Smellyglove said:
How would QDs eliminate valves? I still need to control when and when not to open the pathway?
By eliminating pathways. You reuse the same hoses for different steps. There is a choice between multivalve manifolds like you are planning versus having to move hoses like I am suggesting. Different approaches to the same goal. I prefer to move hoses for simplicity and versatility. Also I think multiple valves and tees allow for less dead spots for wort to get trapped and bacteria can grow.
1 take out a valve after the HLT and move hose from pump to sparge when needed.
2 eliminate bleeder valve and just take the hose off to prime
3 don't need a valve at the end of the whirlpool line. Swap it with the MLT line at that time.
4 only need one valve to restrict pump flow. Swap hose between RIMS/kettle/fermenter.
5 only need one valve after kettle. Reuse whirlpool line through pump to kettle.
However, you do need a valve on your tangential inlet on the kettle for the pump return to whirlpool that is not on your diagram
That is 4 less valves, 3 less tees and no cross.
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Smellyglove said:
Wouldn't recirculating the wort back to the kettle to sanitize the path to the fermentor still leave that hose with wort?
Yes. But based on your design I was operating on the assumption you were using an immersion chiller while whirlpooling. You pump/whirlpool boiling hot (sanitized) wort through the hoses and pump to sanitize, then once that is done you start the chill (while still whirlpooling). Once chilled, turn off the pump and let the kettle settle, then move the hose from the whirlpool port to the fermenter and pump the cooled wort into your fermenter.