Plumbing Single Tier 3 Vessel RIMS

[danz]

Well we have decided to upgrade our system from 1/2 quick disconnects to hard plumbed system with camlocks and 1/2 copper. The design will allow us to simplify our brew day by opening & closing valves. For cleanup the camlocks will unlock and allow easy cleaning and the mash tun will be on a tippy so we can dump the grains during the boil.


All valves are 1/2 standard ball valves except 9 which is a 3 way to allow flow out of the rims to the mash tun or boil kettle during whirlpool.


Here is the valve positions during the brew day:

Fill Mashtun
1) Open
2) Close
3) Close
4) Close
5) Close
6) Close
7) Close
8) Close
9) Open to Mashtun
10) Open

Mashing - Pump 1 On Rims on when temp needs to be raised
1) Close
2) Open
3) Close
4) Open
5) Close
6) Open - Bypass loop
7) Close
8) Open - Bypass loop
9) Open to Mashtun
10) Open part way to keep 1/2" wort above grain.


Transfer 1st Runnings
1) Close
2) Open
3) Close
4) Open
5) Close
6) Close
7) Close
8) Close
9) Open to Kettle
10) Open Full

Batch Sparge (same as fill mashtun process)
Transfer 2nd Runnings (same as Transfer 1st Runnings)

Whirlpool - Pumps 1 & 2 on
1) Close
2) Close
3) Open
4) Open
5) Open
6) Close
7) Close
8) Close
9) Open to Kettle
10) Open Full

Transfer to Chiller - all wort in system drained from 6 & 8 for starter or add to the batch.
1) Close
2) Close
3) Open
4) Open
5) Open
6) Close
7) Open
8) Close
9) Open to Kettle
10) Close


What do you guys think?

 

[webguru1974]

Looks great can't wait to put this together and start using it.

 

[Bobby_M]

My gut reaction is that a matrix of 10 valves isn't the epitome of simplification and I'm having a lot of trouble understanding what valves 4,5,6, and 8 actually do.

Why does it look like your pumps are connected in series?

 

[danz]

In a perfect world the valves would be controlled by an arduino but till then its by hand till we work out the setup.

As far as valves go

4 - Directs flow while filling the mashtun. Not necessary but allows for flow control.
5 - Directs flow while mashing. Not necessary but allows for flow control.
6 & 8 - Bypass during recirculation. We had concerns of putting too much pressure on the grain bed and had looked into installing a grant but stumbled across some post about adding a bypass to redirect the pump output not being directed to the RIMS.

We have 2 pumps connected in a series, my cobrewer and I both had pumps and this helps get a great whirlpool going and we can turn on the second pump at anytime to help boost the flow.