Returning after 14 years! Autobrew mk2

[GreenBlood]

You may recall I built an automated brewery back when my son was due to be born, essentially because I knew I’d not have time to spend a day hovering over a mash tun and boiler etc. all worked fine other than constantly blocking rims pumps. My son was born and I had no time to resolve the problems I was having. My son turned out to be autistic so my life until now has been devolved to him as my wife died too. Anyway, I’m back and determined to resolve the issues I had and have resolved the rims pump blockages with moving to a large bore peristaltic pump, the idea being that any grain that get through the small 2mm holes will just pump straight through the 10mm bore pipe. Anyway, I have a description of my current setup if you are interested-

1, the brewer fills the HLT with 45litres of RO water along with the brewing salts needed to achieve the desired brew liquor, and fits the lid, which has a stirrer incorporated.
2, the brewer enters into the laptop, the desired strike temp, mash tun required volume of liquor, desired mash temperature(and wherever or not it’s a step mash and if so, the times and temperatures of each step) and the required wort needed for the boil, the hop timings (there are 4 hop “hoppers” that drop hops into the boil at the requested times during the boil) and the desired mash in time(the brewer can program the brewery to have the mash tun ready filled and “RIMSing” at strike temp at a certain time, ie first thing in the morning). Then the brewer presses “GO”.
3, at a certain predetermined time before desired mash-in, the HLT will start heating to strike temperature and the stirrer will agitate the water to help dissolve and distribute the salts.
4, 20 minutes before desired mash-in time, the HLT drop valve will open and fill the mash tun with the requested amount of liquor for mashing in.
5, the RIMs will commence and ensure the mash tun is kept at strike temperature until the brewer is ready to mash in.
6, the laptop app will email and text the brewer to indicate that the brewery is ready for him/her to mash in.
7, the brewer will prepare the mash load and hit “pause for mash in” button on the laptop, and stir the grains into the mash tun.
8, a false top (a perforated stainless disk) will be placed on the top of the mash to prevent the top of the mash being disturbed by the rims and the “plug” sparge volume.
9, the brewer presses “Brew!” In the laptop, this restarts the rims keeping the mash at the desired temperature throughout the mash period (including any steps)
10, at the end of the mash, the mash tun bottom valve opens, allowing the one litre per minute rims pump (peristaltic with 10mm ID tube -eliminating blockages due to grain) to fill the boiler at a controlled rate.
11, once the level of wort in the mash tun drops below the false top(determined by a temperature sensor sat in top of it), the HLT drop valve opens once again, allowing a volume of liquor onto the top of the mash, a “Plug’ of sparge liquor if you like, the idea is, that, by waiting for the wort level to drop below the false top, this sparge liquor is not diluting the 2 or 3 litres above the mash at the time of starting the sparge. The “plug” of liquor will rinse the grain of fermentables as it descends through the mash.
12, the mash tun drops below valve will close once the boiler has the required amount of wort.
13, the boil will commence, with hops being dropped in to the boil at the specified times. (Also, an extraction fan will operate to remove steam to outside)
14, the boil ends, a steep period will commence (if so required) and then the small 600ml per minute peristaltic pump with pump the wort, through a hop back and counter flow chiller straight into the fermenter.
15, finally, the laptop will email the brewer that the fermenter is ready for yeast to be pitched.

Phew, that’s just a brief description of my brewery. Any questions let me know. But I’m particularly curious about the plug sparge and if anyone has tried it themselves?
Steve

[cc986]

Welcome. What's the software/technology behind it? For example, it looks like there is some automated opening of valves - how does that work?

[GreenBlood]

I wrote the app myself, I’ll post some screenshots for you when I’m back home. I currently use a laptop which operates a digibee via usb to operate relays that opens valves, stiring motor and heater elements and solenoids for the hop hoppers. Temperatures are read via 1-wire sensors, however all this is outdated now, although it works, I am moving to pt100 sensors and relay control via a raspberry pi shortly. This will mean I can control it from wherever I am as long I have internet connection.

[Cobnut]

Would love to see some pictures.

What is your brew length?

[GreenBlood]

I Aim for a full Corny keg, so a 25liter boil volume normally. Could be easily scaled though.

[nallum]

That reads like a fantastic project for a home brewer. To be shared too with the community. A refreshing break from 'stressing' the liver and battling alcoholism promoted by youtube salesmen. I wonder which one's going to die first? Anyway, what you're doing is an aspect of home brewing (DIY) that's been mostly lost these days to commercial interests, youtube videos and BS 'fixes' for problems that don't actually exist enough to bother about. It's all 'off the shelf' these days, if you buy it. I think you're still ahead of your time, though. I like the idea of the 'plug' sparge/rinse for managing that stage, but I don't think it's going to affect efficiency that much to worry about.

[Jim]

Welcome back! That sounds awesome.

Threads in this section are pruned after a while and I feel like this is worth preserving so I'm going to bung it in the Equipment forum if that's OK.

[GreenBlood]

No problem thanks Jim. I’m wondering if Mrlard is still about because I need a new mash tun and boiler…