Whirlpool Inlet

[Jye]

Yesterday I added a whirlpool inlet to my kettle which allows me to recirculate the wort to reduce the cooling time and hopefully produce a hop pile. On its maiden run today it worked surprisingly well With an IM chiller sitting in the kettle I still got a nice hop pile in the middle of the kettle and my pump rate wasnt even very fast.

Has anyone else tried this? Next time I will remember to take some pics :wacko:

 

[Doc]

Looks great Jye.
Shouldn't the whirlpool inlet face the other direction though to stop pushing any trub up your outlet pickup ?

Doc

 

[Jye]

I have it that way to help the whirlpool. It would be good if the silicon tubing was clear so I could see the wort getting clearer as the hops form in the center.

 

[MHB]

Jye
I love it, finally an argument from the pumpers I cant counter (Big fan of gravity my self).

There are a couple of possibilities that spring to mind, that might improve your performance even more.

The return line causes maxim rotation if it is 30 degrees in from the tangential, (pointing toward the middle more).
If the pick up line is about half way up the wort depth, the crud can settle better without the chance of getting recirculated.
We then have to wonder how a CFWC would go in line between the pick up and return.

I have to confess, Trent showed me his new March pump a couple of weeks ago and I was so impressed I ordered a couple, now I am going to have to rethink my entire circuit.
I only got the pump so I could have a play and better answer some of the questions I have been getting asked.

Well Done

MHB

 

[vlbaby]

Nice setup there jye. I have been thinking about doing the same thing in my own setup, but have been debating with myself whether it it would really work.
Good to hear that all works well.

BTW, I would have thought that your pickup was facing the correct way. If it was to face the opposite direction, there would be an opposing flow between inlet and outlet that would disrupt the wirlpool effect.

vl.

 

[razz]

Good stuff Jye. Perhaps you could insert a piece of polycarbonate as a sight gauge so you can see the wort getting clearer ?

 

[Jye]

If the pick up line is about half way up the wort depth, the crud can settle better without the chance of getting recirculated.

True... but then I would lose half of my wort when draining the kettle :huh:

We then have to wonder how a CFWC would go in line between the pick up and return.

I start recirculating 10min before the end of the boil the sanitise the hose, I wonder if this would work for a CFC... could you also run water through the CFC chiller to chill the wort while whirlpooling?

 

[MHB]

Jye
I meant another pickup just for recirculating.

I didnt mean that you dont draw from the bottom outlet at some time, large commercial kettles have several outlets that get taped successively from the top down as the wort clears.

MHB

 

[Jye]

Good stuff Jye. Perhaps you could insert a piece of polycarbonate as a sight gauge so you can see the wort getting clearer ? biggrin.gif

I have a sight gauge on the kettle but doesnt give a very good indication on wort clarity since the wort in it isnt being circulated. I actually have a piece in my MLT recirculation manifold and its great to see the wort clearing before transfer to the kettle.

 

[Hoops]

Jye

this is exactly what I am in the process of doing. As MHB suggests I am putting the pickup half way up the kettle and the return nearer to the top, then have another ball valve at the bottom for drawing off the wort once it has settled.
I am just using clear hose from the hardware store and it is excellent for checking clarity when recurculating the mash.

Hoops

 

[Darren]

We then have to wonder how a CFWC would go in line between the pick up and return.



Well Done

MHB

[post="123469"][/post]​

Jye,
Well done great concept. I tried that many years ago, albeit by a more simple setup. What I found, using an in-line CFWC, was the hot/cold break that formed went around, and around the system. Each time the break material passes the propellor in the pump it get smashed into smaller and smaller pieces. These smalll particles take along time to settle (actually never settle).

I would remove the sight glass from your kettle too as it is a good source of infection.


cheers
Darren

 

[Jye]

When you finish it post some pics... I will have to think about it before putting another hole in my kettle

I use the silicon tube from G&G in my peristaltic pump... thats right.... its HUGE

 

[Doc]

I have it that way to help the whirlpool.

Yep that makes sense too

Doc

 

[Pumpy]

That looks great Jye if you felt the need to move the positions sure you could do it by just elongating the copper pipe.

it is great when people share there ideas and the pictures.

Thanks Jye

Pumpy

 

[Vlad the Pale Aler]

Yep got one of them.

 

[dicko]

Looks great Jye.
Shouldn't the whirlpool inlet face the other direction though to stop pushing any trub up your outlet pickup ?

Doc

[post="123465"][/post]​

I'm with you Doc, however Jye seems to have it under control and getting the results. I see his reasoning as he is drawing off while he is recirculating.

I stir my kettle away from the pick up, let it settle then draw wort to the chiller.

Well done Jye.

Cheers

 

[Ross]

Great stuff Jye, you've beaten me to it. What pump are you using?
I'm intending of having my inlet feed into my hop sock, hopefully this will work a little like a hop back while also collecting the break material.

cheers Ross

 

[Doogiechap]

I have fitted one to my kettle but in hindsight think the paddle does a better job. Once I upgrade from my Sicce Idra to a real pump it may be better ? I use a CFC and get a temp reduction to 30 typically on the first run but I think the relatively slow flow back into the kettle would not greatly reduce the large thermal mass of 20l of 90 wort. I would love to stand corrected however
Darren's point is a valid one too. Jye that is one very shiny kettle :super:
Cheers
Doug

 

[Jye]

What I found, using an in-line CFWC, was the hot/cold break that formed went around, and around the system. Each time the break material passes the propellor in the pump it get smashed into smaller and smaller pieces. These smalll particles take along time to settle (actually never settle).

This may be a problem for all you march pump users... but not me

 

[warrenlw63]

Here's an article by the great Jamil himself.

Whirlpool Chiller

Warren -