Proposed brewsculpture design

[Beertastic]

Here is a rough diagram, not to scale, of the two-tier system I am wanting to build. It is a little different than anything that I have come across in that it is a three vessel rig but only has two burners. The HLT would have a dedicated burner while the MLT and BK would share a Banjo Burner which can be moved between the two vessels.
I think the brew day would go as follows:
1. Heat strike water in MLT
2. Dough in
3. Apply heat and recirc. as needed during mash to maintain temp.
4. Heat sparge water in the HLT
5. With around twenty minutes remaining in the mash begin recirculation
6. Once sacc. rest is complete begin fly sparging from the gravity fed HLT and pump to the BK
7. Once the correct volume of wort is collected bring BK to a boil (or possibly begin BK heating while collecting wort)
8. Boil
9. Once the boil is complete begin whirlpooling with pump while simultaneously heat sanitizing the plate chiller
10. Once sufficiently whirlpooled begin cooling with the plate chiller which will recirc. back into the BK to cool the whole batch (pseudo Jamil chiller)
11. Once chilled to pitching temp. run off into fermenters
12. Oxygenate
13. Pitch yeast
14. Drink homebrew

What do you guys think. Any pro's/con's or complete mistakes that you see with this.

Salud,

Beertastic

http://s1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff385/chrissummerhays/?action=view&current=DSCN3006.jpg

[Quin]

[LordUlrich]

While it appears it will work, BUT what is the advantage two only 2 burners (other than cost). You have to ask yourself how much will an additional burner cost? and is it worth it? Keep in mind that you need to consider the additional cost of soft plumbing vs the additional piping for a second burner. Also keep in mind that you need to move the hot burner as you start boiling and you will have your pump and wort tubing potentially in the way while doing that. Not that it is a deal breaker just wondering (or hoping you thought about) the potential issue.
How are you going to support the kettles? keep in mind that your kettle support will need to be resistant to the flames (as it will hot)

Otherwise you seem to have a pretty basic 2 tier system. What material are you planing for the stand (Metal or wood)? Are you planing any automation?

[manwithbeers]

This is somewhat similar to my system. However on my system the MT and HLT are together on the upper level. I can slide the burner from the HLT to the MT but I rarely do. To heat the mash I recirc through a heat exchanger coil placed in the HLT. To sparge I pump water from the HLT to the MT and the MT drains by gravity to the Kettle. The Top of the kettle is about half way up the Height of the MT because that is where the top of the grain bed is when I'm doing a regular size 5 gallon batch. The Capacity of the system is over 12 gallons.

[Beertastic]

The reason for two burners instead of three fixed burners is that I already own the banjo burner and I don't see the need, correct me if I am wrong, to run burners simultaneously on the MLT and BK. From what I have found online the cost of soft plumbing is pretty negligible so I am willing to try this setup and if need be change it later. As far as the plumbing is concerned it will all exit out of the front of the stand and will be high temp. silicone. From the other systems I have looked at, this seems adequate to avoid damage to the tubing. I was planning on using heavy gauge angle iron to support the kettles. I am curious if I need to insulate the stand, which I was planning on constructing from wood, at the areas where the angle joins with the body of the stand? Currently I am not planning on any automation as it is out of my price range.

Manwithbeers, do you have a pic of your stand?

Thanks,

Beertastic

[Mylo]

Most 2 tier systems I have seen pump the sparge water up to the MT and then use gravity into the kettle - but I don't think that either way is benefit over the other.

I suppose you are saving yourself the cost of a pump with this 2 tier system, but eventually you'll probably just want a single tier setup. You certainly don't need three burners, but another pump would get you down to a single tier. I had a 3 tier gravity system for a couple of years. It's fine and work like a charm, but I got tired of ladders, even if it was just a small step ladder to use during dough in. Bite the bullet and go single tier. You won't look back.


Mylo

[Beertastic]

I appreciate the input, Mylo. I want the HLT gravity fed so that I can use the pump to run a Jamil chiller. As far as the single tier is concerned, maybe one day. I am on a small budget for this project so anything I can do to shave down expense, without sacrificing potential beer quality, is being done. If a few years down the road I decide I want a single tier all I am out is the lumber on this two-tier (most of which I have bee able to salvage from other projects around the house and yard). Except maybe getting into the HLT for some odd reason I am hoping to avoid ladders. The brewstands MLT and BK shouldn't be to high off the ground, probably sub four feet.

Beertastic

[thatguy314]

If a few years down the road I decide I want a single tier all I am out is the lumber on this two-tier

Maybe I'm just not well-versed in sculpture construction, but you want to build something that houses 60,000 BTU burners out of (very-flamable) wood? Seems like you're asking for trouble.