HERMS Coil Setup Question

I am building a 3 Keggle brewstand. I am going to go with a gas powered HERMS Setup. My main question is, Do I need a shut off on both the input and the output of the HERMS Coil? I see it as having a ball valve on top of the pumps to regulate the flow, but I don't see the benefit of having to attach two ball valves to the input and the output.

On that same note.... I plan on using my Blichmann Autosparge for the wort return from the HERMS coil. Any objections?

Third and final question.... How does one go about recirculation of the wort in the BK? I have a side/whirlpool pickup. I would assume with using a whirlpool there would be no need to recirculate the boiled wort as it would drive the majority of the trub to the middle of the keggle.


Thanks for your help!

You probably don't NEED a valve on the HERMS at all if you have one on your pump. I'm just building mine and I'm putting one valve as it enters the coil just so that I can shut it and pull the hose and not have everything in the coil run out all over. As it leaves the kettle up top, I don't see a need to have a valve there.

I picked up an Autosparge because it sounds like a great idea. However it was much too small of an arm for what I wanted and I also wanted to be able to use something other than a hose with a foam float on it that will never get clean. It's been returned.

Not sure what you mean about recirc. Whirlpooling does drive the trub to the middle. You can pull off the side like you are and send it back in through a whirlpool spout and let it spin for a bit.

mpcluever said:

You probably don't NEED a valve on the HERMS at all if you have one on your pump. I'm just building mine and I'm putting one valve as it enters the coil just so that I can shut it and pull the hose and not have everything in the coil run out all over. As it leaves the kettle up top, I don't see a need to have a valve there.

I picked up an Autosparge because it sounds like a great idea. However it was much too small of an arm for what I wanted and I also wanted to be able to use something other than a hose with a foam float on it that will never get clean. It's been returned.

Not sure what you mean about recirc. Whirlpooling does drive the trub to the middle. You can pull off the side like you are and send it back in through a whirlpool spout and let it spin for a bit.

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I fully endorse this post.
Exactly what I would have said.

I don't have any valves on my HERMS ports. I agree with having one on the lower port though, to prevent wort from spilling out during hose swapping.

FYI the autosparge now comes with a stainless ball instead of the foam float. I have only used my autosparge once so far, and I can say I didn't use it correctly. I had my 815 impeller on full blast and it over-powered the autosparge valve. Next batch I will reduce flow and let the autosparge do its job.

A whirlpool fitting for drainage isn't enough to create a whirlpool, you need to pump and return through a whirlpool/side fitting at the top of your boil volume to create one, or just stir your wort and create a whirlpool yourself. This will create a cone of trub if you let it settle for at least 20 minutes after the whirlpool. You then drain from the side leaving the cone undisturbed.

Not unless they haven't updated the pictures on their website and the ones in the store have the foam float on the end of the hose.

Micky5752 said:

Do I need a shut off on both the input and the output of the HERMS Coil? I see it as having a ball valve on top of the pumps to regulate the flow, but I don't see the benefit of having to attach two ball valves to the input and the output.

Click to expand...

correct- you can put two additional valves there if you feel like it, but theres liekly no need.

On that same note.... I plan on using my Blichmann Autosparge for the wort return from the HERMS coil. Any objections?

Click to expand...

yea, thats not what its meant for. an autosparge is meant for sparging. while recirculating, you dont want a valve there.

Third and final question.... How does one go about recirculation of the wort in the BK? I have a side/whirlpool pickup. I would assume with using a whirlpool there would be no need to recirculate the boiled wort as it would drive the majority of the trub to the middle of the keggle.

Click to expand...

theres no need to recirculate the boil unless its for something specific, like whirlpooling, or chilling.