fraser_john
Go Pies
For GABF I had an interesting bit of feedback that made me watch my hot side very closely last time I brewed. The comment was always around "oxidation". Now, oxidation without acetaldehyde means it has to be hot side aeration.
Don't start on about it does not matter for home brewers, because, "most" the judges at GABF were Little Creatures brewers, so I paid attention to their comments, so it really must matter to home brewers!
Anyway, I doughed in, set bed, started the pump and monitored and monitored, sure enough after the wort cleared, there was a stream of very small bubbles. I decided I must have a leak somewhere, so after the brew was done, I tore down the entire setup and reassembled everything with food grade silicone sealant on EVERY joint. Hose clamps every where, the full enclosing crimp type too, so no way was air getting in.
Filled the mash tun with water started the pump, no air bubbles whoo hoo. But, I thought, the mash bed results in a bit of suction, I wonder if the suction cause the leak, so I closed off the mash tun ball valve little by little until I could hear the pump cavitating, so air was still getting in. I opened the mash tun ball valve all the way and sure enough, out comes a heap of air from the return line.
After using the food grade sealant, all that is left is two ball valves before the pump inlet, one three way and one simple one, both similar to the pictures below.
Does anyone know if these suckers can leak under suction conditions? Are the three piece ones better under suction conditions? Pretty frustrating to spend a whole day rejigging the system just to find the same result!
Don't start on about it does not matter for home brewers, because, "most" the judges at GABF were Little Creatures brewers, so I paid attention to their comments, so it really must matter to home brewers!
Anyway, I doughed in, set bed, started the pump and monitored and monitored, sure enough after the wort cleared, there was a stream of very small bubbles. I decided I must have a leak somewhere, so after the brew was done, I tore down the entire setup and reassembled everything with food grade silicone sealant on EVERY joint. Hose clamps every where, the full enclosing crimp type too, so no way was air getting in.
Filled the mash tun with water started the pump, no air bubbles whoo hoo. But, I thought, the mash bed results in a bit of suction, I wonder if the suction cause the leak, so I closed off the mash tun ball valve little by little until I could hear the pump cavitating, so air was still getting in. I opened the mash tun ball valve all the way and sure enough, out comes a heap of air from the return line.
After using the food grade sealant, all that is left is two ball valves before the pump inlet, one three way and one simple one, both similar to the pictures below.
Does anyone know if these suckers can leak under suction conditions? Are the three piece ones better under suction conditions? Pretty frustrating to spend a whole day rejigging the system just to find the same result!
