| Author |
Message |
    
mikel
Member
Username: Mikel
Post Number: 173
Registered: 02-2001
Posted From: 75.106.245.132
| | Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 03:08 pm: | 
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We're finally setting up the 1 barrel brew system and I have a question regarding propane burners. The system will be located on an outside covered patio so ventilation isn't a concern. There is also a 1/2" propane line nearby that supplies a propane clothes dryer. I'm wondering if we should go with the low pressure propane, and if so, how many btu's can we expect out of a 1/2" line? Also wondering who sells those huge low pressure propane burners? Or, should we go with high pressure propane, and if so, what would be the best burner setup? |
Connie
Senior Member
Username: Connie
Post Number: 1208
Registered: 10-2000
Posted From: 76.17.52.96
| | Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 06:18 pm: |
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http://www.cajunshoppe.com/cast.htm
Look at some of these! |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 8880
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.225.170
| | Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 06:51 pm: |
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I'm assuming you are boiling 1 bbl. (31 gallon) batches using a 55 gallon stainless drum as a kettle. For that application, the "large low pressure cast" burner in Connie's link should be adequate.
It would be better to have 3/4 in. piping for this burner, but I suspect your existing 1/2 in. line will do the job in a pinch. The problem will be if you intend on operating more than one burner at a time. In that case your 1/2 in. line will cause considerably reduced output. |
mikel
Member
Username: Mikel
Post Number: 174
Registered: 02-2001
Posted From: 75.106.245.132
| | Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 09:09 pm: |
|
Yes, we will be using a 55 gallon drum for the kettle. That burner in the link doesn't specify what the btu's are. I'm not sure how many btu's will be needed. My current 10 gallon setup uses 1 high pressure burner from B3 that they list as 170K btu's. I never open it up more than 1/2 way though. |
Connie
Senior Member
Username: Connie
Post Number: 1209
Registered: 10-2000
Posted From: 76.17.52.96
| | Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 09:51 pm: |
|
scroll down to the low pressure ring burners or check this link for 100,000-880,000 BTU units
http://www.cajunshoppe.com/jetc.htm |
Skotrat
Advanced Member
Username: Skotrat
Post Number: 700
Registered: 07-2007
Posted From: 75.67.98.168
| | Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 11:05 pm: |
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http://www.cajunshoppe.com/lglpcast.htm
That is the one that I have... I love it on my 55 gallon system |
Eric Armstrong
New Member
Username: Ploughshare
Post Number: 1
Registered: 05-2008
Posted From: 205.241.140.172
| | Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 01:08 am: |
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http://www.tejassmokers.com/
They provided me with great service and were able to answer all of my questions after I purchased some 300K BTU jet burners from Northern Brewer for my 55 gallon system.
Good luck,
Ploughshare |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 8881
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.225.170
| | Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 02:16 am: |
|
I know Ploughshare from my former life in Iowa. Good to see you back, Eric.
I will mention that the BTU ratings of burners should be taken with some skepticism, as they are more theoretical values than measurements under actual conditions. For example, I have three burners on my brewing stand. Two of them are Metal Fusion/King Kooker-type cast iron burners supposedly rated for 60,000 BTU. The other is a low pressure ring burner with a rating of 35,000 BTU. I use the smaller burner to direct fire my mash tun because it has fine flame control that allows me to turn it down and not scorch the mash. However, I have used it on occasion to boil 10 gallon batches in a converted keg. It takes a little longer to bring the wort to a boil than the other two burners, but the difference in my estimation is far less than the 58 percent lower rating would seem to indicate. In short, some burners are more efficient than others.
(Message edited by BillPierce on May 19, 2008) |
Onebarrel
Member
Username: Onebarrel
Post Number: 161
Registered: 12-2002
Posted From: 99.249.28.66
| | Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 05:06 pm: |
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I have a 30gal kettle that I boil 25 gals of wort in... it has 2 x 85,000 BTU Metal Fusion burner heads - once the wort is drawn of the mash tun it is usually at about 130F - 150F, so it does not take that much power to get it to the boiling point and once it is boiling I turn one burner off.
A big BTU burner will be usefull to heat strike and sparge water quickly - I heat my strike water overnight with one 1500W electric element.
My sparge water gets heated with the 2 x 85K burners while I mash, which seems to work out for me. |
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