Automated Electric Heat Exchange Re-circulating Mash System

1. Electrical The system is powered by a 240 Volt line supplying 5500 watts to the heating element in the HLT. The line is split to power the 120 volt pumps and solenoid valves. The entire system is protected by a 2-Pole ground fault interrupting circuit breaker. Making Beer When making beer the grains must go through the process of mashing to convert the starches into sugars. It is these sugars that are later fermented into alcohol. The grains must soak in hot water at precise temperatures and times for proper conversion. Accurately maintaining these temperatures is the goal of the HERMS design. By incorporating monitoring and automated control , efficiency and consistency of the process can be maximized . Automation The mashing process is monitored by sensors that take constant measurements of mash and hot liquor temperatures. This information is collected and processed by the brewery software program. This program controls all heating, and transferring of fluids during the mashing process. Automated Electric Heat Exchange Re-circulating Mash System John D. Burdett University of New Hampshire College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Electrical Engineering Recipe temperatures and rest times are entered in the program which will automatically step through the sequences adjusting temperatures as necessary. When the mash is complete the program transfer the wort to the boil kettle and rinse the grains with hot water from the HTL A heat exchange recirculating mash system, or HERMS, is a brewery design where the wort is pumped from the bottom of the mash tun through a heat exchanger and returned to the top of the grain bed. The Heat exchanger is submerged in hot water which is heated to the desired temperature of the mash. This hot water is later used to rinse the grains in a process called sparging. Linear response of LM34 temperature sensors Special Thanks to my sponsors Duda Diesel Northern Brewer NY Brew Supply UNH ECE Department