How many plates do I need?

For a typical homebrew plate chiller cooling 23L batches, 20-40 plates is common. More plates provide more surface area and faster cooling, but also increase the risk of clogging with hop material.

Plate chiller vs counterflow — which is better?

Plate chillers have more surface area per unit volume and cool faster, but are harder to clean and more prone to clogging. Counterflow chillers are easier to clean but slightly less efficient. Both outperform immersion chillers.

How do I prevent clogging?

Use a hop spider or bag during the boil, add a strainer or bazooka screen at the kettle outlet, and always recirculate hot water and cleaning solution through the chiller after each use.

Can I recover the hot water?

Yes, the warm outlet water from your heat exchanger is perfect for cleaning or as your next mash water. Collecting it reduces water waste and saves energy heating strike water.

Which is better — plate chiller or counterflow?

Plate chillers are more compact and efficient per unit size, cooling wort in a single pass. Counterflow chillers are easier to clean and inspect. Plate chillers can clog with hop debris if not using a filter. Both are significantly faster than immersion chillers for large batches.

BrewCalcs

Heat Exchanger Calculator — Brewing Equipment

Calculate plate or counterflow heat exchanger cooling performance.

Wort Volume

Wort Temperature

Target Temperature

Cooling Water Temperature

Water Flow Rate

Exchanger Type

Number of Plates

More plates = more surface area

How We Calculate This

Heat Exchanger Performance

Cooling performance depends on flow rate, temperature differential, and heat transfer surface area. Plate heat exchangers achieve effectiveness of 80-95%, meaning they transfer 80-95% of the maximum possible heat.

Flow Rate Balancing

The wort and water flow rates should be balanced for optimal cooling. Running the water slightly faster than the wort typically gives the best results. Too fast and the wort does not cool enough in a single pass; too slow and cooling takes too long.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify values and adjust based on your equipment and ingredients.