Fly Sparge Rig

[pearlbeer]

I posted the new method I developed for a Fly Sparge rig. It is working very well.

I'd appreciate any feedback.

http://shoalcreekbrewing.blogspot.com/2010/06/fly-sparging-new-invention.html

 

[jason.mundy]

I thought that this was a nice idea. I've been doing batch sparging was well. This looks like a zero cost way for me to go to fly sparging.

 

[Catt22]

I like seeing creative solutions like this. There is one small thing I noticed that isn't quite correct. Using a 7/64" drill bit as a gauge on the ball valve or any other tool to set the valve opening the same way each time won't work very well. The problem is that the flow rate will change dramatically as the liquid level drops. It definitely will not be a steady rate, so you will have to open the valve more as the head decreases. This will happen in both the HLT and the MT. This is also the reason I don't use a lid on my MT. I want to see what's going on inside. This would not be possible with the inverted cooler HLT method.

 

[pearlbeer]

I like seeing creative solutions like this. There is one small thing I noticed that isn't quite correct. Using a 7/64" drill bit as a gauge on the ball valve or any other tool to set the valve opening the same way each time won't work very well. The problem is that the flow rate will change dramatically as the liquid level drops. It definitely will not be a steady rate, so you will have to open the valve more as the head decreases. This will happen in both the HLT and the MT. This is also the reason I don't use a lid on my MT. I want to see what's going on inside. This would not be possible with the inverted cooler HLT method.

This is true. But I find that the flow rate is actually pretty steady throughout the entire process. I do ten to crack open the ball value to 1/8" or so during the last 20mins of the sparge.

If you are fly sparging, you should have the grain bed wet the entire time, so the gravity feed is reasonably consistent.