Thought I'd do a quick intro and start a thread for my system.
Me: I'm an EE with a background in automation and control systems. I started brewing late last year and since have moved from Extract to All-grain. While propane worked well, I love that there's an option to do an electric system. I've been lurking for months and building my plan.
The brew equipment:
Electric Control System
I'm using a software called MySCADA to create an HMI to access the PID controllers via Modbus and control them on/off as well as setpoints. At this point, I'm planning on using some GPIO on the Raspberry pi to turn on/off the SSR's for the pumps via button on the display. The Veris meter will be there to log how much energy is being used. I may simplify things a little bit, but this is the overall system at this point. This also allows me to do almost everything though the display (Switches, buttons, indicators, alarms, SMS/Email alerts, trending, digital temperature display, etc). There will be little automation, this is just a way to extend the limited capabilities of display-based PID's and mechanical switches and indicators. It also keeps wiring very clean and simple.
One PID will be used for the BK, one will be used for the HLT, one will be used to monitor the MLT temperature and the last will be used as an AUX temperature (likely for the exit of the BK as it goes into the fermentor).
For brewing, this is a single tier HERMS system, nothing special there. The cool thing about the Bru-Gear equipment is that the HERMS coil is in the lid. This allows me to use it on any of the 3 kettles. My plan is to use the HERMS kit on the HLT for the first part of the brew, and move to the kettle after the boil. I want to experiment with recirculating cold water from the HLT through the HERMS coil in the BK to cool it off like an immersion chiller. I'd basically add ice to the HLT, fill with water, and transfer heat via the HERMS. This way I don't have to run hose-water through, and it also helps clean the system when I'm done.
I got my Bru-gear last week and the equipment looks great and is going to work well for what I'm trying to do. I bought the PID's from broncosaurs on this forum and should get shortly. Currently building the panel and ordering some parts like elements, element TC fittings, whirlpool TC fitting, recirculation fittin and some more valves.
I have been working on the HMI a little, getting more familiar with it. Right now I've got it running on a Raspberry Pi communicating to a Modbus IO card that I've got. Still working out some details, but its very flexible and well worth the cost (Under $60).
Here are some pictures of the control box and the first-pass of the HMI:
Me: I'm an EE with a background in automation and control systems. I started brewing late last year and since have moved from Extract to All-grain. While propane worked well, I love that there's an option to do an electric system. I've been lurking for months and building my plan.
The brew equipment:
- 1 - BK - Bru-Gear ProBoiler 10 Gallon Electric Kettle with upgraded 1.5" Tri Clover Ball Valve
- 1 - MLT - Bru-Gear ProBoiler 10 Gallon Electric Kettle with upgraded 1.5" Tri Clover Ball Valve
- 1 - HLT - Bru-Gear ProBoiler 10 Gallon Electric Kettle with upgraded 1.5" Tri Clover Ball Valve
- 1 - Bru-Gear 10 gallon HERMS kit
- 1 - Bru-Gear 10 Gallon False Bottom
- 3 - Bru-Gear ProBoiler Dip Tube
- 2 - Stainless steel, inline, chugger pumps
- 1 - Electric Control system (More below)
- 1 - 48" x 24" Chrome shelving for brew stand
- I've also already got a kegerator, some 3 and 5-gallon corny kegs as well as a Stout Tanks 7.3 gallon Conical fermentor
Electric Control System
- 4 - Watlow MicroDIN Modbus PID temperature controllers
- 1 - Obvius Acquisuite Data Acquisition server and Gateway (for Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP conversion and data logging)
- 1 - Veris E50 power meter with 100A CT's.
- 1 - Lantronix Wibox to convert ethernet to Wifi
- 1 - Raspberry pi running MySCADA HMI via webserver
- 1 - LCD/Android HMI for controls and display
- 2 - 40A SSRs for the heating elements
- 2 - 10A SSRs for the pumps
- 1 - Main contactor
- 1 - E-stop
- 1 - Key switch enable
- ? - applicable fuses and circuit breakers
I'm using a software called MySCADA to create an HMI to access the PID controllers via Modbus and control them on/off as well as setpoints. At this point, I'm planning on using some GPIO on the Raspberry pi to turn on/off the SSR's for the pumps via button on the display. The Veris meter will be there to log how much energy is being used. I may simplify things a little bit, but this is the overall system at this point. This also allows me to do almost everything though the display (Switches, buttons, indicators, alarms, SMS/Email alerts, trending, digital temperature display, etc). There will be little automation, this is just a way to extend the limited capabilities of display-based PID's and mechanical switches and indicators. It also keeps wiring very clean and simple.
One PID will be used for the BK, one will be used for the HLT, one will be used to monitor the MLT temperature and the last will be used as an AUX temperature (likely for the exit of the BK as it goes into the fermentor).
For brewing, this is a single tier HERMS system, nothing special there. The cool thing about the Bru-Gear equipment is that the HERMS coil is in the lid. This allows me to use it on any of the 3 kettles. My plan is to use the HERMS kit on the HLT for the first part of the brew, and move to the kettle after the boil. I want to experiment with recirculating cold water from the HLT through the HERMS coil in the BK to cool it off like an immersion chiller. I'd basically add ice to the HLT, fill with water, and transfer heat via the HERMS. This way I don't have to run hose-water through, and it also helps clean the system when I'm done.
I got my Bru-gear last week and the equipment looks great and is going to work well for what I'm trying to do. I bought the PID's from broncosaurs on this forum and should get shortly. Currently building the panel and ordering some parts like elements, element TC fittings, whirlpool TC fitting, recirculation fittin and some more valves.
I have been working on the HMI a little, getting more familiar with it. Right now I've got it running on a Raspberry Pi communicating to a Modbus IO card that I've got. Still working out some details, but its very flexible and well worth the cost (Under $60).
Here are some pictures of the control box and the first-pass of the HMI: