Brewing temperature control
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Brewing temperature control

 
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Gregory Oja



Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Minnesota
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:29 pm    Post subject: Brewing temperature control Reply with quote
I have a application I am seeking assistance in design. I brew beer and want to control the temperature during the mashing out process.

The grain is put into a igloo/rubbermaid cooler and hot water is added to bring the temperature up to XT degrees and kept at that temperature for XM minutes. The temperature of the mash is then raised to YT for YM. It is again raised to ZT for ZM.

I hope to accomplish this by slowly draining out water from the mash and recirculating it through a coil in a water bath and delivering the water on the top surface of the mash. The water in the water bath be regulated to accomplish the increases in the desired temperatures.

I need a microprocessor or preferably a PC based interface to receive the input from a water temperature probe and to close a contactor to turn on the 110VAC heating element. The programming would set the temperature and duration scheme.

I have tried to dumb down the brewing nominclature for the uninitiated out there. Maybe this posting will get you thinking about getting into the home brewing hobby. It is quite interesting and has a nice end result for those who deplore the popular commercial brews.

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neon



Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 593
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I don't know what temperature rise and ramping you want. temperatures don't change rapidly if the mass is too great it will take time for lets say 100 gallons. for 10 gallons it would be fast and maybe to the point whereby you kill the yeast. I brew beer once in my cellar and I had many hand grenades explode during the night.So i changed to making wine. more simple and safer. the must temperature was controlled by mixing slowly. you know and i know if the temp. rise it will kill the yeast so by mixing i was able to control the temperature.I found out that by mixing and controlling ambient temperature it became a snap. Do not forget to eliminate co2 otherwise it can become a killer if concentrated. 500 gallon of must into a carage overnight is a killer I know.
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Gregory Oja



Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Minnesota
Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:53 am    Post subject: The process Reply with quote
neon wrote:
I don't know what temperature rise and ramping you want. temperatures don't change rapidly if the mass is too great it will take time for lets say 100 gallons. for 10 gallons it would be fast and maybe to the point whereby you kill the yeast. I brew beer once in my cellar and I had many hand grenades explode during the night.So i changed to making wine. more simple and safer. the must temperature was controlled by mixing slowly. you know and i know if the temp. rise it will kill the yeast so by mixing i was able to control the temperature.I found out that by mixing and controlling ambient temperature it became a snap. Do not forget to eliminate co2 otherwise it can become a killer if concentrated. 500 gallon of must into a carage overnight is a killer I know.


I am working with about 10 gallons of grain/water in the mashing out process. The amount of water I will be heating is only a couple gallons which in turn heats the water in the mash via recirculation through a heat exchanger. Ultimately it is raising the temp. of 12 gallons. The rise time does not have to be very rapid. The yeast is not added until later in the process.

The essential element in the control process is to maintain a set temp for a set time, increase the temp and hold for another set time and to repeat one or two more times. I have not found a temp. controller that will do the stepped increases. Of course, I can do the manual resetting of a thermostat control, but I want to have it automated.

I too have made wine and have a batch of raspberry mead bubbling a few feet away.

Greg

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neon



Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 593
Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I got fishes that are tropical and the heater for 90 gallons works great slow and easy cost $15 add another $5 for a timer and you got it automation. you can buy at WALLMART all of it. your volume is just too small for a PC controller or anything else.
good luck
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