AG upgrade

[pads72]

I currently brew AG with a 2 vessel set up: an Igloo MT & a 50L pot which acts as HLT & Kettle (ok, and a 20L pot for the batch sparge!) it seems to work for me and is quite a good space-saver!

However, I'm toying with the idea of moving to a pumped 3 vessel set up, with fly sparging. Below are my efforts at working out the liquid flow process. Forgetting any electrical controllers/PIDs/RIMS or HERMS set ups, do the basic diagrams below look right? It's easy to get set in your own way of doing things and I just wanted to check my thinking!

(BTW, the small circular cross-shapes indicate taps, the larger ones pumps!)

Any feedback/advice welcomed!

[pads72]

[Fil]

Looks ok, but gravity draining has a lot of pluses. while pumping adds complexity additional connecting disconnecting h/w and the need to monitor pump rate against natural drain rate to avoid a stuck mash or clogged hop filter.

better warned

just my view you could be better off with a cleanable straight pipe cfc than a plate chiller, takes away all the doubt of break or hop matter clogging the plate gaps.

How big do u intend to brew? might be worth ensuring you can brew a shorter length too as otherwise you may do less brewing and have less variety..

[pads72]

Thanks for the tips Fil.

My 1st drawing had a gravity feed from the HLT to the Mash Tun, but pumped between MT and kettle. Maybe that's the way to go.

I'll take a look at straight pipe CFCs, I assume these are self-build.

I haven't fixed on a brewlength yet, toying with 100L or 200L.

[daydreams]

The pump connecting the HLT and sparge arm is a good idea as you can control the flow and really ramp it up towards the end if needed. Personally I wouldn't pump from the mash tun into the copper, as the pump would be pulling on the mash. You could use an underback (basically a small buffer vessel) that you can run-off into and then pump the wort out of there into the copper.

[LeeH]

The pump connecting the HLT and sparge arm is a good idea as you can control the flow and really ramp it up towards the end if needed. Personally I wouldn't pump from the mash tun into the copper, as the pump would be pulling on the mash. You could use an underback (basically a small buffer vessel) that you can run-off into and then pump the wort out of there into the copper.

Wouldn't a false bottom act as a buffer?

[rob-63]

I do pretty much as you have in your diagrams - although in transfer to the kettle (2b), I connect as you have in figure 3. So one pump is only used for water, and the other only for wort.

I use the two pumps for all transferring between vessels and not had a problem yet... on the two brews I done with it!

[hebbstar]

Hi pads

Are you going to vorlaf recirculate between stages 1 and 2a ? It does make a difference to the clarity of the wort into the copper.

I'm not sure it changes your design unless you are going for fixed pipework.

Cheers

Paul

[pads72]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Rob, good point about 1 pump for water, 1 pump for wort, shall reconfigure.

Paul, yes plan is to Vorlauf, figure 2a should show wort flow from bottom tap of MT to top of MT! My omission!