Pump priming and flow control?

[donchiquon]

For the last handful of brews I've been using a couple of little solar pumps to recirculate the mash and transfer spare water and wort between my vessels.

The pumps work well, but I have problems priming them, getting rid of air bubbles, and starting them off. I then struggle to regulate the flow.

I have connected them directly to each vessel using only sillicone hose.

How does everyone else do this? Are people using bleeder valves, and choke valves?

Any pictures of set-ups much appreciated, as I sometimes find the descriptions of the various valves and connections not the easiest to visualise! And it's then easier to start ordering the bits!

Thanks!

 

[peebee]

For the last handful of brews I've been using a couple of little solar pumps to recirculate the mash and transfer spare water and wort between my vessels.

The pumps work well, but I have problems priming them, getting rid of air bubbles, and starting them off. I then struggle to regulate the flow.

I have connected them directly to each vessel using only sillicone hose.

How does everyone else do this? Are people using bleeder valves, and choke valves?

Any pictures of set-ups much appreciated, as I sometimes find the descriptions of the various valves and connections not the easiest to visualise! And it's then easier to start ordering the bits!

Thanks!

My "plumbing" is fixed and airlocks caused all sorts of problems; they appear in very unexpected places. So I have a collection of automatic bottle air vents. Probably wont help you (flexible plumbing) but I have learnt to give liquid time to allow trapped air to get out (turn tap on, wait 3 minutes, turn pump on).

The output from pumps all pass a tap/valve so that is used to control flow (you can choke these "impeller" type pumps, as long as they are always kept wet - I arrange all my pumps to be as low in the pipework as possible).

These pump types will not self-prime because they can't suck. They are only useful in pushing liquid downstream of them and will do nothing upstream. A tap to control flow fitted upstream of the pump will not work too well.

Finally when there is no option to put the pump low (and when not moving fluid that may be drunk - i.e. when moving waste) I use "diaphragm" self-priming pumps. They are not that expensive and they're commonly used for another purpose:

Bilge pump.

If you need diagrams follow: http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=63149.

 

[donchiquon]

Thanks Peebee, that's great. Answers most of my questions about pump feeds and priming.

I'm going to fix them in place once I get the pipes and parts arranged properly.

Once I've done that I guess I can look at fitting the bottle vents - I've not seen these before. Are they easy to clean?

 

[peebee]

... - I've not seen these before. Are they easy to clean?

Humm... not really thought about that. But yes, the tops screw off and the floats can be carefully removed and rinsed. But I rely on clean water being circulated around the pipework to do the job. And the ones I use can be detached from the pipework (they sit on their own check valve).

 

[donchiquon]

Sounds reasonable! Were they from Angel or did you source them separately?....thanks!

 

[peebee]

I'm not sure Angel do them. I got them from Ebay although any plumber supply will have them. Bit of a price (about £7) but the frustration they save... (if positioned right).

E.g. (not where I got them):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHROME-UN...490019?hash=item1e9991d463:g:PaAAAOSwstxU18tI

 

[peebee]

I'm not sure Angel do them. I got them from Ebay although any plumber supply will have them. Bit of a price (about £7) but the frustration they save... (if positioned right).

E.g. (not where I got them):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHROME-UN...490019?hash=item1e9991d463:g:PaAAAOSwstxU18tI

 

[donchiquon]

I've ordered one with the aim of working towards having some of the pipe work fixed.

Great manual by the way - incredible level of detail. My brewday to do list runs to about 6 points which explains why it is always utter chaos [emoji1]

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[peebee]

I've ordered one with the aim of working towards having some of the pipe work fixed.

Great manual by the way - incredible level of detail. My brewday to do list runs to about 6 points which explains why it is always utter chaos [emoji1]

Thanks again for the advice.

The manual was done so someone else can operate the brewery when I'm absent ("someone" being my partner, and written on her request, amazing that isn't it; although for me being "absent" doesn't necessarily mean "in body"!:wha:).

It's been updated slightly, so if you're keen hang on for that (or send me a PM).