Chiller Size Calculator
Brewery vessels come in different sizes and types, such as FV (Fermentation Vessels), DPV (Dual Purpose Vessels), BBT (Bright Beer Tanks), CT (Conditioning Tanks) and CLT (Cold Liquour Tanks). Whilst the difference between these is critical for the brewery, it makes no difference to the chiller. The chiller only needs to know what volume needs cooling, by how much, and how quickly.
There are two main cooling loads on the chiller:
1. Reducing the temperature of the brewery vessels, normally the Fermentation Vessels and Cold Liquour Tanks. (Cooling the FVs is often referred to as crash cooling)
2. Vessels that require the temperature to be controlled/maintained (eg the CTs etc.), but not reduced in temperature any further.
The first of these, the crash cooling, creates the main load on the chiller. To calculate this load, we need to know the total volume that will require simultaneous temperature reduction/cooling:
Step 1
Add up the maximum volume in all the fermentation vessels (including DPVs, BBTs etc.) that are to be simultaneously crash cooled. If you wish to also reduce the temperature of the CLT at the same time, add this volume to the crash cooling. Enter the volume in the box below. (Note - this volume will usually be less than the total FV + DPV + BBT volume, as not all will require crash cooling at the same time).
Do not include vessels that require the temperature to be controlled/maintained (ie the second group above) - an allowance for these will be included later in the calculation.
Select your preferred volume units (default is litres).
Step 2
Specify the start and end temperatures and the cooling required time. Select your preferred temperature units (default is °C) and enter these numbers in the boxes below.
Step 3
Additional loads on the chiller come from maintaining the temperature of vessels such as the CTs and CLTs, plus any of the other vessels that are being used for storage. Other heat sources include ambient temperature, pumps and active fermentation (heat of respiration).
An additional allowance of 25% is suggested for these additional loads. This assumes all the vessels and pipework are well insulated, and does not include heat gain from active fermentation. If your brewery has an above or below average length of pipework, number (volume) of vessels that require temperature regulation, or insufficient insulation, change the allowance by entering a different % number in the box below.
