Flowmeters

[korndog]

Hi guys
Having had my first stuck recirculation in my mash tun, I am extremely concerned about flow monitoring using direct fire. I have read a few posts about some simple meters from Dwyer. What would be a decent "bolt-on" solution just to make sure I am recirculating?

Thanks
KD

 

[kladue]

Here is a acrylic flowmeter from dwyer that I use, http://www.dwyer-inst.com/htdocs/PDFFILES/cat/flow/VFA&VFB_cat.pdf, the model is a VFB-81SS (Stainless fitting), 6-60 gph (.1-1 gpm). If you get a pair you could use one on the wort circuit and one on the sparge water circuit to balance flows in and out of the mash tun to keep level under control.

 

[korndog]

Here is a acrylic flowmeter from dwyer that I use, http://www.dwyer-inst.com/htdocs/PDFFILES/cat/flow/VFA&VFB_cat.pdf, the model is a VFB-81SS (Stainless fitting), 6-60 gph (.1-1 gpm). If you get a pair you could use one on the wort circuit and one on the sparge water circuit to balance flows in and out of the mash tun to keep level under control.

Thanks Kladue. It's a must-own for me now.

 

[Jester369]

Just be careful of the temp limits on those. 150* is the max they can handle it looks like.

 

[kladue]

The 150 deg F. rating is at 100 psi, have used them up to boiling water temp at 1 - 2 psi with no problems for quite a few batches on the old system (~4 years). Only down side to these flowmeters is the 1/8" female pipe connections, you need to use 1/8" pipe nipples and adapter fittings to get to 1/2" tubing, or use a Swagelok SS-810-1-2 tube fitting.

 

[korndog]

The 150 deg F. rating is at 100 psi, have used them up to boiling water temp at 1 - 2 psi with no problems for quite a few batches on the old system (~4 years). Only down side to these flowmeters is the 1/8" female pipe connections, you need to use 1/8" pipe nipples and adapter fittings to get to 1/2" tubing, or use a Swagelok SS-810-1-2 tube fitting.

I assume that the temperature dissipates rapidly through 1/8" pipe.

So you tee off the pump outlet; where does the discharge go?

Thanks
KD

 

[Jester369]

The 150 deg F. rating is at 100 psi

Ahhh yes. :cross:

 

[korndog]

Is there a simple tubular in-line meter that can be installed on a hose?

KD

 

[beerthirty]

here is one that includes a digital temp gauge for $30. temp is good to 194* not sure if fitting size will be a problem. http://www.sharkacomputers.com/thfltxpl.html

 

[RodfatherX]

I actually made one a few years ago out of pvc pipe fittings. It would be a lil harder with a small 3/4th inch cpvc pipe but I guess do able.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

If you get the end connection version of the Dwyer meter, they come with 3/8" connections. I thought the VFB-85-EC-SS was the best suited to brewing.

 

[korndog]

here is one that includes a digital temp gauge for $30. temp is good to 194* not sure if fitting size will be a problem. http://www.sharkacomputers.com/thfltxpl.html

Dang; thirty bucks? That looks like a steal. Wonder if I can make it work? I like the alarm feature, but I wish it sounded when flow stopped.

 

[korndog]

If you get the end connection version of the Dwyer meter, they come with 3/8" connections. I thought the VFB-85-EC-SS was the best suited to brewing.

Cool. I'll check it out.

 

[beerthirty]

Dang; thirty bucks? That looks like a steel. Wonder if I can make it work? I like the alarm feature, but I wish it sounded when flow stopped.

Only drawback that I can find is that it is that it does not have an internal battery, its meant to run off of the PC power supply. If I remember correctly you have a herms. so the power should be able to be drawn from your control box.

If the flow stops the the temp would change fairly quickly. set the temp alarm right below your sparge temp.

 

[kladue]

The flow and temperature device looks like a visual flow inidcator without a read out, and has a temperature display. If all you need to do is verify flow you cant beat the price, if you want to set and monitor flows then the dwyer is the device needed. The dwyer flow meters need to be in a vertical position to work correctly, better if they were frame mounted and flex hosed to the kettles.

 

[korndog]

The flow and temperature device looks like a visual flow inidcator without a read out, and has a temperature display. If all you need to do is verify flow you cant beat the price, if you want to set and monitor flows then the dwyer is the device needed. The dwyer flow meters need to be in a vertical position to work correctly, better if they were frame mounted and flex hosed to the kettles.

Ideally, I would like a flow indicator with an alarm if there is such a thing, but weighing price and other factors, I think a simple paddle indicator will suit my needs. I am mainly concerned with my burner firing or not firing because of a stuck mash or pump cavitation.

Thank you for all of your help.

 

[korndog]

Only drawback that I can find is that it is that it does not have an internal battery, its meant to run off of the PC power supply. If I remember correctly you have a herms. so the power should be able to be drawn from your control box.

If the flow stops the the temp would change fairly quickly. set the temp alarm right below your sparge temp.

Good points. I think I might just get one at that price and see if it will work.

 

[MadWeezel]

If Your a DIY kinda guy, you could hookup a IR photo-tansistor and an aurdino to build one.. Then you could add a thermo couple and burner controller...

 

[WBC]

I do not think there is any easy solution to a flowmeter for brewing. All the commercial flowmeters are very expensive. I would like a flowmeter on my mashtun for recirculation and for fly sparging but after looking for a solution for quite some time have given up on that and just use a graduated pitcher and measure 1 minute and read the quantity and adjust the outlet flow to get what I want.

 

[kladue]

How expensive is too expensive?

 

[korndog]

Here is what I decided on to verify flow. At some point I will install real flow meters.

[youtube]p81szm1V300[/youtube]

 

[korndog]

The paddle wheel turned out to work ok, but is not ideal. You need to kick up the flow pretty high to get it going sometimes. I think I am going to go for the inline meters like Kladue's since I have the bug to start fly sparging. Does anyone have an installation diagram or some advise on how to hook these up?

thanks
KD

 

[kladue]

On the old system the 60GPH flow meter is connected to the mash side pump discharge and the 0-12GPH flowmeter is in the sparge flow to mash tun. Recirculation mode the pump valving is adjusted to hold 60 GPH (1 GPM), when sparging the wort flow is dropped to 12GPH and sparge water flow is matched to hold level in mash tun while sparge water holds out.

 

[WBC]

How expensive is too expensive?

I would pay up to $60.00 but I would want a pyrex glass and stainless construction. No plastic. The scale could read pints per minute or liters per minute. 1 to 10 on the pints scale.

 

[olllllo]

here is one that includes a digital temp gauge for $30. temp is good to 194* not sure if fitting size will be a problem. http://www.sharkacomputers.com/thfltxpl.html

$19.31 here...
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=CA...3a4807f90bc327ea248aa83b586db4902c623cb67eda5

 

[korndog]

On the old system the 60GPH flow meter is connected to the mash side pump discharge and the 0-12GPH flowmeter is in the sparge flow to mash tun. Recirculation mode the pump valving is adjusted to hold 60 GPH (1 GPM), when sparging the wort flow is dropped to 12GPH and sparge water flow is matched to hold level in mash tun while sparge water holds out.

Thanks Kladue.

 

[billtzk]

Here is a acrylic flowmeter from dwyer that I use, http://www.dwyer-inst.com/htdocs/PDFFILES/cat/flow/VFA&VFB_cat.pdf, the model is a VFB-81SS (Stainless fitting), 6-60 gph (.1-1 gpm). If you get a pair you could use one on the wort circuit and one on the sparge water circuit to balance flows in and out of the mash tun to keep level under control.

I can't get that link to work for me.

Is this what you are talking about? Series SF2 Sight Flow Meters

 

[John Beere]

I haven't picked one up yet, but here is the one I'm going to get when I do. It has two 1/2" NPT female threads and is rated from 1.5 to 12 GPM and a max temp of 212 degrees. Not bad for $48...

http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_view.asp?sku=3277902

 

[John Beere]

Hmm, this one's better looking, but only goes to 180 degrees (which is just fine by me) for only $7 more...

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1AMD6

 

[korndog]

Hmm, this one's better looking, but only goes to 180 degrees (which is just fine by me) for only $7 more...

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1AMD6

The take-apart cleaning is key for dealing with wort. Nice find.