Well, time to upgrade my three tier!!

Buying, building and using brewing equipment and apparatus. Product reviews and questions.

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jeff
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Brewing System Valve Assembly

Post by jeff »

Mounting post for the valve assembly:
Image

Setting up for welding the mounting post:
Image

Valve assembly attached to the frame:
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Post by jawbox »

I've just received my heat sink so i'm getting close to fabrication time. I'll be sure to post pics.
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Post by jeff »

jawbox wrote:I've just received my heat sink so i'm getting close to fabrication time. I'll be sure to post pics.
It's great when stuff arrives. Looking forward to seeing pics.
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Brewing System Control Box Mount and Mash Tun Plumbing

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Control box mount tacked to the frame:
Image

Control box mounted:
Image

Mash tun bulkhead and ball-valve:
Image

Mash tun false bottom and dip-tube (size increased from 3/8" to 1/2"):
Image
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Brewing System Copper Gas Lines

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Installed copper gas lines to tie burners to gas plumbing:
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Signs of Life!!

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Control box wired up:
Image

Control box mounted and powered up:
Image

24V transformer mounted and wired:
Image
Last edited by jeff on Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
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I made fire!!

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Gas valve and sensor connected:
Image

Pilot light assembly installation:
Image

System monitoring and controlling HLT and mash tun temps:
Image
Last edited by jeff on Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Heat Exchanger and Miscellaneous Plumbing

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Rolling the heat exchanger from 30 ft of 1/2 in OD copper tube:
Image

Heat exchanger installed in HLT:
Image

Boil kettle inlet tube:
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Silicone tubing connected to manifold:
Image
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Heat exchanger, plumbing and control box

Post by slothrob »

Jeff, beautiful work!

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Re: Heat exchanger, plumbing and control box

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slothrob wrote:Jeff, beautiful work!

Eric
Thanks, Eric! I'm glad it's finally done (almost, few tweaks left).
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Before and After Photos and First Brewing Session Notes

Post by jeff »

There are just a few last tweaks that I want to make but the system is essentially complete.

Before:
Image

After:
Image

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.
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Post by jawbox »

Quick temp fix place aluminum foil on top of grain bed, pokes holes and place your return on top of the foil.
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Aluminum foil fix

Post by jeff »

jawbox wrote:Quick temp fix place aluminum foil on top of grain bed, pokes holes and place your return on top of the foil.
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.
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