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Author Topic: Tap lines and turbulence  (Read 1266 times)

Offline rbowers

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Tap lines and turbulence
« on: October 03, 2015, 09:58:15 am »
Continuing to battle bad pours on my tap lines with excess head.  It's been an ongoing issue- I've tried lower pressures, longer lines, etc and still seem to have trouble.  I'm replacing the tap lines now (it was time) and considering having them run along the collar of the kegerator kept in place by threading through a series of eyelet screws.  In the past the lines have been coiled up and kept coiled with a zip tie.  The coil had about a 10-12 in diameter.  Could that coiling be leading to additional turbulence and foam? 

I was at a conference recently where a speaker recommended a 38F serving temp and carving and serving at 14PSI with ~7ft length lines.  I was told if I can see bubbles in the line the pressure is too low.  Anyone else have suggestions on this.

Offline Stevie

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Re: Tap lines and turbulence
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2015, 10:21:36 am »
Do you have a fan in your keezer? I found that the beer in the lines was quite warmer compared to the keg.

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Tap lines and turbulence
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2015, 10:53:06 am »
Do you have a fan in your keezer? I found that the beer in the lines was quite warmer compared to the keg.

+1.  Also, rbowers - you might check to be sure you didn't pull the zip lines too tight. I zip tie my lines too, but the first time I did that I pulled too tight, causing a restriction and foamy pours. Just a thought.
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Tap lines and turbulence
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2015, 10:53:40 am »
Flow in a properly balanced draft system is always turbulent, so no, it wasn't how the lines were hanging.

How long are the lines, and what diameter? For 14 psig, you'd want about 10 ft of 3/16" ID thick-walled tubing. 14 psig at 38°F is also 2.75 vol, so make sure you actually want that much carbonation.
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Offline rbowers

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Re: Tap lines and turbulence
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2015, 11:05:29 am »
Zip ties were not that tight and it was thick walled 3/16 diameter tubing so I imagine tough to squeeze real tight.  I do have a fan so I do not think that's the issue.  I'll give it a shot with some longer lines I guess.