Well, time to upgrade my three tier!!
Moderator: slothrob
Brewing System Valve Assembly
Mounting post for the valve assembly:
Setting up for welding the mounting post:
Valve assembly attached to the frame:
Setting up for welding the mounting post:
Valve assembly attached to the frame:
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff
Brewing System Control Box Mount and Mash Tun Plumbing
Control box mount tacked to the frame:
Control box mounted:
Mash tun bulkhead and ball-valve:
Mash tun false bottom and dip-tube (size increased from 3/8" to 1/2"):
Control box mounted:
Mash tun bulkhead and ball-valve:
Mash tun false bottom and dip-tube (size increased from 3/8" to 1/2"):
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff
Brewing System Copper Gas Lines
Installed copper gas lines to tie burners to gas plumbing:
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff
Signs of Life!!
Control box wired up:
Control box mounted and powered up:
24V transformer mounted and wired:
Control box mounted and powered up:
24V transformer mounted and wired:
Last edited by jeff on Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff
I made fire!!
Gas valve and sensor connected:
Pilot light assembly installation:
System monitoring and controlling HLT and mash tun temps:
Pilot light assembly installation:
System monitoring and controlling HLT and mash tun temps:
Last edited by jeff on Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff
Heat Exchanger and Miscellaneous Plumbing
Rolling the heat exchanger from 30 ft of 1/2 in OD copper tube:
Heat exchanger installed in HLT:
Boil kettle inlet tube:
Silicone tubing connected to manifold:
Heat exchanger installed in HLT:
Boil kettle inlet tube:
Silicone tubing connected to manifold:
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff
Re: Heat exchanger, plumbing and control box
Thanks, Eric! I'm glad it's finally done (almost, few tweaks left).slothrob wrote:Jeff, beautiful work!
Eric
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff
Before and After Photos and First Brewing Session Notes
There are just a few last tweaks that I want to make but the system is essentially complete.
Before:
After:
My sister and I brewed a Belgian IPA using a two step mash. The heat exchanger made easy work of reaching rest temperatures and maintaining them. The mash temperature was maintained by setting the HLT temperature controller 5°F higher than the target mash temperature. The HLT temperature controller activated the HLT burner to maintain its temperature while the mash temperature controller activated the pump to circulate the mash through the heat exchanger. Flow rate was controlled by the manifold valves.
The system worked perfectly for temperature control. However, I have to work on the way the recirculated mash is returned to the mash tun in order to avoid stirring up the grain bed. The return hose had a way of burrowing into the grain bed during recirculation.
Overall, I'm very happy with the results and looking forward to the next batch. Thanks to all of you who followed this topic.
Before:
After:
My sister and I brewed a Belgian IPA using a two step mash. The heat exchanger made easy work of reaching rest temperatures and maintaining them. The mash temperature was maintained by setting the HLT temperature controller 5°F higher than the target mash temperature. The HLT temperature controller activated the HLT burner to maintain its temperature while the mash temperature controller activated the pump to circulate the mash through the heat exchanger. Flow rate was controlled by the manifold valves.
The system worked perfectly for temperature control. However, I have to work on the way the recirculated mash is returned to the mash tun in order to avoid stirring up the grain bed. The return hose had a way of burrowing into the grain bed during recirculation.
Overall, I'm very happy with the results and looking forward to the next batch. Thanks to all of you who followed this topic.
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff
Aluminum foil fix
That's a good idea. I have an old SS false bottom I made for another pot that I could sit on top of the grain bed too. Already has the holes. Thanks for the suggestion.jawbox wrote:Quick temp fix place aluminum foil on top of grain bed, pokes holes and place your return on top of the foil.
Jeff
BeerTools.com Staff
BeerTools.com Staff