don't have finished price yet, but will be inspected as I get inquiries. Both have pump and can be used indoors or outdoors. They can operate down to 28F (with glycol mix) and up to 65F.Call me at 678-773-2794 or email me for questions.

I have developed an NSF rated fan-coil unit for cooling mash, 5 tons cooling at 95F entering air/ 7.25 tons at 50F entering air, 4 GPM mash flow. Result will be 30 degree TD at 95F air/ 44 degree TD at 50F air. Under $5K for stainless cabinet, less for painted enamel. 385 watt motor, 115 or 230/1/60. Meant as a pre-cooler to reduce chiller size and power input. Give me a call and I can explain the schematics. Mike

I am going to have a couple small drycoolers reworked- good for first stage cooling in summer or complete winter cooling when combined with a large enough process water/glycol reservoir. Going to have a 5 and 6 ton nominal completed. This is matched to a shell/tube exchanger (under $5K) . Is it your intention to make this a closed loop or are you going to use city (or well) water to make it happen?

I am waiting on info on a NSF coil to build an air-cooler as the first stage cooling for the mash which would reduce the size of the water reservoir and chiller both. You could pipe it in series with a shell and tube/jacket if you have well water to finish it off as another scheme. The actual cooler will be set up indoors and hot air ducted out (or in for heat recovery) with intake being from outdoors as well. I hope to have more details in another month. I am testing some small outdoor air/glycol coolers for winter use for clients up North...hoping to test that out this year.

You will also need a condensate pump (a few grand $$$).

I would lean to the 500,000 btu boiler, but I can try to ask my guy that makes mash tuns, exchangers and stills...let me know how you make out.