Boiling Chips?

[Casper]

I know that boiling chips are recommended to be used during a run. I understand the theory behind their use, but am wondering if you guys use them in your keg boilers? I thought maybe because there is such a large volume of liquid being boiled that there was no chance of that thing going "bump". But from what I have read it also keeps the column from surging as well, correct? I cut up about 100 pieces of 1/4" outside diameter copper piping, each about 1 cm in length and thought they might work well for boiling chips if necessary. Should I be using these when cooking with my 15 gallon keg boiler? Or is there another kind of material that would be better suited?

[Husker]

What boiling chips does, is to give the liquid a bunch of 'nucleation' locations (pockets, points, cuts, holes, etc). These are microscopic locations where a baby bubble will form.

Now, what happens WITHOUT these, is that a liquid can easily super heat (well water for sure, I am not sure of 'other' liquids). When this super heats (i.e. the temp gets HOTTER than boiling point), then the entire liquid can super rapid boil, thus cause boil overs. If you want to see examples of this, look up super heating on utube. There are some videos, where liquid is super heated within SMOOTH containers, and then flash boils.

What chips to is to keep this from happening. The chips give many thousands of locations for tiny bubbles to form, and then grow. Thus, this will greatly even out the boil.


What you have (cut rings) should work just fine. Also, things like a few scrubbers also work. Hell, a few semi rough river rocks works wonderful also (as long as the rocks do not disintegrate from the boiling, and are not made of some poisonous materials, like metallic ores such as lead or mercury).

Your rings will make a nice 'tinkly' sound during a run. Bigger copper fittings or rocks can rattle around a little more. Scrubbers are pretty much silent.

I would (and many who have experience under their belts) would recommend running some form of boiling chips. It simply makes things run more smoothly, even in that big ole keg.

H.

[Casper]

Nothing more to say here. You have covered everything, even providing a tip to some cool you tube videos. Thanks Husker! Definately going to be using those boiling chips.