2 vessel system

[DeadFall]

I envisage a mash tun + kettle/hlt setup with the kettle/htl constantly gravity feeding the mash tun and a pump returning wort back to the kettle/hlt. It will take a bit of fiddling and monitoring to ensure that the pump matches the feed rate, but I'm not bothered by that, eventually I could automate the pump flow some how.

Would it be best to mash normally for say 30 minutes and then start the circulation for the remaining mash time, or circulate after initial dough in?
Should I use some kind of sparging device?
Or is this a simply stupid idea?

Main reasons are storage and one less thing to build/clean.

[Befuddler]

I use 2 vessels, but I batch sparge and collect the runoff in a spare fermenter before pouring back into the kettle at the end. I never actually considered recirculating the full volume like that... It's just a giant RIMS really isn't it?

It might be better to put the mash tun above the kettle/hlt if possible and use the pump to return sparge liquor, otherwise you'll be sucking on the mash and might compact it. Losing heat in the tubing and the kettle might be an issue, but a PID would sort that out.

I might give this a try next brewday; I've already got all the gear bar the PID.

[DeadFall]

I didn't think about putting the mash tun above the hlt. Good idea.

I was thinking of cutting pipe insulation into 1 1or 2cm segments and stringing them onto the silicon tubing, It won't be perfect but it should be a good compromise between flexibility and insulation.

[timbo41]

Not sure I'm.catching the drift about pump rates. The implication seems to be that the recirced worth would fill your mashtun quicker than it filtered through the grainbed...possible overflow?
A daft idea springs to mind....installing a ballcock shut off valve of some sort,so wort level in mash tun is kept as a constant level? Like a continuous batch sparge? And then,in some way,connect this to the pump so it turns off?
Sorry..was up early today!




Edit...not so daft really



http://hbd.org/discus/messages/46667/48 ... 1251041284

[DeadFall]

Was thinking of some automated measure if manually adjusting the pump rate doesn't work. Once things have settled down, the wort should run through the mash tun at a fairly constant rate which I should hopefully be able to match with the pump.

I'll probably follow Beffudler's approach of using an FV to collect the runnings and batch sparge to start with. I'm thinking the £30-£40 a pump + controller will cost me might be better put towards controlling fermentation temperature, it depends on how easy it is to move the wort around without a pump. I don't have a lot of time to brew, so any time savings will be worth it.

[Jocky]

Have a look at attaching a manometer or differential pressure tube to your mash tun outlet - it'll tell you when your grain bed is still floating, or when it's heading towards either sticking or overflowing.

[Dave S]

I use 2 vessels, but I batch sparge and collect the runoff in a spare fermenter before pouring back into the kettle at the end. I never actually considered recirculating the full volume like that... It's just a giant RIMS really isn't it?

I use this method also. I heat the mash water to above strike temp, then run off into the MT. Then when it's down to strike temp I pour in the grist and mash in. After taking a sample for pH measurement 15mins in I raise the MT above the boiler but not over it and place a FV under to collect the first runnings. Meanwhile I heat the sparge water up while the mash is underway. Once the mash is complete I jug the first sparge water into the mash and stir in well. If calculations were correct the grain temp should be around 75C. After 15mins I run the first batch into the FV, then jug the rest of the sparge water into the MT and repeat for batch 2. While the second batch is ruminating I empty the FV into the boiler and turn up the heat ready for the boil. When the second batch is done I slide the MT over the boiler and run in.

The main improvement I'm planning for this system is to introduce a pump from boiler to MT to save all the jugging. This will also be useful for recirculating during chilling.