Fairly Basic RIMS Question

[Yetiman]

My set up is a 10 gallon Blichmann TopTier system. I just added a March pump and the MoreBeer Ultimate Sparge Arm (http://morebeer.com/products/ultimate-sparge-arm.html) which I'm finding to be an awesome addition to my setup.

I believe this now qualifies as a RIMS system as I have the burner/heat running while the wort is recirculating through the grain bed.

The question I have for those that go the RIMS route is how fast of a flow do you want? Another layer of complexity which I'm sure impacts this answer is how much heat do you want to apply (when raising mash temp)?

My thinking is the more heat, the faster the flow rate as to not scorch the wort. After using it twice outside in the ~40 degree weather, once I get to the right temp, I can run the heat at a minimum flame to hold the temp. Should I then go as low as possible on flow rate or is it ok to keep a moderate flow rate? I'm estimating moderate is 40% - 50% of what the pump is capable of.

Thanks in advance!
Chris
Cincinnati OH

[Kbar]

I run a Brewershardware.com (http://www.brewershardware.com/Tri-Clov ... -Tube.html) RIMS tube and a 1500W element. Tie that to the PID.

Pump into the element and out across the thermcouple probe.

I run 50% flow rate at maximum until sparge out. My fear is mostly oxegenting the wort, but that may be a myth at this point in the brew day. Not sure yet the jury is out on that one. Seen a lot of breweries pump fairly fast and into the atmosphere before back into the mash liquid level. I do bring it back to the MashTun below upper liquid level.

The PID/1500W RIMS tube can increase the temperature at 1-1.5F/Minute. Colder days, of course, pose more of an issue.

Heat application is digital at this point - off and on per the PID logic. Based on thermocouple readout, +/- 1F.

Would not even think about my current setup without RIMS. Too much hear loss in stainless and thin wall High Temp Polypropelene. Back in the cooler days, heat retention was good thus I could cover and hold for an hour. I always try to hit mash temps based on calcs, but a little low is the goal to allow the RIMS to bring to temperature. Usually 5 minutes. No more if I do the calcs Correctly.

Hope this helps!

[Ozwald]

In a nutshell, you want low and slow. Start by underestimating your flame & slowly work up to an acceptable ramp rate. Too fast & you'll compact the grain bed, sticking your mash. You'll also create channeling which will not give you a constant temp throughout the mash, overextract in some areas, pull tanins & have a low/unpredictable extraction. I'd start at a bit under a pint per minute on a very low flame. Take notes on how fast you're ramping & remember it's not a race. The next brews you can turn the heat up a little bit each time, but keep it consistent throughout each batch. Adjust the flow rate per heat & grain compaction. You don't want an ultra tight bed, but you don't want it floating on you either.