I currently do both batch and fly sparging. The main challenge I’ve had with fly sparging has been flow rate control. I currently pump the sparge water to the mash tun and gravity fill the runnings mash tun to kettle. My valve control out of the mash tun seems to have ok flow granularity. However, the pump flow is not granular at all; I’d almost call it binary, where it is either flowing or not. My current sparging takes around 15 mins and I’d like to control slowing it down. I see Blichmann’s new kettle comes with a screw valve (G2 linear flow valve). Perhaps this is the solution I need, locating a screw style valve. What advice does the community have? Anyone else have flow control challenges? Screw valve product locator, not sure if Blichmann sells stand alone or if I want to pay the Blichmann price tag?
Second thought, maybe my pump is a magnetic coupling pump, where once a certain level of resistance is hit, the motor free spins. If the case regardless of valve, the issue is going to be the pump. May have to look into pumps as the fix.
I have a Steelhead (http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/the-steelhead-pump.html). As for the ball valve, yup I have a valve on the exit (I'm aware of the cavitation issue if you put your restriction on entrance).
The Steelhead looks like the exact same technology as the chugger. I could be wrong about that, but I think the pump should be fine. What size ID line are you running?
In addition to tubing size (suction and discharge sides) how is the pump positioned in your system and how is it plumbed (eg elbows, QD's, etc)
