I'm talking with an engineer about my glycol piping plans, he's suggesting we use Variable control valves instead of on/off solenoid valves on the glycol supply line to keep better control on fermentation temperature. I know this is not totally necessary as many other breweries just use on/off valves, but do you all think its worth the extra money to get more precise temp control?
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glycol Solenoid valves ON/OFF good enough or Variable valves needed
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Unless you're using really tiny fermenters--like <1bbl, the thermal mass is so great I seriously doubt you'd ever notice a difference when using variable valves--except for a bigger dent in your wallet.
Slow-closing solenoid valves are well worth the cost, as they save lots of wear and tear due to hydraulic hammer. Most slow-closers are pneumatically operated.
Be sure to provide isolation valves on both sides of the vessels, upstream of the inlet valves. At some point you will need to maintain the solenoids and the ability to do so without shutting the entire system down is worth it's weight in gold.Timm Turrentine
Brewerywright,
Terminal Gravity Brewing,
Enterprise. Oregon.
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I'd love to hear the outcome to the original question....
I don't know anything about variable flow glycol valves, but I know that as soon as electric variable/proportional control is introduced into hydraulics, cost and complexity goes way up...
-J.Jeremy Reed
Co-Founder and President, assistant brewer, amateur electrician, plumber, welder, refrigeration tech, and intermediately swell fella
The North of 48 Brewing Company
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
www.no48.ca
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Originally posted by TGTimm View PostUnless you're using really tiny fermenters--like <1bbl, the thermal mass is so great I seriously doubt you'd ever notice a difference when using variable valves--except for a bigger dent in your wallet.
Slow-closing solenoid valves are well worth the cost, as they save lots of wear and tear due to hydraulic hammer. Most slow-closers are pneumatically operated.
Be sure to provide isolation valves on both sides of the vessels, upstream of the inlet valves. At some point you will need to maintain the solenoids and the ability to do so without shutting the entire system down is worth it's weight in gold.
-J.Jeremy Reed
Co-Founder and President, assistant brewer, amateur electrician, plumber, welder, refrigeration tech, and intermediately swell fella
The North of 48 Brewing Company
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
www.no48.ca
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Correct Jer,
It is extremely helpful to be able to isolate a tank from the Header. Leaks happen, moving tanks happens. To keep your system up and running while you work or move a tank saves time money and glycol. I suggest if the drop from the header is copper a ss nipple off your outlet and inlet connecting directly to a dielectric union then on to copper. If you are using pex or some other type piping put a union in as well at each inlet/outlet. Finally I always put a bypass ball valve around any solenoid valve. Cheers.Joel Halbleib
Partner / Zymurgist
Hive and Barrel Meadery
6302 Old La Grange Rd
Crestwood, KY
www.hiveandbarrel.com
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I also prefer a flexible drop from the header for similar reasons. It makes it very easy to replace a solenoid vale ('though most electric solenoids can be rebuilt in place), move a vessel, etc. We've even removed the glycol circuit entirely and run warm water through the jackets to jump-start a stuck ferment (last-ditch effort, but it worked).
If for any reason you ever need to disconnect a vessel from the glycol system, close the inlet valve first, then the outlet, but remove the drop from the outlet (top port) first, to prevent a partial vacuum from forming in the jacket. Cooling jackets are incredibly fragile, and a collapsed or leaking jacket an expensive nightmare.Timm Turrentine
Brewerywright,
Terminal Gravity Brewing,
Enterprise. Oregon.
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Originally posted by Junkyard View PostI'm talking with an engineer about my glycol piping plans, he's suggesting we use Variable control valves instead of on/off solenoid valves on the glycol supply line to keep better control on fermentation temperature. I know this is not totally necessary as many other breweries just use on/off valves, but do you all think its worth the extra money to get more precise temp control?
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I don't see any rebuild kit listed for those valves, Liam. We use Asco Red-hats for our electric solenoids--very easy to rebuild or clean in place, but have replaced most with pneumatically operated valves for the slow-close feature and less flow restriction. I don't recall the brand right now.
Low-voltage control circuits are a very good idea in the brewery from a safety point of view.
The Fuji PXR line of PID thermo-controllers are an excellent choice for temperature control if you want to keep things simple.Last edited by TGTimm; 01-20-2017, 11:35 AM.Timm Turrentine
Brewerywright,
Terminal Gravity Brewing,
Enterprise. Oregon.
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Originally posted by TGTimm View PostI don't see any rebuild kit listed for those valves, Liam. We use Asco Red-hats for our electric solenoids--very easy to rebuild or clean in place, but have replaced most with pneumatically operated valves for the slow-close feature and less flow restriction. I don't recall the brand right now.
Low-voltage control circuits are a very good idea in the brewery from a safety point of view.
The Fuji PXR line of PID thermo-controllers are an excellent choice for temperature control if you want to keep things simple.
Pax.
LiamLiam McKenna
www.yellowbellybrewery.com
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Thx for the info guys.
-J.Jeremy Reed
Co-Founder and President, assistant brewer, amateur electrician, plumber, welder, refrigeration tech, and intermediately swell fella
The North of 48 Brewing Company
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
www.no48.ca
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