RIMS Design w/o Hot Liquor Tank

J. Doug Brown

This design has not been tested. The following diagrams are being provided for discussion purposes only. If you choose to implement anything seen on this page, please send email describing how it was implemented, how well this design worked, and any problems encountered. Please also keep in mind that as of yet, I have not actually brewed an all grain batch of beer. Take all information presented here as coming from a beginning brewer.

This image is a conceptual design of the external plumbing on this RIMS design. Note the heating assembly is not pictured.

A table is included describing the valve and pump statuses during various stages in a RIMS operation. If problems, or suggestions are found please send email describing them.

Storage Mode
This image depicts the system in the Storage and prior to Start state.
Note: The water supply to the system is disconnected during storage.

Initial Warm Water Fill
This image depicts the system during the initial filling operation, ie. getting ready to float the grain bed over the false bottom. During the external recirculation cycles the air removal module is required. Without the module any air in the external circulation system would run through the pump thoroughly aerating the wort. The air removal module pumps wort into the top of a chamber where air bubbles can vent out the top onto the grain bed. Wort without air bubbles is drawn back to the pump without the presence of bubbles.

Underletting of Grain Bed
If the grain bed ever compacts a mild pressure underlet can be performed by this method. If a pressurized underlet is required another valve could be added on the plumbing flowing down from the air removal module to force all incoming water under the false bottom without any pressure release venting through the air removal module.

Normal RIMS Operation
During normal RIMS operation no fluid is added so no external recirculation mixing needs to be performed.

Mashout
During the mashout stage the wort is slowly drained from under the false bottom directly to the boiling vessel. The wort volume is replaced with heated water from the external recirculation of cold and heated fluid pumped through the heating chamber being brought up to mashout temperatures.

Pump Priming
Prior to pump operation it is recommended that the pump be primed to avoid pump damage and aeration of the wort. Once water has filled the Air Removal Chamber the pump may be started. This method caused the Pump, and Heating Chamber to both be filled prior to usage.

Heated Fluid Fill
This process could be used to fill the RIMS vessel with heated water during the start of the mashing sequence, or to add small amounts of heated water to the RIMS system to account for grain absorption of fluid.