A question of gravity

[nicknoxx]

Hi
This is my first post here after considerable lurking. I'm planning a 50ltr stainless brewery which is considerably larger than my existing set-up. I'm going to buy 4 (or 5) 50ltr stock pots or similar and use them as HLT, MT, Boiler and FV (or two). I haven't got enough height to gravity feed them all, especially as I need to get the final product into a keg, so at some stage I need to pump.

Where's the best place to put the pump? Currently I'm thinking between the boiler and FV but I could pump every stage. What do you think?

As a bit of background, I used to make a Boots kits a week at university 30 years ago ( they tasted terrible but were VERY cheap) and have recently started again. I've done a few kits (they've improved) and am hankering after an AG system. I'm going to skip the plastic stage and go straight to shiney and am quite happy doing the necessary modifications myself. I have other questions which I'll save for other threads.

Cheers
Nick

 

[jonnymorris]

Welcome.

I can't comment on pumps but... a shiney Mash-tun, Boiler and HLT I understand but shiney FVs... really? As for your height issue, do you live in a cave? If you can stand up you can gravity feed from A to B if not to C.

 

[PD]

My 3 vessel stainless gravity system sits on a bench around 2 feet high, ( high enough for the boiler to run into a plastic fermenter. The mast tun is at the same height. The highest vessel (hlt ) is at a height where it can run into the mash tun or boiler as and when required. I ve not measured the total height of the system but its around 12 inches taller than me...( and I'm a bit of a short **** at 5 foot 10. ) Great height is not needed and a pump is not needed.

 

[nicknoxx]

Thanks chaps

A 50l stainless FV is only three times the price of a plastic one and it will last considerably more than three times as long so seemed sensible to me. Granted it might be more difficult to make airtight.

As for height, the beer has to travel from HLT -> MT -> boiler -> FV -> keg (meaning I'd need over 2m which I haven't got, so I have to lift 40kg of liquid somehow. Unless I'm missing something. . . . .

 

[PD]

your MT and boiler can be on same level both just above the height of your fermenting vessel.
As you sparge ( from the mash tun ) either fly or batch. the liquid can be lifted by hand and put into the boiler say 20 litres at a time. No hardship, you could get a small solar pump to do this if you wish.
Wheat height do you have ( floor to ceiling ) available ?

For beers a fv does not need to be air tight.

 

[nicknoxx]

The ceiling slopes towards the wall. Where they meet it's 1.75m. Moving the liquid in batches seems like a good plan.