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dr_finklestein · 10-27-2012, 01:51 PM

I have been getting air in my line, right at the valve on my mash tun, when I recirculate. I have checked the clamps on the hoses to my camlocks, took apart my ball valve, and replaced my mash screen, but still get air in the hose. It only happens once the grain bed gets settled. Any ideas where this is coming from? Is it the camlocks?

hopmonster · 10-28-2012, 11:31 AM

my mash does the same thing, over time mine will go away and some beers i dont see it at all. its not a big deal, slow down your recirculation some and see if that helps at all. Iv been running mine for about a year now and never notice any flavoring it produces

Kyled93 · 10-28-2012, 11:57 AM

Quick question, how do you mash in? I personally, mash in from the bottom of my kettle and this helps remove any air in the line. That being said, you can run the risk of moving your false bottom if your not careful. Mine is wedged pretty tight and won't be moving unless I pull it out.

Hope this helps..

dr_finklestein · 10-31-2012, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hopmonster

my mash does the same thing, over time mine will go away and some beers i dont see it at all. its not a big deal, slow down your recirculation some and see if that helps at all. Iv been running mine for about a year now and never notice any flavoring it produces

Mine doesn't go away, it actually cavitates the pump and all flow stops.

dr_finklestein · 10-31-2012, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyled93

Quick question, how do you mash in? I personally, mash in from the bottom of my kettle and this helps remove any air in the line. That being said, you can run the risk of moving your false bottom if your not careful. Mine is wedged pretty tight and won't be moving unless I pull it out.

Hope this helps..

I put the water in the tun first and then add grain. I think I am going to purchase a false bottom from Jaybird and see if this helps. Any other advise>

Kyled93 · 10-31-2012, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr_finklestein

I put the water in the tun first and then add grain. I think I am going to purchase a false bottom from Jaybird and see if this helps. Any other advise>

I just thought of one other thing. Can you post how you have the pump mounted?

The direction of the pumps should look similar to this.

If they are opposite, you most likely will have air in the lines all the time.

**bob352** · 10-31-2012, 02:47 AM

Your pump is pulling liquid faster than it will drain through the bed by gravity alone.
The typical tube style mash screen does not provide enough surface area
for a fast flow rate even with a thin mash.
From other threads, this seems to be less of a problem with a false bottom.
Once the grain bed settles, flow rate decreases significantly.

I suppose the pump could also be compacting the grain bed
by creating lower pressure at the bottom of the bed.
Which would make the situation worse of course.

We seal our tubing, connections, pump housing to keep liquid in.
It might be too much to expect them to keep air out under increasing negative pressure.

The solution is to slow down the recirculation rate to the rate of normal gravity drain.
But I don't know how you would do that without a pressure meter before the pump.
I gravity drain from my mlt to the bk and then drain to the pump which recircs back to the mlt.
I have to slow down my pump to match the mlt drain or the pump runs dry.
I never get pump cavitation during mash recirculation.

The brutus 10 folks don't seem to have this problem.
I suspect a false bottom on a 15 gal pot with a thin mash gives them
a good enough drain rate that the pump can run fast.

I am interested in how the false bottom works for you.
I may give that a try in my round cooler to increase my mlt drain rate.

(most of the above is opinion based on experience on my system, ymmv)

jcaudill · 10-31-2012, 05:12 PM

If you don't have one, get a sight glass. You will see the influence of pressure on the bed when you recirculate. It's very helpful and you'll know when you need to slow down.

dr_finklestein · 11-06-2012, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob352

Your pump is pulling liquid faster than it will drain through the bed by gravity alone.
The typical tube style mash screen does not provide enough surface area
for a fast flow rate even with a thin mash.
From other threads, this seems to be less of a problem with a false bottom.
Once the grain bed settles, flow rate decreases significantly.

I suppose the pump could also be compacting the grain bed
by creating lower pressure at the bottom of the bed.
Which would make the situation worse of course.

We seal our tubing, connections, pump housing to keep liquid in.
It might be too much to expect them to keep air out under increasing negative pressure.

The solution is to slow down the recirculation rate to the rate of normal gravity drain.
But I don't know how you would do that without a pressure meter before the pump.
I gravity drain from my mlt to the bk and then drain to the pump which recircs back to the mlt.
I have to slow down my pump to match the mlt drain or the pump runs dry.
I never get pump cavitation during mash recirculation.

The brutus 10 folks don't seem to have this problem.
I suspect a false bottom on a 15 gal pot with a thin mash gives them
a good enough drain rate that the pump can run fast.

I am interested in how the false bottom works for you.
I may give that a try in my round cooler to increase my mlt drain rate.

(most of the above is opinion based on experience on my system, ymmv)

I try to set my recirc. very slow to match the screen (I don't throw it wide open). My grain bed is very compact so I suspect that the problem is what you described above. I should get the FB this week and might be able to try it out it out on a batch this weekend.

dr_finklestein · 11-06-2012, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyled93

I just thought of one other thing. Can you post how you have the pump mounted?

The direction of the pumps should look similar to this.

If they are opposite, you most likely will have air in the lines all the time.

My pump is mobile so it sits side to side. I thought about putting it vertical, but with my current set-up I don't think it's possible.