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AAAW
Joined: 14 Feb 2017
Posts: 3
Location: Silverthorne, CO
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 Link Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 6:41 pm Post subject: How much time to boil? |
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If this topic has been addressed, please forgive the repetition.
With a 5500 Watt ripple element, a 50 amp 220 Volt electrical source, in a Blichmann 15 gallon kettle, how much time should it take to bring 13 gallons from 50 degrees F to 180 degrees F?
I am trying to determine if my heating elements are performing correctly.
It seems to be taking much longer than it should, even from sparge to boil.
With variables considered, how does electric heating compare to gas in terms of time?
Thanks.
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kal
Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11123
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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| Link Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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See here from our FAQ:
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/FAQ#How_long_does_it_take_to_heat_with_electricity_
| Quote: | A 5500W heating element such as the one we use will raise the temperature of 1 gallon of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit in approximately 1.6 seconds.
Some real world examples using our setup for brewing 10 gallons of finished product:
Heat 20 gallons of strike water from 70F to 155F: 45 minutes
Bring 14 gallons of wort from 150F to boil: 23 minutes
Unlike conventional gas burners where heat is applied from below, an immersed electric heating element is 100% efficient as all of the heat is transferred to the surrounding liquid. With a gas burner 50-80% of the heat bounces off the bottom of the kettle and is lost. |
So in your case you're heating 13 gallons 130 degrees. So the time required is 13 x 130 x 1.6 = 2704 seconds or just over 45 minutes. Add a few minutes because some heat is lost out the sides (I'm assuming the kettle isn't insulated). So probably more like 47-50 minutes.
| AAAW wrote: | | With variables considered, how does electric heating compare to gas in terms of time? |
Electric's usually faster given the better efficiency mention above. A5500W heating elements producing ~20,000 BTUs of heat outperform an 80,000 BTU propane burner. If you're using our 50A panel for 30+ gallons you could also add a second heating element and cut the heat time in half.
What control panel and equipment are you using? Who built it?
If you built the panel yourself and it's taking much longer than 45 minutes with your 5500W element, check to make sure you've not wired incorrectly and driving the heating element at 120V instead of 240V. Doing so would only put out 1/4 the power (1375W). It's a fairly common problem. You can confirm this by looking at what the amp meter says. A 5500W heating element running at 240V will draw 22.9 amps and only about 11.45 amps if wired for 120V.
Note: You said you have 220V but since you're from the US, it should actually be 240V. If using our control panel design what does the voltmeter say? It should be around 240V, sometimes a bit lower as the voltage sags under load. Reason I ask is that the heating element is 240V so it only puts out 5500W when driven at 240V exactly. If you're actually running at 220V, the power output will be lower. Lower voltage results in lower power output. You're probably not running at 220V though as that's not a voltage in North America (people tend to say 110V and 220V when in fact the voltage in the US and Canada is actually 120V and 240V). Some other countries like Belize, the British Virgin Islands, French Polynesia, Guyana, and North Korea run at 110/220V but I doubt you're using a setup there right?  Complete reference of voltages by country: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country
Good luck!
Kal
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AAAW
Joined: 14 Feb 2017
Posts: 3
Location: Silverthorne, CO
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| Link Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2017 10:10 pm Post subject: Once again, a great answer |
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Thanks Kal!
Your help is exemplary!
I purchased my 50 amp system pre built from you in 2013.
I am drawing 22+ amps, so I believe the settings are correct. I will look to see what Voltage is displayed.
The heating elements are the originals.
I am planning to purchase stainless elements for both kettles.
BTW, I modified my build to accommodate tri clamps for the heating elements into the HLT and the Boil kettle.
It has worked well for cleaning and for alternate uses of the boil kettle.
I will time the heating process, and see if it falls into the predicted range of time.
Thanks again for all of your help.
Happy Brewing!
Steve
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Happy Brewing!
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kal
Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11123
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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