[Sembur]

Hi all, i've made myself a BIAB system which looks like this:


I'm using SmartPID to control the whole process. It's 3kW heating element.
Since I've started to brew using this bh, the efficiency dropped to 49% (it was 75% when i was using a coolbox mash tun and electric kettle). I thought it could be the grain crush (was 0,05). I've tried 0,04 and it didn't help. I thought it could be the mashing (i used to do just mash in, keep it on 67 C and than mash out), so I've tried to do step mash... And it didn't help. It's a pity to brew with this kinda efficiency. My last though was that I'm not doing fly sparge (as I used to do it with the coolbox), but this shouldn't result in such a huge drop from 75 to 49. Do you have any ideas / suggestions how to improve it?
Thank you in advance.

[denny]

Are you doing any sparge at all?

[Sembur]

Nope, I was doing before I did this bh. Now it's just step mash and mash out. But again, do you think that not having a fly sparge will result in such a huge drop? I mean, i will try it with sparge anyway, but just curious...

[denny]

Nope, I was doing before I did this bh. Now it's just step mash and mash out. But again, do you think that not having a fly sparge will result in such a huge drop? I mean, i will try it with sparge anyway, but just curious...

Fly sparge, batch sparge...either will likely increase your efficiency.

[Big Monk]

A pump and recirculation would help greatly in lieu of sparging.

[denny]

A pump and recirculation would help greatly in lieu of sparging.

Explain please?

[Big Monk]

A pump and recirculation would help greatly in lieu of sparging.

Explain please?

Let me expand what I meant so I don't sound silly.

If you are going to do No-Sparge, recirculation helps as it is like a constantly stirred mash. You are mashing thin and getting lots of sugars in solution. Instead of saying "in lieu of sparging", I should have said "if you are not sparging". I was not suggesting that recirculation is a straight substitution.

[denny]

A pump and recirculation would help greatly in lieu of sparging.

Explain please?

Let me expand what I meant so I don't sound silly.

If you are going to do No-Sparge, recirculation helps as it is like a constantly stirred mash. You are mashing thin and getting lots of sugars in solution. Instead of saying "in lieu of sparging", I should have said "if you are not sparging". I was not suggesting that recirculation is a straight substitution.

Got it now.  Thanks for the clarification.  I'm not certain how much that would actually gain.  I assume that would only affect conversion, so I guess you'd have to do a conversion efficiency check to see if that was the problem.

[Big Monk]

A pump and recirculation would help greatly in lieu of sparging.

Explain please?

Let me expand what I meant so I don't sound silly.

If you are going to do No-Sparge, recirculation helps as it is like a constantly stirred mash. You are mashing thin and getting lots of sugars in solution. Instead of saying "in lieu of sparging", I should have said "if you are not sparging". I was not suggesting that recirculation is a straight substitution.

Got it now.  Thanks for the clarification.  I'm not certain how much that would actually gain.  I assume that would only affect conversion, so I guess you'd have to do a conversion efficiency check to see if that was the problem.

Just to clarify: Limiting losses in the tun is the number one thing to do to improve no-sparge efficiency. A bottom draining tun for example, coupled with 100% conversion, yields the highest No-Sparge efficiency by limiting your loss to absorption.

Still though, the basics, like good pH, conversion, etc. coupled with constant mash recirculation will definitely help.

[Wilbur]

I BIAB (10 gallon kettle, 2.7 qt/lb, fabric filter, no sparge) and regularly get ~75%. I'd suggest stirring a few times during the mash, and if you want to Low O2 or don't want to stir yourself you can put in a pump and recirculate. I usually stir at the 0, 30, and 60 minutes and it works well.

[denny]

I BIAB (10 gallon kettle, 2.7 qt/lb, fabric filter, no sparge) and regularly get ~75%. I'd suggest stirring a few times during the mash, and if you want to Low O2 or don't want to stir yourself you can put in a pump and recirculate. I usually stir at the 0, 30, and 60 minutes and it works well.

Agreed.  When I do my 20/20 BIAB batches, I stir several times and have gotten 75-78% efficiency.  I can't swear it's the stirring, but that's what I do.

[Wilbur]

I BIAB (10 gallon kettle, 2.7 qt/lb, fabric filter, no sparge) and regularly get ~75%. I'd suggest stirring a few times during the mash, and if you want to Low O2 or don't want to stir yourself you can put in a pump and recirculate. I usually stir at the 0, 30, and 60 minutes and it works well.

Agreed.  When I do my 20/20 BIAB batches, I stir several times and have gotten 75-78% efficiency.  I can't swear it's the stirring, but that's what I do.

20/20?

[Big Monk]

I BIAB (10 gallon kettle, 2.7 qt/lb, fabric filter, no sparge) and regularly get ~75%. I'd suggest stirring a few times during the mash, and if you want to Low O2 or don't want to stir yourself you can put in a pump and recirculate. I usually stir at the 0, 30, and 60 minutes and it works well.

Agreed.  When I do my 20/20 BIAB batches, I stir several times and have gotten 75-78% efficiency.  I can't swear it's the stirring, but that's what I do.

20/20?

If I’m not mistaken, 20 minute mash, 20 minute boil. 

[Sembur]

A pump and recirculation would help greatly in lieu of sparging.

That's what I'm doing actually. Have the pump on during all the mash process.

[denny]

I BIAB (10 gallon kettle, 2.7 qt/lb, fabric filter, no sparge) and regularly get ~75%. I'd suggest stirring a few times during the mash, and if you want to Low O2 or don't want to stir yourself you can put in a pump and recirculate. I usually stir at the 0, 30, and 60 minutes and it works well.

Agreed.  When I do my 20/20 BIAB batches, I stir several times and have gotten 75-78% efficiency.  I can't swear it's the stirring, but that's what I do.

20/20?

If I’m not mistaken, 20 minute mash, 20 minute boil.

Yep