Batch Sparge w/ Rectangular Cooler - pickup placement

[m1k3]

Hi All-

I've done 54 all grain brews, but I just got a new mash paddle and it really kinked up my stainless steel braid. I batch sparge in a 70qt rectangular cooler and make 15 gallon batches.

I just ordered a 1/2" FTP stainless tee and two 6" bazooka/torpedo style screens.

My question:
When batch sparging is there any benefit to extending the drain from the end of the cooler out to the middle?

The advantage of picking up down by the drain is that I can stir more aggressively without beating up the screens that will be mounded to the tee up against the end of the cooler.

Presuming that I mix the mash and vorlauf before the three run offs... would their be any efficiency gain from picking up in the middle? I've got my own theory but want the collective wisdom of HBT!

 

[doug293cz]

With batch sparging you don't have to worry about the flow patterns to the pickups, because there is no negative impact from channeling if all the liquid in the mash is at a uniform sugar concentration. So, the important thing is to make sure the mash is well stirred (to get uniform concentration) before each run off. Stir before vorlauf.

What you do want to do with the drain is make sure it is placed to minimize the liquid left in the MLT after draining. If you put some water in the MLT, drain it out, and find significant volume of water left, then that will affect your mash efficiency adversely.

Brew on

 

[Terek]

With batch sparging you don't have to worry about the flow patterns to the pickups, because there is no negative impact from channeling if all the liquid in the mash is at a uniform sugar concentration. So, the important thing is to make sure the mash is well stirred (to get uniform concentration) before each run off. Stir before vorlauf.

What you do want to do with the drain is make sure it is placed to minimize the liquid left in the MLT after draining. If you put some water in the MLT, drain it out, and find significant volume of water left, then that will affect your mash efficiency adversely.

Brew on

what he said exactly. Drain area is meaningless. The most important part in batch sparging is to minimize dead space, as all liquid is, in theory, at the same sugar concentration. You just want to get it all

 

[m1k3]

Thanks for the replies! I was hoping you'd say that.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Agreed, I have seen photos of huge boat coolers, think group brew, with nothing more than a 6-8" water heater braid. Not sure what you need the tee for? 1 braid is as good as two IMO. The heavy large water heater braids appear almost indestructible.

Another tip I picked up from BIAB brewing, tilt your cooler at the end of the run, and just let it drip drain into a bucket or pitcher for a half hour while you get to boiling, I was shocked at how much wort can be left behind at the bottom of the grain bed.

 

[m1k3]

I'd agree, the tee is not required... But it has two purposes:
1) it puts the screen at 90 degrees to the drain, keeping it even closer to the end of the cooler and out of mash paddle danger
2) I figure 2 screens should run off faster than one with more surface area than just one and less likely to clog since half the flow will take each path

I'll post the results of my next brew with the new screens. My beersmith brewhouse efficiency was 72% last time with a SS braid. I'll keep the mill gap and everything constant.

 

[m1k3]

Here is what it looks like:
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1453350209.209595.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1453350223.390517.jpg

 

[wilserbrewer]

That looks good, I would suggest tipping the cooler to get as much wort as possible at the end of the run. I put a heavy tilt on my cooler a while back and just let it drip for 20-30 minutes and was shocked at the additional volume collected.

If you're chasing efficiency this may help.