First HERMS System

Hi Homebrew community! I have been studying the art of homebrewing for a long time and I am finally ready to jump in. I have put together some drawings as a representation of my plans. So I am posting them here to glean from some of the experience all of you have. This system is designed for use with the Brewtroller. So does my HERMS system seem like it will work well?

Brewery Diagram
https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1BA-l6SKmlIOlC-_UJHaWDRHo_Xu8F2kV3UXKL_-P4CQ&w=1012&h=813

Step 1: Fill the BK and HLT then heat to strike/HERMS temperature. Place grains in MLT.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1f1BGyfYqWnvT0rZnZuTAUPVRjSPR-S175caNxWt6bh4&w=1012&h=813

Step 2: Pump the strike water from the BK into the MLT.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=123EHmDcJitP8QnAdSOlIy-k528zraFulbSolOIwqoHU&w=1012&h=813

Step 3: HERMS pumping through false bottom.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1Ml1MzS3Cq5KqXX0NYe8ddVSRDe14hKfp2Sbbs1J2DO8&w=1012&h=813

Step 4: Pump wort from MLT into BK and use the water in the HLT to mash out. Add hops at appropriate time.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=15BmEu1NGeijRR1Y3G6U7pbovcJoD3qxpfNCxdJpusCQ&w=1012&h=813

Step 5: Pump wort through chiller and into fermentor.
https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=136bIFmXGZJnANlGrqTAoZF175FibpwnYmkk4ZYEufnc&w=1012&h=813

Damn what a way to start up. Nice lookin setup, everything looks like it should work fine. Not sure you need a water input into your boil kettle, Whats the function of that? This thing has all the bells and whistles, hope you can get it all together! Be sure to post some pics as you go along i'm interested to see how this turns out.

Looks like a good design. I would put the temp probe for the heat exchanger right at the outlet of the heat exchanger not in the MLT. Post your progress...

Wow, you're going to automate everything. Pretty cool. What are you going to use for a volume sensor? The ones I've seen look awfully finicky.

What are the two different temperature sensors on the MLT for?

scottatdrake said:

What are the two different temperature sensors on the MLT for?

Click to expand...

I think one for the mash, and one for out temp from the HTL.

I would also measure at the HTL at MaxOut suggested.

Another suggestion would be to make the lower connection to your heat exchanger coil the outlet. I found I get better flow rates pumping down through the coil. Put your temp probe in a T right at the coil outlet prior to your sparge/recirculate valve. Use a long probe for the HLT and MLT so you can get to the center of the kettle. Have fun with your build.

have you priced out motorized, stainless steel, 3-way ball valves? you are looking at $2-3k just in valves...

also whats that extra arm in the mash tun for (below the sparge arm, connected to the same motorized 3-way)?

dezman said:

Damn what a way to start up. Nice lookin setup, everything looks like it should work fine. Not sure you need a water input into your boil kettle, Whats the function of that? This thing has all the bells and whistles, hope you can get it all together! Be sure to post some pics as you go along i'm interested to see how this turns out.

Click to expand...

We are hoping to start work on it in about a month as the parts come in. We chose to fill the boil kettle along with the HLT so that we already have the HLT ready for heat exchange. Otherwise we would have to refill and reheat the HLT after using the water for the mash.

audger said:

have you priced out motorized, stainless steel, 3-way ball valves? you are looking at $2-3k just in valves...

also whats that extra arm in the mash tun for (below the sparge arm, connected to the same motorized 3-way)?

Click to expand...

Maybe we are thinking of two different things. The valves I have priced are about $80 each. That's $400 for five SS ball valves. Although currently they are out of stock. http://www.oscsys.com/3-Way-Motorized-Ball-Valve.html

The extra arm is a floating silicone arm in order to recirculate back into the MLT with reduced chance of hot side aeration.

MaxOut said:

Another suggestion would be to make the lower connection to your heat exchanger coil the outlet. I found I get better flow rates pumping down through the coil. Put your temp probe in a T right at the coil outlet prior to your sparge/recirculate valve. Use a long probe for the HLT and MLT so you can get to the center of the kettle. Have fun with your build.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll do that.