Condensate catcher gadget

[Darren]

Just to clarify something about my condensate catcher Justin tried to describe on the gadget show. It catches condensate that runs back down the 8" diameter flue I use to duct the steam outside my brewshed, not condensate from the inside of the kettle lid.

Link to picture below
http://www.countybeermakers.org.uk/vault/catcher.jpg

Cheers,

Darren - UK

[BrewcasterPlise]

Darren -

I am curious about this process. What do you think this does for your beer? I assume you get more quantity, and maybe it helps you with knowing your effieciency off your system.

I have never seen this before it a brew haus...please share.

[Bugeater]

Darrin, your picture makes a lot more sense than what I had pictured from Justin's description. It makes a lot of sense to vent the steam directly outdoors instead of raising the indoor humidity to the insane levels some of us do. With all the condensation that would take place inside this flue, you pretty much have to have that catch basin to collect that water instead of it flowing back into your beer. You would never reach your desired OG if you didn't.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[BrewcasterPlise]

Bugeater -

Great insight. That makes sense since he is brewing inside, and the condensation has nowhere to go, for kicks why not turn the vent off and make your brewing experience a 'detox' / spiritual experience in a brew sana?

I am still curious, why even bother collecting the condensation, since a lot of DMS and vegetable aroma from hops are boiled off. Why not let the evaporation go, and be vented off freely without collecting it?

[Bugeater]

Bugeater -

I am still curious, why even bother collecting the condensation, since a lot of DMS and vegetable aroma from hops are boiled off. Why not let the evaporation go, and be vented off freely without collecting it?

He is letting most of the evaporation go. However, the outer wall of the vent pipe is going to be cooler that the water vapor. Because of this, there will be condensation. Gravity will make it fall back into the boil pot if you don't have some way to collect it.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing

[Darren]

BugeaterBrewing has got it.

I'm not trying to save the condensate because I want it. I'm just making sure that any condensate that does form on the inside of the 8" dia flue, doesn't run back into my boiler, but gets caught in the dish.

In a 1 hour boil I collect about 3/4 of a cup of liquid, which I discard.

Darren.

[BrewcasterPlise]

Thank you Darren and Wayne for the clarification.

Makes sense now...

[Tundra45]

My understanding is that the boil condensate is rich in DMS and you want to make sure it stays out of the wort.