Could use some help adjusting my equipment

[Remos112]

So yesterday I brewed my first batch with a recirculating pump and I am left with some questions. This is the setup:
A direct fire electric kettle with a filterhex on the bottom.:

Problem is though, after some time the flow almost got down to zero so I guess the filter must be clogging up and almost causing a stuck sparge. After some stirring across the filterhex the flow got better. Could it be I opened the throttle too much and in doing so sucking the filterhex stuck? Or is a filterhex no substitute for a false bottom.
I did however got great efficiency @81% and the beer was very very clear at sparging, so not at all a bad brewing day, would like to perfect my process though. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance, Remi

 

[Remos112]

Nobody any clue?

 

[day_trippr]

I don't know what a "filterhex" is, but even assuming your pump was drawing directly from the kettle drain valve and you had a straight return, once the wort starts boiling the pump drawing on the wort will drop its pressure to the point that the wort "flashes" and instantly emits enough steam to form bubbles that in turn cavitate the pump head.

Reducing the flow rate is about the only thing one can do. Hopefully you find the happy spot where the pump is still moving wort...

Cheers!

 

[Remos112]

I don't know what a "filterhex" is, but even assuming your pump was drawing directly from the kettle drain valve and you had a straight return, once the wort starts boiling the pump drawing on the wort will drop its pressure to the point that the wort "flashes" and instantly emits enough steam to form bubbles that in turn cavitate the pump head.

Reducing the flow rate is about the only thing one can do. Hopefully you find the happy spot where the pump is still moving wort...

Cheers!

That might explain why I saw bubbles going into the beer lines, I was kinda baffled by that, where on earth could air be coming from.
I will experiment some more with the flow rate. About the "filterhex"
it's a stainless steel spring tube kinda thing wich normally filters quite well!
here's an image:

 

[Smellyglove]

I understand it as this was during mashing?

That's a Mattmill Lauterhexe/copy. Seems like you have a decent capacity pump for that rig, and the exit valve was fully open afaik could see. As day_trippr said, reduce the flow. The flow should match your filtering capacity (the lauterhexe).

 

[Remos112]

I understand it as this was during mashing?

That's a Mattmill Lauterhexe/copy. Seems like you have a decent capacity pump for that rig, and the exit valve was fully open afaik could see. As day_trippr said, reduce the flow. The flow should match your filtering capacity (the lauterhexe).

Actually it is an original Mattmill Lauterhexe, my LBS calls it a filterhex though.The pump is rated for 16 liters per minute it really pulls well, and indeed it was fully open during the mash. Good point on throttling it down to the Lauterhexe's capicity. Thanks for your reply!

 

[Remos112]

This is full throttle without obstructions:

 

[seatazzz]

You definitely want to throttle down to reduce compacting your grain bed to the point that nothing can get through. A good starting point is about 1/4 turn on your ball valve and go from there. I will also beat a very dead horse and recommend using a mash bag as well.

 

[LarMoeCur]

What Seatazz said. You are compacting the grain bed. You could even be colaping the filterhexx. I'm not sure what it's made of but it looks like it will compress pretty easily. There is no need to run the pump full throttle. You really only need enough flow to keep the tempurature uniform through out the grain bed.

To answer your Filterhexx question. Yes, it is no match for a false bottom. In my experences with bazooka tubes like this is that they draw the fluid from one point right near the bulkhead. If you just run water through it. You will see 90% of the draw is right at the T fitting. False bottoms help to eleveate the focused draw point.

I wouldn't run out and buy/build a false bottom. You got 81% efficency no need to upgrade just yet. The hexx will make great beer just fine as long as you fix the stuck flow issue. Which is throttle back the pump.

 

[Remos112]

Thanks everybody, that's some solid advice. Will try it throttled down the next time. I also had a bulkhead failure with 27liters left in the kettle, so I did learn a thing or 2 this session. Would a false bottom be good for brewing a wit with 50/50 pils/wheat, or would I still use some ricehulls or similar. If it can run it without it I might consider upgrading.

 

[LarMoeCur]

Yes, you should be able to run a wheat beer on your system. I would for sure use rice hulls. Wheat will gum up the works quickly.

 

[Remos112]

Yes, you should be able to run a wheat beer on your system. I would for sure use rice hulls. Wheat will gum up the works quickly.

I am really looking forward to a Hoegaarden clone coming spring. Is there a substitute for rice hulls though? They don't see, to sell them in The Netherlands for some reason.

 

[Remos112]

Brewed a big beer today, and throttled the pump valve like you guys suggested! Worked like a charm, thanks you all!