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Induction brewing

 
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maxtig




Joined: 20 Apr 2022
Posts: 4



PostLink    Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 6:50 am    Post subject: Induction brewing Reply with quote


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Hi guys. I'm interested in induction brewing, so any information, in this case, will be helpful. I know that this method is pretty big in Germany.

I've done a bit of searching for <$500 induction elements for induction brewing. There are plenty out there and they seem pretty powerful but none of them state how much weight they can take. I'm boiling up to 40L of wort so I'd want one that could take ~50kg.

Is anyone doing this? What element do you use and where did you get it?

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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi!

I did look at various external heating methods (hot plates) including induction when I first designed the electric brewery you see documented on this website.

With the heat requirements (5500-9000W) and the weight and size of the kettles, industrial versions used in the restaurant industry were required. They did mention max weights. That's important as you mention as if the max weight is not mentioned it's probably not going to high enough.

These sizes I was considering were quite expensive (many thousands) but more importantly do not provide the same level of control, alarming, and so on. Since it only presented downsides compared to directly heating the water or wort with an electric element, I discarded the idea.

You also need to make sure to use clad bottom / induction ready pots (which adds to the weight too).

Is there a specific reason you want to go induction as compared to putting a 5500W element directly in the pot? It is very simple to modify a pot to attach one of our heating elements. All you need to do is punch a hole. See here: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/heating-elements?page=6

You can try searching the forum as this topic's been discussed in the past too. Some examples:

http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32377
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28686
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29104

Kal

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maxtig




Joined: 20 Apr 2022
Posts: 4



PostLink    Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kal wrote:
Hi!

I did look at various external heating methods (hot plates) including induction when I first designed the electric brewery you see documented on this website.

With the heat requirements (5500-9000W) and the weight and size of the kettles, industrial versions used in the restaurant industry were required. They did mention max weights. That's important as you mention as if the max weight is not mentioned it's probably not going to high enough.

These sizes I was considering were quite expensive (many thousands) but more importantly do not provide the same level of control, alarming, and so on. Since it only presented downsides compared to directly heating the water or wort with an electric element, I discarded the idea.

You also need to make sure to use clad bottom / induction ready pots (which adds to the weight too).

Is there a specific reason you want to go induction as compared to putting a 5500W element directly in the pot? It is very simple to modify a pot to attach one of our heating elements. All you need to do is punch a hole. See here: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/heating-elements?page=6

You can try searching the forum as this topic's been discussed in the past too. Some examples:

http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32377
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28686
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29104

Kal


Hi Kal, thanks a lot for the reply and useful information. The only reason is that a friend said that so I save on electricity.

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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm afraid your friend is confused and thinking in terms of traditional kitchen stovetop (induction vs traditional electric):

An (electric) induction stovetop is more energy efficient than a traditional electric stovetop as the coils on a traditional stovetop just get really hot and emit heat in all directions. The pot on top catches a percentage of that heat (some bounces off) but you're also heating the stove as much as the pot. Lots of wasted electric heat. An electric induction stovetop on the other heats only the bottom of the pot directly. It's only the bottom of the pot that gets hot. Heat does still go down but there's less wastage than a traditional electric cooktop that just gets really hot and you hope the pot above it picks up most of the heat (it doesn't).

But if you use the heating element I recommend the element is placed directly *inside* the liquid. Elements like this:
https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/collections/heating-elements

So this case is even more efficient than induction as you're heating from *inside* the liquid. In this way 100% of the heat goes directly into the liquid. It is the most efficient way.

Summary:

Traditional electric element: The element radiates heat in all directions and you hope the pot picks up some. Not efficient.
Induction element: The bottom of the pot gets hot (not the element). Heat goes up and down. More efficient.
Element directly in the liquid: The element transfers 100% of heat to the surrounding liquid. Most efficient.

Kal

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maxtig




Joined: 20 Apr 2022
Posts: 4



PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 10:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

kal wrote:


So this case is even more efficient than induction as you're heating from *inside* the liquid. In this way 100% of the heat goes directly into the liquid. It is the most efficient way.

Kal


I absolutely agree with you, thanks for the details, now everything is clear!

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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 12:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheers and happy building! Any other questions please reach out.

Kal

_________________
Our new shop with over 150 new products: shop.TheElectricBrewery.com
We ship worldwide and support our products and customers for life.
Purchasing through our affiliate links helps support our site at no extra cost to you. We thank you!
My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
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