Mash Tun

[PaulSteele]

How good an idea is using an old fermenter with a false bottom as a mash tun?

[Kevnlis]

Assume you insulate it and run a HERMS system. Should be fine.

[PaulSteele]

ok, i know what a HERMS system is, but just for the beginers among us?

[Kevnlis]

http://home.hccnet.nl/e.vd.logt/htm/rims_herms_uk.htm

[rwh]

I reckon you might have problems with the amount of dead space below the false bottom. Have you seen the esky based mash tun designs?

http://cruisenews.net/brewing/infusion/page1.php

[James L]

you got HERMS kev?

I'm trying to work out what length of copper coil i need to get the wort up to the right temps... whilst pumping at 1L/min...

I cant decide whether to put the coil in the HLT or have a separate unit closer to the mash tun... I have the means to do either... (i have managed to borrow a temp controlled water bath and a peristaltic pump from work on the weekends)... I'll be able to set the temp on the waterbath and just continually pump the wort.. and adjust the step temps accordingly.

[Kevnlis]

The length of the coil needs to be long enough to give good heat transfer yes, but do not forget that it is excess water (meaning a thinner mash), or less water in the mash itself.

You are best to design a system where by you can constantly circulate IMHO.

This can be done by measuring the temp of the wort going back into the mash from the coil (you usually want this to be 2C or so higher than the desired step temp). You then just activate the heater in the water bath when needed with the temp controller and keep a constant stream of wort going. This also aids in mixing the mash giving better conversion (though mechanical stirring in addition stil does seem to raise efficiency).