Successfull fix for the wort in the dead space in the walls of my Brewzila

[kohalajohn]

My Brewzilla AIO has a metal basket. There is a dead space for wort in between the basket wall and the outer wall. The vorlauf recirculation system does not catch it, as the wort is just pumped to the top of the mash, and drains down to the center hole in the bottom. The dead space wort just sits there, and extraction efficiency is reduced.

We were discussing solutions, none of which were satisfactory, when @Bobby_M showed me the solution he has cobbled together in his shop. Photos below.

I have just finished modding my Brewzilla. And it works.

These machines have an external drain valve at the bottom. I was not using it for anything. You remove it and run a metal pipe outside of the machine and up several inches, then drill a hole (gasp) in the outer wall. The plumbing enters the machine and connects to a small whirlpool fitting. It is angled at a 45 degree angle upward. It causes wort to run up the sides of the AIO and forces the dead space liquid to mix in and circulate with the entire body of wort.

It was a very anxiety creating job to drill a big hole in the side of my new Brewzilla. I measured several times. But I got it.

I had to replace an inner piece of Brewzilla OEM plumbing as it was a bit leaky but that is all tight and dry now.

The video is too big to upload, but the photos below will give you the idea.

Anyway. Thanks @Bobby_M. It works.

 

[DuncB]

I did similar to my Guten AIO, but removed the existing tap and placed whirlpool pipe , the added benefit with your mod and mine is that the wort mixes over the outer temp sensor much better as well..

You will have a really good post boil whirlpool now as well.

 

[Bobby_M]

It looks like you have a bit of a leak on the recirc port. Those threads on the whirlpool fitting need teflon tape and a go a little heavy. Those threads are intentionally undersized..

 

[kohalajohn]

That photo was taken before I fixed the leak. All tight now.

I put a small slice on the neoprene jacket so it's all insulated now. Looks very good.

I think this is now a pretty good machine.

Looking forward to trying it out in a batch tomorrow.

 

[Bobby_M]

Yeah, it's going to perform well. That stirring action is a game changer. I keep that valve wide open and only close it a tiny bit if I want more volume through the recirc over the top.

 

[kohalajohn]

btw, about leaks, I have started using yellow gas tape instead of white water line tape. Even when doing water fittings. The yellow gas tape is thicker and has a soft gasket like body to it.

Like you say, threads can be deliberately undersized. It's rare to find threads set to close tolerances.

A few wraps and when you screw on the fitting, you can feel the threads sink into the gasket - like material of the tape.