TheYoshi
Well-Known Member
So I am sitting here (admittedly after a few beers) thinking about MLT designs, I really like the steel braid approach (my current setup) but got to thinking there are probably some ways that it could be made more efficient and friendly to fly sparges if one chose to go that route. The typical design is a steal braid up the middle of a cooler, works quite well and all but could potentially encourage channeling in a fly sparge setup, also the relatively small surface area of the screen is going to increase likelihood of stuck sparges.
I got to thinking, this could really be stepped up a notch by adding adding a T junction at the end of the straight piece of mesh and then putting two additional pieces that curve around the sides of the cooler (assuming round cooler). This would give a ton more surface area and drainage area for the good stuff to filter through, reducing the likelihood of a stuck sparge and also helping reduce channeling likelihood in a fly sparge setup. Here is a diagram of what I was thinking, please use caution when viewing, my illustration skills may blow your mind.
I think these are self explanatory but in case they aren't the mesh (crosshatch) areas are steel mesh, the sold areas are joints, everything else is labeled.
Design 1 - Simple Single point connection from central tube (click for enormous image), the shading at the ends of the side tubes is meant to represent a plug:
Design 2 - Dual connection points to central line from side meshes:
Design 3 - Ridiculous, at this point cost probably dictates that it would make more sense to just buy a true false bottom but here it is:
Two questions:
1. Thoughts?
2. Does anyone know where to pick up stainless T-joints and 4-way joints?
I got to thinking, this could really be stepped up a notch by adding adding a T junction at the end of the straight piece of mesh and then putting two additional pieces that curve around the sides of the cooler (assuming round cooler). This would give a ton more surface area and drainage area for the good stuff to filter through, reducing the likelihood of a stuck sparge and also helping reduce channeling likelihood in a fly sparge setup. Here is a diagram of what I was thinking, please use caution when viewing, my illustration skills may blow your mind.
I think these are self explanatory but in case they aren't the mesh (crosshatch) areas are steel mesh, the sold areas are joints, everything else is labeled.
Design 1 - Simple Single point connection from central tube (click for enormous image), the shading at the ends of the side tubes is meant to represent a plug:
Design 2 - Dual connection points to central line from side meshes:
Design 3 - Ridiculous, at this point cost probably dictates that it would make more sense to just buy a true false bottom but here it is:
Two questions:
1. Thoughts?
2. Does anyone know where to pick up stainless T-joints and 4-way joints?