Recirculate through Autosparge?

[jrcrilly]

Does anyone recirculate their mash through an Autosparge? If so, is the flow rate OK? I can drill another hole and add a port just for recirculation, but if I can just run it through the Autosparge it will save a little work. My concern is that the Autosparge device might restrict the flow too much. Yes, I can try it and find out - but if I'm gonna have to add the extra port anyway it would be a little easier to do it while I'm already working on the kettle! :smack:

 

[drksky]

Does anyone recirculate their mash through an Autosparge? If so, is the flow rate OK? I can drill another hole and add a port just for recirculation, but if I can just run it through the Autosparge it will save a little work. My concern is that the Autosparge device might restrict the flow too much. Yes, I can try it and find out - but if I'm gonna have to add the extra port anyway it would be a little easier to do it while I'm already working on the kettle! :smack:

I do it all the time, but I leave the float off while mashing so it just stays wide open the whole time. Once I'm ready to sparge, I screw in the float and adjust it for the correct sparge height. Never had any issues with restricted flow.

 

[jrcrilly]

Thanks! That was what I was hoping to hear. It will save me drilling another hole and adding another bulkhead connector.

 

[mabrungard]

The only concern I have is if the orifice at the shutoff is small enough to get clogged by a husk or grain. If its big enough to pass a particle that big, then there shouldn't be a problem with using the autosparge.

 

[bbrim]

The only concern I have is if the orifice at the shutoff is small enough to get clogged by a husk or grain. If its big enough to pass a particle that big, then there shouldn't be a problem with using the autosparge.

This.
When I set up my rims I had to alter the my sparge setup. Just make sure those holes are bigger than your grain particles and you should be fine.

 

[robfar]

I've been circulating the mash liquor through my autosparge for 5-6 years and have never had a clog. I have a domed false bottom in a 10-gal Igloo.

 

[Queequeg]

If you use a grant it will largely mitigate the potential issue of husks blocking the autosparge

 

[dye4me]

Just hooked up a flow meter inline before my autosparg before my last brew. Recirculated 1-1.5 gal/min for the entire mash. 2gals/min was the max my march would push through the auto sparge. The flow meter was a little unhappy at first until the wort cleared but the autosparge had no probs.

 

[jrcrilly]

That sounds great! I picked up the Autosparge but haven't yet installed it.

 

[bilderback]

I have a 15-gallon Blichmann that I circulate through a (floatless) autosparge in 10 or 12-gallon batches. Never had a problem with a clogged orifice.

When I make the rare 5-gallon batch, however, the tubing tends to hang down at an acute angle, pinching off the flow. I have to adjust the float location or just tie it to the top of the kettle...

 

[drunkmonk59]

I have also been doing this for 5 years. Never had a problem.

 

[dye4me]

I had the exact same problem in my 55 gallon with smaller grain bills, lengthend the hose two feet and added two more floats to provide relife of the pinching.