Show me your mash recirculation returns!

[disney7]

I'm looking at building a new mash tun, and I would like to see what everyone who recirculates their mash (RIMS/HERMS) is using.

Some things I'm thinking about:

How to return the wort to the tun without letting it dig a hole in the mash.

How to return the wort without splashing too much.

How to address different mash heights, which will vary with the intended OG of the wort and batch sizes.

How to make switching from recirculating back into the tun to running off into the kettle easy and mess free.

Please feel free to add any other points of interest. I current use a rectangular cooler, but I am thinking about switching over to a kettle of some sort as a mash tun. However, it would be great to see all solutions.

Thanks

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

Not my design but probably one of the best ways to recirculate/return back to the mash tun is to do what Kal did on his electric brewery.... No digging of holes what-so-ever.

Mine is similar to that except I have it connected via one of these:

 

[bucfanmike]

At work and dont have a picture but I use the loc-line from brewhardware. It is great in my keg mash tun as it is very adjustable for height. I keep a low flow going thru my herms loop and it just flows back on top very gently. As far as switching ti to the kettle, im still switching hoses and making a mess. 3 way valves are in my future for that,

 

[steveoatley]

this is what I use

 

[FermentNEthinG]

this is what I use

Where did you find that sexy looking thing at?

*edit*
Found them and ordered a few for project time.

 

[steveoatley]

Its a combination of a 1 ft straight section and this section

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00065UCHU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

the blue was from the straight - acting as spacers

Steve

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

if you want to do it evenly just add a screen on lop of the grain and lay your hose on top and let the wort go at least an inch above then it won't channel, a slight whirlpool motion is even better but not needed

 

[poislb]

Here's mine, McMaster Carr cam lock, blichmann weldless valve assembly, 1/2"ss tube with holes drilled.

 

[poislb]

Whoops, that's for my fly sparge.. This is my recirc fitting.

 

[disney7]

Does that hose float pretty well? (The end doesn't point down and washes a hole in the mash?)

 

[jafo28]

Here's mine.



Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[BillKlineVT]

Here's mine from Brewhardware.com




Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[chuck78]

Here's mine, McMaster Carr cam lock, blichmann weldless valve assembly, 1/2"ss tube with holes drilled.

Do you still have all the part numbers for this?

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

MASHRECIRCULATION

http://www.brewhardware.com/category_s/1854.htm

 

[BadWolfBrewing]

Search for locline. Works great, cheap, easy to clean

 

[Indian_villager]

I see all you using loc line. What is it made of?

 

[Yooper]

http://www.loc-line.com/_doc/Specifications.pdf

It does say that repeated temperatures over 170 will cause fatigue. I've been using mine for years and I even recirculate boiling wort through the chiller in a piece of it. Maybe that's not a great idea, but that's what I'm doing.

 

[eric19312]

this is what I use

Long time batch sparger here planning to start direct fire recirculation mashing and thinking about options.

I like how this looks but am wondering if it is ok to spray the recirculating wort from this height or is that best avoided due to concerns about hot side aeration or some other issue?

 

[steveoatley]

Long time batch sparger here planning to start direct fire recirculation mashing and thinking about options.

I like how this looks but am wondering if it is ok to spray the recirculating wort from this height or is that best avoided due to concerns about hot side aeration or some other issue?

Eric,

that is a better question for a Fly Sparger
I batch sparge, and use this LocLine for recirculation
I have never had a problem with Aeration in the mash.

Steve

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

I just use a 1/2" silicone hose and keep the wort 1 inch above the mash and it works good. like others I had worries about spraying so I followed the electric brewery method by Kal, I do see a slight whirl pool also, guessing that helps some

 

[Owly055]

How about just using one of those stainless steel braid lines...............

H.W.