Sparging with one pump

[atouk]

I am making plans for my very first all grain batch on my new setup and am trying to work out my sparging strategy and was hoping for feedback from those with a one pump setup. Best I can figure I have two choices: I will need to use gravity from the HLT to the MT and then pump from MT to kettle, OR pump from HLT to MT and gravity drain from MT to kettle.

Any input on which setup works better with regard to efficiency, ease of use, etc?

Thanks!

 

[helterscelter]

I am making plans for my very first all grain batch on my new setup and am trying to work out my sparging strategy and was hoping for feedback from those with a one pump setup. Best I can figure I have two choices: I will need to use gravity from the HLT to the MT and then pump from MT to kettle, OR pump from HLT to MT and gravity drain from MT to kettle.

Any input on which setup works better with regard to efficiency, ease of use, etc?

Thanks!

I've done two batches now with a single pump. I only had two kettles (at the time) so both times i had to enlist gravity some. I direct heat the strike water in the Mt and heat sparge water in the boil kettle during the mash.

Both batches I pump recirculated during the mash. (Clarity and heat consistency)

After the mash on my first batch I batch sparged by draining the Mt into a bucket and pumping strike water from the boil kettle into the Mt.

On the second batch I fly sparged, again, pumping sparge water from the boil kettle and draining the mt into a bucket.

Both brews went well, switching the one pump from recirculation to sparging was very simple and effective.

If you have 3 vessels (with one pump) then you are right, you still have to use gravity some, but which option you do i think depends on how you sparge.

If you like to fly sparge then I would pump from hlt to Mt and gravity drain into a bucket or your boil kettle.
If you batch sparge then you should pump from mt into your boil kettle and gravity feed sparge water from hlt to your Mt.


I don't think efficiency (as in Brew house efficiency) will be effected specifically by how you use the pump, your sparge type and recirculation/mash temp control have more to do with it (in my I'm not a professional opinion)

The pump just changes how many times you have to lift your liquid by hand.

 

[motobrewer]

gravity from HLT to mash tun

 

[cantrell00]

gravity from HLT to mash tun

Best in my experience as well.

 

[beskone]

I have a 1 burner 1 pump 3 vessel system and fly sparge.

I heat the strike water and pump to mash tun, then heat the sparge water and pump to my HLT.

I pump from HLT on top of mash tun to sparge and gravity drain from mash tun to boil kettle.

Works great and I've get over 85% efficiency doing this. It's much easier to match the flow rate using the pump to deliver the sparge water.

 

[Bobby_M]

The reason to gravity drain from the MLT is that it reduces compaction. The reason not to is that it requires putting it up on the upper tier and it's hard to mash in like that. The other option is to keep everything low and do it as a batch sparge.

 

[motobrewer]

having the HLT directly above the MT does suck. if you could somehow stagger it that would help

 

[Schreiner]

I have a one pump set up. My HLT and MT (10 gallon coolers) are on a tall cart, sitting about 4' off the floor. My brew kettle (15 gallon) is sitting on a blichmann burner with the leg extensions.

I heat all my water in the brew kettle to mash in temp, transfer (pump) the proper amount to my mash tun and mash in. The rest of the (sparge) water then gets heated up the rest of the way to 170, and that gets pumped to the HLT. Whe the mash is complete I gravity drain the mash tun into the brew kettle, and pump the HLT to my sparge arm on top of the mash, trying to match the flow the wort output. Sparging is complete in about an hour.

There was a thread here that some poked fun at using two coolers for a 3 vessel set up like mine. It works for me.

 

[zippybasher]

Pump from htl to mt, gravity from mt to bk.

Pump from mt to bk ended up in a stuck mash for me when the water level got too low... Gravity is you friend.

 

[beskone]

I have a one pump set up. My HLT and MT (10 gallon coolers) are on a tall cart, sitting about 4' off the floor. My brew kettle (15 gallon) is sitting on a blichmann burner with the leg extensions.

I heat all my water in the brew kettle to mash in temp, transfer (pump) the proper amount to my mash tun and mash in. The rest of the (sparge) water then gets heated up the rest of the way to 170, and that gets pumped to the HLT. Whe the mash is complete I gravity drain the mash tun into the brew kettle, and pump the HLT to my sparge arm on top of the mash, trying to match the flow the wort output. Sparging is complete in about an hour.

There was a thread here that some poked fun at using two coolers for a 3 vessel set up like mine. It works for me.

Good stuff, you've pretty much got my setup except I have a 2nd blichmann kettle for my HLT. I just heat the sparge water to ~180º and put the lid on, I let the temp drop over the course of the sparge, usually drops to about ~160ish over the hour or so the sparge takes.

I think it works great, getting crazy good efficiency numbers.

 

[PlexVector]

BK/HLT, MLT, LG (Lautering grant), one pump
1. Mashin: BK/HLT->pump->MLT
2. Fly Sparging: MLT->gravity->LG, & BK/HLT->pump->MLT
3. Boil: LG->pump->BK/HLT
4. Chiller/fermentor: BK/HLT->hopRocket/filter->18"plateChiller->fermentor

The LG was my plastic fermentor from the 80's when I did extract. It will hold 7 gal to it's brim. I put a SS ball valve on it. When I get to 6.5 gal I can stop sparging and switch the MLT to the kettle and continue with the remaining sparge water still in the MLT. One day I'll get another pump and/or use another cooler as HLT.

 

[atouk]

Here's a pic of my setup. Still a work in progress, but you can see that the table I'm using would need a higher tier added to use gravity for the HLT (another cooler, not in the pic). I am thinking that could be the way to go since I'd rather not place the kettle on the floor. On the other hand, I have plenty of buckets that I could gravity drain the wort into from the mash tun and then just pour it into the kettle. I'm planning five gal batches so it won't be too much to lift.

Thanks for the advice so far!

 

[AnOldUR]

Raised HLT for gravity from HLT to MLT.
Pump to recirculate / vorlauf and transfer to boil kettle all at counter height.
Gravity to fermenters at floor level.

This keeps your MLT and BK at a decent working height.

 

[atouk]

Thanks for all the advice. I've decided to build a second tier to place the HLT on for a gravity feed. I'll add on more pics when its done

 

[govner1]

I have a single pump system w/ my pump on a stand that I can easily move as needed.
I move my mash water & sparge water from my HLT to my MLT w/ the pump and gravity feed my wort from the MLT to my BK.
After the boil I use the pump to run the wort through my CFC & back into the kettle for chilling & whirlpool. When I reach pitching temp I move the recirc hose to filling my car it's.
Last I pump water w/ SaniClean through the pump and into the empty BK for cleaning.

 

[atouk]

Here's the end result with the HLT perched on its new stand for gravity sparging. You'll also notice I discovered that $50 dedicated herms thread. I'm nearing the finish line! Just waiting on my cfc to arrive and once that is installed I should be ready to test the entire system. Can't wait!

View attachment 1434574906781.jpg

 

[itivino]

This may be a silly thought, but if you wanted to keep everything on 1 tier, couldn't you hook up the mlt to the bk via the valves at the bottom and let the water level even out between the mlt and the bk? you'd have to make sure the water level in the mlt was higher than the water level in the bk at all times so it doesn't flow backwards. Or am I missing something ?

 

[DurtyChemist]

Batch sparge. Local shop owner has one pump, single tier, three keg setup and batch sparges without a problem. Drain MT, transfer first sparge, stir, drain, repeat all while heating the boil

 

[dyqik]

Surprised I don't see many people other than the OP suggesting this option above:

Drain MLT into a bucket on the floor.

For batch sparging, pour each bucket load into the kettle. For flysparging, stop briefly and empty bucket into kettle as it nears full, or switch buckets.

As seen on Brulosopher's site...

 

[DurtyChemist]

I'm considering this setup with my currently available gear. I have 2 coolers, a keg boil kettle and a 7 gallon stainless pot with no valve. With QDs everywhere here is my thought process.

Heat stroke water in keg, pump into MT from the bottom.
Heard strike water and pump to 7 gallon pot or cooler 2.
Gravity drain to keg or pump into the bottom valve.
Either fly sparge from the top slowly or batch sparge through the QD.

Later on I'd use the pump to whirlpool and save my shoulders/arms from doing work.

Currently I do batch sparge a into buckets then pour into BK while I batch sparge. I'm thinking of 10 gallon batches in the future with the pump.

 

[Jaybird]

gravity from HLT to mash tun

Best in my experience as well.

Yep for sure! My system has been gravity from HLT to MLT for 13+ years and It's worked for me...

Good luck on the brew day

Cheers
Jay