My mostly automated brucontrol setup

[Kmo4040]

Do you have a link for were you sourced your pressure sensors?

 

[Die_Beerery]

Do you have a link for were you sourced your pressure sensors?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4-2...32840629616.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.RY6kCT

 

[augiedoggy]

No, how would I they are brand new

Not sure where the filter is or if it can plug with vacuuming nitrogen. I have other pumps if they don't work out.

well theres no filter on the pump iself. My point was these pumps dont handle resistance all that well from my experience and the vacuum itself will cause that and may rupture the tiny diaphram material they use. It depends on the amount of vacuum I guess since these are vary similar in design to an aquarium air pump.

We use these to pump ink up to reservoirs in the printer carriage and there are ink filters before the pump inline. We do use smaller vacuum pumps for creating low vacuum in the resevoir tanks above the printheads which also keeps gravity from letting the ink drip out of the printheads but those pumps are of a different design with airstone mufflers on the exhaust side.

 

[Die_Beerery]

I am not actually creating a vacuum persay. I am using them to augment purging. I can purge much faster and more efficient if I pull a "suction" from the top of the vessel.

 

[Die_Beerery]

The great solder marathon continues.

Ran out of some stuff so had to turn to the panel while waiting for supplies.

12 valves remain
2 pressure sensors
3 pH probes
3 do probes
2 MFM cables

Done with 8 valves
11 temp probes
1 pressure sensor
3 flow sensors.


Turned my attention to the panel soldering. There are 32-3 pin connections and 8-10 pin connections for the MFM’s, DO and PH. I removed the 10 conductor cables and soldered those outside of the panel but the rest are soldered in panel.

Completed and tested the 10-1wire probes.
Completed and tested the flow sensors.
Completed and tested the pressure sensors.

I apologize for the disheveled panel pictures but I will tidy it all when I am done soldering.

Some recent photos.

 

[Die_Beerery]

Well I guess I can solder....

All the 10 pin connectors came up.

I needed a mental health break from soldering and wiring so I turned to control interface design. Came up with the underlay and I think I liked how it turned out.

Back to wiring tomorrow.

 

[GParkins]

@Die_Beerery, how many valves are in this system? I tried to keep the number as low as I could. Also, how did you create the graphics for the different devices? Specifically, how did you manage to scale some of them down so small and keep them readable? I like the way you have the workspace laid out. I'd really like to have the background be an actual photo of my stand, and then overlay the devices where they actually exist. It would help me visualize a little better, I think.

What would be really cool is for @BrunDog to add to his list for version 2.0 is the ability to create an animated workspace that incorporates all of the devices and shows the liquid flow synchronized to the state of the valves and pumps. No pressure. Any time now.

 

[Die_Beerery]

This is how my actual system will lay out. So I built it to be more intuitive as well.

I used paint 3D and photoshop to do what I wanted. I still have some stuff to cleanup/add/Fix. But it’s pretty much done I think. If you tap a valve that will manually turn it on/off.
I want my look more of a professional PLC system.


Last count 24 valves. 9 alone for purging stuff, they will most likely be solenoids though.

 

[Die_Beerery]

Forgot I had 2 Massflow sesnors..... Updated underlay.. now back to wiring.

 

[BrunDog]

This thing is off the chart. I am pushing to get 1.1 out the door to help you get the look you want!

 

[Die_Beerery]

Got some early morning panel work in today.

11 panel connections left......
And still a lot of valves, etc to wire. But making headway.

 

[BrunDog]

Absolutely snapping!

 

[Die_Beerery]

Put a little time in today.

First view of the interface on the panel. I think it should work.

 

[asparknz]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4-2...32840629616.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.RY6kCT

How are your pressure sensors working out?

 

[Die_Beerery]

How are your pressure sensors working out?

They have not been setup yet.

 

[Die_Beerery]

Re-tweaked the interface...I like how it's shaping up.

 

[BrunDog]

Sweet.

 

[Die_Beerery]

Oops I did it again.

 

[BrunDog]

eBay is your frenemy.

 

[Die_Beerery]

Started modeling Fermenters..

 

[Die_Beerery]

Finished

 

[GParkins]

I just realized I have no idea the capacity of the rig that you are putting together. The enclosure looks fit for about a 50-bbl system, but what size batches are you brewing with it?

 

[Die_Beerery]

Finished

Hrmm.

 

[Die_Beerery]

I just realized I have no idea the capacity of the rig that you are putting together. The enclosure looks fit for about a 50-bbl system, but what size batches are you brewing with it?

1/2bbl.

 

[GParkins]

Same here. I went with basic Ss 30-gallon kettles. Punched my own holes. Next time, I would take them to someone else to punch to my specs. I am not a metalworker. They don't leak, but they ain't pretty, either.

 

[Die_Beerery]

Same here. I went with basic Ss 30-gallon kettles. Punched my own holes. Next time, I would take them to someone else to punch to my specs. I am not a metalworker. They don't leak, but they ain't pretty, either.

Yea, I partnered with stout and we custom designed a line of "low oxygen kettles", so the system is based off those. http://www.********************/stout-tanks-and-kettles-llc/

 

[Die_Beerery]

Got a BM to play with in the interim.




Had some fun with hooking up some gadgets.

 

[swimIan]

Is it possible to replace the braumeister controller with brewcontrol, in your opinion?

 

[Die_Beerery]

Is it possible to replace the braumeister controller with brewcontrol, in your opinion?

Sure, but it would then be way cheaper to just get a pot and an element/pump and call it a day.

 

[Die_Beerery]

Got my second micromotion today. The other one (endress Hauser) is going to be used as my “tilt”.

 

[day_trippr]

This reminds me of my hard-core model railroading days - and the MRR layout building motto: "It's never really done"...

Cheers!

 

[Die_Beerery]

Did some calibrating of the MFM's yesterday

 

[Die_Beerery]

Been pretty slow on the system as of late. Finishing the basement, and trying to get my yard ready.

Played with my chiller and fermenters this weekend.

Got a used chiller for really cheap, but it needed some tlc. Cleaned it out, gave it a tune up, and filled her back up.

 

[helterscelter]

Been pretty slow on the system as of late. Finishing the basement, and trying to get my yard ready.

Played with my chiller and fermenters this weekend.

Got a used chiller for really cheap, but it needed some tlc. Cleaned it out, gave it a tune up, and filled her back up.

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Be careful with that pump. Not sure what kind of pump it is. But if it is a rotary vein pump it could exceed the psi rating of your conical. (Though I could be wrong).

 

[day_trippr]

Point might still be valid but those don't appear to be jacketed Stout conicals, I assumed DB is running coils attached through the lids?

Cheers!

 

[GParkins]

Looks like a good test to demonstrate the need for insulation! @Die_Beerery, what is the rating of the compressor for the chiller? My rig is similar, and uses a ½-hp (0.37kW) compressor that runs on R-12. Also, what is the capacity of the reservoir, and have you run a test to see how cold you can get the glycol solution?

 

[Die_Beerery]

3/4hp compressor and 10gal resevoir.

I have not... I turned the johnson to 30, and about 10 minutes later I measured. It's a beast.

 

[GParkins]

@Die_Beerery my reservoir is about 11 gallons, and it took me less than three hours to take it from 84ºF to 18ºF. I haven't tried to see how low it will go. Here's a screencap of three hours' activity in BruControl:

 

[Die_Beerery]

I attached me qd’s then filled all the coils to the fermenters, then topped it off again. I am a little over and hour into it.

Qd’s and such.

This is not the final piping. Only temp until I get it in its place.

Tweaked the fermenting interface today. It’s starting to shape up.
View attachment 571861

 

[BrunDog]

Awesome!

BTW the Interface pic isn't view-able.