First Pass at Program - Would Appreciate Reviews and Advice
Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 2:47 pm
After quite a long time of planning and fabricating I can finally see the light at the end of the brewery tunnel. I've gotten around to completing my first pass of programming the BCS 462. Attached is a spreadsheet overview of my processes and states. I found this to be the best way for me to keep everything straight and in one view.
I tried to also attached the .json backup file but the forum gives me an error when trying to do so. Is there another way to upload and share the program.
Here's a brief overview of my system (pic attached).
3 Bottom Drain Keggles with HEX
240V / 50 Amp
HLT - 4500 ULWD element
HEX - 2000 LWD element
BK - 5500 ULWD element
4 Temp Probes: HLT, MLTRtn (at return port to MLT), MLT (lower down in MLT), and BK
3 Float switches: HLT, HEX, and BK
Two Pumps
Brew Day Process Flow:
1) Heat Strike by circulating 17 Gal of water HLT->HEXbody->HLT ("HEXBody" being 3.5 gal capacity of the cylinder, not the HERMs coil inside). Both HLT and HEX elements on
2) At strike Temp, shut valves to HEX body: A) Maintain HLT strike temp with HLT element set to PID, B) maintain HEX water volume with HEX element set to duty cycle at 25%. This later is a guess here. I have no temp probe in the HEX. The transition from hitting strike temp to dough-in should not be more than 5 minutes.
3) Dough-in: transfer volume of strike water from HLT to MLT. Start pumps and re-circ HERMs
4) Cook Mash: initially single infusion, I'll add more states for step mash later. HEX Element and Pump1 doing HERMs
5) Heat Sparge: approx 15 minute left in the mash heat the HLT sparge water. HLT element only
6) Mash Out: Increase HEX element to 168. Exit to Sparge
7) Sparge: Plan for 45 min sparge initially. May increase to 1 hr. Maintain Sparge temp in HLT for first 30 min. Then kill HLT and HEX elements for last 15 min of sparge.
8) Pre-Heat Boil: with 15 min left in sparge, fire BK Element. Set temp to 206
9) Kill Sparge raise to boil: target temp of 210 to control overboil
10) Boil 60 to 90 min: set temp to 212 for boil (may have to lower).
11) Sanitize Coil: Run boiling wort back trough HEX HERMs coil for 6-8 min
12) Whirpool: kill BK Element, and whirlpool
13) Extended Hop Stands: circ hot wort through HERMs coil while circulating cool tap water through HEX. Stop at 165*. Do extended hop stand
14) Cool wort: circ ice cold water HLT-HEX-HLT. Circ wort through HEX HERMs coil. Use BK Temp probe to determine when cooled to 62*
15) Pump wort to fermenters.
This is phase one of my build. Next steps will be conical fermenters with glycol and automated valves, but first want to get a good feel for the system and get a few brews under my belt before going further.
Thanks in advance.
I tried to also attached the .json backup file but the forum gives me an error when trying to do so. Is there another way to upload and share the program.
Here's a brief overview of my system (pic attached).
3 Bottom Drain Keggles with HEX
240V / 50 Amp
HLT - 4500 ULWD element
HEX - 2000 LWD element
BK - 5500 ULWD element
4 Temp Probes: HLT, MLTRtn (at return port to MLT), MLT (lower down in MLT), and BK
3 Float switches: HLT, HEX, and BK
Two Pumps
Brew Day Process Flow:
1) Heat Strike by circulating 17 Gal of water HLT->HEXbody->HLT ("HEXBody" being 3.5 gal capacity of the cylinder, not the HERMs coil inside). Both HLT and HEX elements on
2) At strike Temp, shut valves to HEX body: A) Maintain HLT strike temp with HLT element set to PID, B) maintain HEX water volume with HEX element set to duty cycle at 25%. This later is a guess here. I have no temp probe in the HEX. The transition from hitting strike temp to dough-in should not be more than 5 minutes.
3) Dough-in: transfer volume of strike water from HLT to MLT. Start pumps and re-circ HERMs
4) Cook Mash: initially single infusion, I'll add more states for step mash later. HEX Element and Pump1 doing HERMs
5) Heat Sparge: approx 15 minute left in the mash heat the HLT sparge water. HLT element only
6) Mash Out: Increase HEX element to 168. Exit to Sparge
7) Sparge: Plan for 45 min sparge initially. May increase to 1 hr. Maintain Sparge temp in HLT for first 30 min. Then kill HLT and HEX elements for last 15 min of sparge.
8) Pre-Heat Boil: with 15 min left in sparge, fire BK Element. Set temp to 206
9) Kill Sparge raise to boil: target temp of 210 to control overboil
10) Boil 60 to 90 min: set temp to 212 for boil (may have to lower).
11) Sanitize Coil: Run boiling wort back trough HEX HERMs coil for 6-8 min
12) Whirpool: kill BK Element, and whirlpool
13) Extended Hop Stands: circ hot wort through HERMs coil while circulating cool tap water through HEX. Stop at 165*. Do extended hop stand
14) Cool wort: circ ice cold water HLT-HEX-HLT. Circ wort through HEX HERMs coil. Use BK Temp probe to determine when cooled to 62*
15) Pump wort to fermenters.
This is phase one of my build. Next steps will be conical fermenters with glycol and automated valves, but first want to get a good feel for the system and get a few brews under my belt before going further.
Thanks in advance.