My HERMS design

[markpeace]

Hi all,

I've put together a first draft of a HERMS system I intend to build in my loft (where space is precious). I'd appreciate any observations anyone could offer on it?

The schematic, and a walk through of its process, is posted here: http://bowerfoldbrews.blogspot.com/2011/08/second-marvellous-machine.html

 

[Muddydisco]

It won't let me post on the blog so I'll post here.
If the heat exchanger is going to be big enough to hold the full volume of the boil, then it won't be able to cope with stepped mashes. It's going to take a long time to adjust the temp of the water flowing over the coils to affect any temp change in the mash tun. My heat exchanger is 2 ltr capacity and can control the temps very quickly, heating or cooling that small volume.

My heat exchanger is the small vessel in between the copper and Hlt

 

[Springer]

Don't know what your loft is like, but are you sure about the plan. Procedure looks a bit complicated at first scan, lots of valves, :? picked up on the cooling :? and cleaning :?
Muddy's set up looks more like my set up,......... but if your sure, go for it :?
Good luck with the build and remember a HERMS set up does not necessarily produce better beer.
S
Where's the steam from the boiler going :?

 

[Vossy1]

Where's the steam from the boiler going

A very good point. If you have a wood supported roof/non sealed floor I wouldn't even consider it unless you can isolate the system from its surroundings.

 

[markpeace]

Thanks for your advice, all. In terms of steam, I've two possible solutions. The first is to put a vent tile in the roof (I've a good roofer I can call on!) and use extractor fans to draw the steam through. The second is to mount a sheet of aluminium in the slope of the roof, to encourage the steam to condense and run down to a tray. Neither solution will get rid of all the steam, but they should take the edge off the sauna effect. The most I'll brew is a two-week cycle, so it shouldn't be too intensive.

I'll go back to redraft, on the basis of your suggestions, too - all very useful.

M

 

[markpeace]

Ok, another idea. What if I added an upturned funnel structure to the top of the boiler to take the steam and pipe into the heat exchanger - running cold water through the coil to act as a make-shift condenser. Don't think I'd be able to catch it all - I don't want to be dealing with pressure issues - but it could potentially channel quite a bit of it.

Alternatively, perhaps a 40mm waste pipe from the top left hand side of the boiler, sloping down and directing the steam into a semi-covered tray of cold water, as in tumble dryer condensors (like this one)

 

[Springer]

Not sure on your available facilities Mark, but you don't need complicated kit to produce good beer.
Here is a picture of my original set up, produced about sixty brews, all (nearly all ! ) were very good .
Note the state of the art boiler lagging :lol:

For me, if your facilities are restricted keep it simple ? If you want a complicated set up in your loft, then go for it, but first decide why you are doing it :)
S

 

[markpeace]

Haha, cheers. I'll be honest - I like shiny things, and I like tinkering; I'll get as much pleasure out of putting something together as I will the brewing process. But maybe I'll scale down. I might think about getting a SS boiler/cooler combo (with steam condenser) and a mashtun (SS thermobox) together first, and then iterate up to a HERMs design.

 

[markpeace]

Ok, I've redesigned - abandoning the HERMs design of a more traditional boiler, tun and HLT design which I might at some point upgrade to a RIMS. I've also built in a mechanism to condense the steam.

It's replaced the old plan at http://bowerfoldbrews.blogspot.com/2011/08/second-marvellous-machine.html

Any thoughts?
M