Teeing MLT and BK outlets together

[rnorman57]

I'm building a single tier single pump no sparge system, and planning on simply teeing outlets of cooler MLT and BK together before pump suction, and simply selecting which one feeds the pump by whichever vessels outlet valve is open. Anyone see any issues with this approach?

A search couldn't find this being addressed.

 

[eric19312]

I'm building a single tier single pump no sparge system, and planning on simply teeing outlets of cooler MLT and BK together before pump suction, and simply selecting which one feeds the pump by whichever vessels outlet valve is open. Anyone see any issues with this approach?

A search couldn't find this being addressed.

If you are pumping out of your bk back to whirlpool return how do you make sure the leg running back to the mash tun is sanitized before turning on your chiller?

 

[BeardedBrews]

@JonW and many other people with heavily automated systems are using an approach like you describe. I am not sure how they address sanitation in the dead space around valaves and "up-stream" in closed legs of their system.

Perhaps they can provide guidance here.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=572641

 

[rnorman57]

If you are pumping out of your bk back to whirlpool return how do you make sure the leg running back to the mash tun is sanitized before turning on your chiller?

If it is before chilling the wort is close to boiling at that point, no? , so is sanitation a concern? I will be running into cfc to fermenter so cool wort won't be between bk and mlt.

 

[mattd2]

If it is before chilling the wort is close to boiling at that point, no? , so is sanitation a concern? I will be running into cfc to fermenter so cool wort won't be between bk and mlt.

The concern is "deadlegs" in the piping, if there is only a short distance of any leg of the system, e.g. a tee, then the flow of liquid through that part will draw and mix any liquid trapped in the short deadleg. If the deadleg is long then there will not be any mixing of the entire deadleg, which could then drain into your finished wort, depending on your setup.

 

[day_trippr]

How about sticking a 3-way L type valve at the pump inlet?
There'd be no significant dead space to be of concern...

Cheers!

 

[rnorman57]

How about sticking a 3-way L type valve at the pump inlet?
There'd be no significant dead space to be of concern...

Cheers!

Yes, that was my initial plan... what's another 30 bucks anyway!

 

[rnorman57]

Another question.. I plan to also have a 3 way ball valve downstream of the pump to choose between flow going to cfc/fermenter or to mlt or bk. Can a 3 way L type valve be used to throttle the pump outlet or should I have a 2 port valve on the pump outlet?

 

[Carlscan26]

Add the normal valve first