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Homebrewery - System Overview
System
Number 1 - My system is a three tier gravity fed setup. The
unusual part is the marriage of electric heat and propane. The Hot
Liquor Tank is heated by three electric water heater elements. The
mash Tun is not powered at this time but plans are in place to use steam
heat for it. The boil pot is conventionally fired with propane. The stands are made of 2 x 4s and 1 x 4 lumber. Electric input to the system is via a 4 wire 220V feed. Water is supplied through 3/8ths vinyl tubing and a copper manifold. The manifold supplies the HLT and the immersion chiller.
Details of each component are available on separate pages of the website so feel free to browse and tell me what you think.
System
Number 2 - Heat Exchange Recirculating Mash System (HERMS) - In
April 2001 I rebuilt my system to incorporate two magnetic drive pumps and
full electronic temperature control. Other goals of the rebuild were
to reduce the overall footprint and height of the components and add the
ability to do a step mash.
Many parts of the old system were recycled into the new system. The Mash Tun is the same with a additional port added for the thermocouple. The boil pot was reused along with the burner. I still use electric power for the HLT and used 3 240VAC 1500 Watt elements. Quick disconnects were used throughout the system to allow easy cleaning and reconfiguration.
Details and construction pictures are available. I only ask that you hold me blameless for any misfortunes you happen to encounter while using any ideas presented here.
System
Number 3 Externaly Heated Recirculating Infusion Mash System (EHRIMS)
- February 2003 saw another redesign. The acquisition of a new shelving
unit and some reading on flexible strip heaters prompted the conversion
to a RIMS system. What makes this system special is the heater for the
RIMS chamber. Instyead of being in the wort flow it is wrapped around
the chamber and causes the actual chamber to function as the heater element.
The heater element is a 10w/sq inch unit from McMaster-Carr.