CERVOMEC Brewing System

Description

CERVOMEC concept is based upon the following requirements:

* Counterflow HERMS (Heat Exchange Recirculating Mash System) based architecture

* Process controlled by autonomous micro-controller (got an Arduino for this)

* Two optional brewing modes:
- Interactive mode
- Fully automated end-to-end brewing process, from dispensed ingredients (malt/grist, hops/adjuncts and water) to cold wort ready for yeast pitching

* "Headless" system (no buttons, no display) with two options of UI (User Interface):
- Serial CLI (Command Line Interface)
- IP Networked cross-platform GUI (Graphical User Interface)

* Dedicated server (I have a Raspberry Pi in my drawer) connected to the micro-controller supporting:
- CLI console
- GUI server and related middleware
- Wi-fi networked connection to GUI clients

Details

The physical setup is a modified HERMS setup using an external counterflow heat exchanger instead of an exchanger imersed in the water tank. I expect this modified setup will allow greater efficiency in heat exchange when compared to a traditional HERMS.

Components

1 × Arduino Mega 2560 Currently upgrading from Uno to Mega 2560

2 × Brewing pumps I Got March pumps. Adding second pump for counterflow action

2 × 8 x SPDT relay module

2 × SSR relay And proper heatsinking

2 × Heating elements Water tank and boil tank

Project Logs

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The heat exchanger
renatomsteiner • 08/20/2014 at 22:33 • 0 comments

The new heat exchanger is going to enable precise temperature control along the whole process, running the following tasks:
* Water tank temperature uniformisation
* Mash temperature control along mash process and sparging
* Two-stage wort chilling, fist stage with network water and second stage with ice water
Some cool automated home brewing projects / products
renatomsteiner • 08/20/2014 at 02:00 • 0 comments
To-do list
renatomsteiner • 08/20/2014 at 01:55 • 0 comments

* Hop dispenser
* New hydraulic and electric setup assembly (almost there)
* Updated Arduino code according to new setup
* Software stack for networked GUI (I guess this is gonna be the hard part)
* Raspberry Pi configured as GUI server
What did I have until a few weeks:
renatomsteiner • 08/19/2014 at 02:57 • 0 comments

* Automated brewing system based on a classical HERMS setup

* Same water vessel heats mashing wort and chills boiled wort

* Serial connection CLI (Arduino IDE)

* Still requiring some minor interferences along the process:
- Hop additions
- Fermentor hose connection
This setup works but I'm unsatisfied with heat exchange efficiency, so I am moving forward to a new setup.
I started writing a Processing GUI but quickly got frustrated because I was stuck in the server machine by the serial connection. My goal here is to have a network accessible GUI so I can access it through other networked devices.