Pump Cavitation - Excessive Foaming

[TheJasonT]

Greetings,

I recently bought a Steelhead Pump from Northern Brewer and I've definitely noticed that my brew day is 100x easier now. Very little lifting now, I'm pretty happy.

However, I have noticed some excessive foaming issues and difficulty priming the pump. What I've been doing, as soon as I get my kettle to the proper preboil volume, is hook up all my plumbing as I heat to the boil. This is:

Out of the kettle, in to the pump, out of the pump, into the chiller, out of the chiller, back to the kettle.

I begin recirculating the hot wort through the system to sanitize everything with about 30 minutes left. However, I've been noticing that when I add things like hops, whirlfloc, or yeast nutrient, I get excessive foaming and what looks like "bubbles" running through the system. Could it be that my hoses are too long or I'm not priming correctly?

Usually I prime by opening the ball valves in reverse order, kettle return, pump out, and then kettle out. With water, I get a big bubble and a primed system, with boiling wort, though, I usually get enough wort to fill the pump head, but there's usually an air pocket about a foot long in the hose.

Any suggestions would be super helpful! Thank you!

-Jason

 

[LordUlrich]

I would start by trying to shorten the inlet tube length, and restrict the outlet by closing a ball valve to slow down the flow.

 

[tally350z]

How is your pump orientated? Could try changing that first if your out is not vertical. How long are your lines? Mine are around two feet and I have no issues. Try priming by opening the out kettle first with all others closed. Than open the kettle return, than the pump out..

 

[Bobby_M]

There is no reason to recirculate while you're in the middle of the boil. Start it after you flame out when cavitation is less likely.

 

[acidrain]

Why are you trying to recirculate during a rolling boil? The pumps can handle the heat, but not the bubbles associated with a rolling boil.
I don't even turn my pump on until the boil has subsided. It still sanitizes the parts in about 30 seconds of 200F wort.

 

[acidrain]

Ha, beat me to it...