Brewing Imporvements

[schumacm]

1.What are some of the inefficiencies that you have experienced within the brewing process?

2.On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest, which of these products would you consider purchasing?

Automated wort mixing device
Steam jacket for wort boiling
Sanitizing spray device
Bottle filling device
Electric heating coil for boiling wort
Wort cooler that saves water
More efficient brew kettle false bottom.

3.What are some of the things that you look for when purchasing brewing equipment?

 

[nm999]

Automated wort mixing device
Steam jacket for wort boiling 1
Sanitizing spray device 1
Bottle filling device 1
Electric heating coil for boiling wort 1
Wort cooler that saves water 1
More efficient brew kettle false bottom.1

3.What are some of the things that you look for when purchasing brewing equipment? Sellers who are genuinely interested in the hobby and not just trying to make a buck.

 

[MalFet]

Automated wort mixing device
Steam jacket for wort boiling 1
Sanitizing spray device 1
Bottle filling device 1
Electric heating coil for boiling wort 1
Wort cooler that saves water 1
More efficient brew kettle false bottom.1

3.What are some of the things that you look for when purchasing brewing equipment? Sellers who are genuinely interested in the hobby and not just trying to make a buck.

+1 to that. But I bet this is homework for a class, not actually somebody thinking of manufacturing a product.

 

[schumacm]

Actually, it's a college senior design project for mechanical engineers. I'm trying to get as many ideas as possible from as many sources as I can.

What I came up with was the automated wort mixing device, possibly incorporating a heating element into the mixing device to do away with propane as a heating source.

I could have probably worded the thread title somewhat differently but it was late last night and I wanted to get this out.

I wouldn't be selling this, it's more to gain a better understanding of the process and to see what we could create that could help

 

[kpr121]

If it is for a ME design project I would think a wort mixing device with an incorporated heating element would be an excellent project. You wouldnt necessarily have to have a goal of eliminating propane, but simply minimizing it or getting up to temp faster (more efficient brewday so the wife isnt nagging about you being in the garage all day. Wait you're in college you havent realized that aspect yet).

 

[Special Hops]

Not sure why I would need a Wort mixing device. A big spoon works pretty well.

Of the one you listed I would say. Wort cooler that saves water.

 

[MalFet]

Actually, it's a college senior design project for mechanical engineers. I'm trying to get as many ideas as possible from as many sources as I can.

What I came up with was the automated wort mixing device, possibly incorporating a heating element into the mixing device to do away with propane as a heating source.

I could have probably worded the thread title somewhat differently but it was late last night and I wanted to get this out.

I wouldn't be selling this, it's more to gain a better understanding of the process and to see what we could create that could help

Well why didn't you say so You'll find people around here generally quite helpful, but not if it looks like you're just looking for verbatim answers to a homework question. Now that you've made it clear that you're actually doing something a little more involved than that, you'll likely get some good responses...especially if you make it clear that you're willing to post your designs here afterward.

Based on your questions, I'm going to assume that you've got some experience with brewing, but not a huge ton. Apologies if that's incorrect.

Automated wort mixing device :- not sure I see the need for it. If you could come up with a way to gently heat and stir a mash, that would be interesting.

Steam jacket for wort boiling :- if this can be done efficiently, fabulous. But, I think it's a hard problem. There are already steam jacketed boilers on the market for kitchens, but they're expensive, large, and heavy. I'm not sure if that's something that can be changed easily.

Sanitizing spray device :- This exists. It's a spray bottle. I buy them three at a time at the drug store.

Bottle filling device :- If you could design some kind of float valve that fit inside of a 1/2" tube, I would be extremely interested in something like that. If it were possible to build a tube that would automatically fill a bottle to a set level, I'd buy a dozen.

Electric heating coil for boiling wort :- Again, these already exist. What you are describing is either a bucket heater or a low density water heater element.

Wort cooler that saves water :- I believe that plate chillers already approach theoretical maximum efficiency, and a proper whirlpool chiller isn't far off. If you can find a way to build a cleanable plate chiller, you might make a few friends.

More efficient brew kettle false bottom :- what do you mean by more efficient? Better at keeping stuff in without getting stuck? Sounds great, but again...a tough problem.

 

[azscoob]

wort chiller that uses less water FTW

 

[Clonefarmer]

1.What are some of the inefficiencies that you have experienced within the brewing process?

2.On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest, which of these products would you consider purchasing?

Automated wort mixing device: Some rigs have circulation pumps.

Steam jacket for wort boiling: This would be good for cutting down kettle caramelizing. It may be outside of most homebrewers budgets though.

Sanitizing spray device: If you mean a CIP. These tend to be for larger systems. I could see one on some of the more advanced brew rigs.

Bottle filling device: I use a bottling wand that cost about 5 dollars. Bottle filling machines cost allot.

Electric heating coil for boiling wort: Some rigs have heating elements. I'm sure there are a few in the DIY section of the forum.