BIAB Mash Recirculation Through Lid

Systems, Gear, & DIY
1

I bought a pump so I can recirculate wort during mashing in my electric BIAB kettle. Since I use a bag for grains, I don’t want to circulate it through the side, so I am planning on porting my kettle lid and pumping back in through there.  Pretty much this, only I’m building myself. 10 Gallon Electric Home Brewing System - 120v - BIAB – Clawhammer Supply

Clawhammer’s kit uses a little sprayer nozzle on the inside of the lid, which I haven’t been able to identify or find online. I saw some other options for NPT-threaded sprayers, but I’m not sure about how they’d work for my MK II pump pressure or my small (8 gallon) kettle.  I’ve also seen some discussion about potential for HSA with sprayers in any event (swear jar for saying HSA, I know, I know).

My mash is usually as close to full volume as I can fit in the kettle anyway so thus pretty thin, so my question is, do I need to even bother with a sprayer for circulation through the lid? If not, that makes my life a lot simpler but I don’t know if there are any drawbacks to just letting it dump through the bulkhead at full flow. Do I need to run a ball valve after the pump outlet to slowdown flow and prevent making a huge mess?

2

No, you don’t need to spray the recirculating wort.  When I do that I keep the outlet below the liquid level in the mash tun.  Yes, you need to throttle the pump volume.

3

Thanks, jeffy, putting a ball valve on the pump outlet to throttle looks straight-forward now that I see that it is a thing. I was very concerned the lid was going to go shooting off my kettle.

4

Great question.  I added one of these manifolds to my system and it avoids aerating the hot wort and helps distribute wort along the top of the grain.  This has helped to stabilize temperatures within the grain mass more quickly after dough-in. I throttle the pump discharge to achieve about 1.5-2 qts/min.

https://www.ssbrewtech.com/products/re-circulation-manifold-for-infussion-mash-tuns

5

That looks very cool, TeeDubb.

6

Look into Locline and make a halo for below the wort surface recirc.  Works great, just keep it below 170F, per the mfg:

7

I use this, but, don’t put it below the wort level.  I don’t worry about hot side oxygen so much.  It works great.

8

Whatever works for you, that is fine, but try returning it below the top of the wort for less splashing and see if that gives you an equal or better result.

It may be myth, but it seems a small price to avoid the issue:

http://howtobrew.com/book/section-1/yeast/yeast-nutritional-needs/aeration-is-good-oxidation-is-bad

Here’s a good discussion on the subject, too:

Different strokes for different folks…cheers.

9

This is my recirculation loop. The tube thru the lid forms a tight seal with the lid and extends just below the mash level in the MLT

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10

I’ll give it a shot.  Can’t hurt trying!  Cheers!