Recirculate What (?) RIMS/HERMS
Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:09 pm
What is it that is recirculating? Does the mash water recirc, continuously,just for temperature control,or both;or neither? 
If you've ever stuck a thermometer in various locations of a typical mashtun, you'd be surprised at the wide range of temperatures within the tun, even if you stir the mash occasionally. The prime reason for recirculating the mash is to have a more even temperature and better temperature control and because the wort is circulating through the grain bed, the wort is constantly being filtered so that, at sparge time, the runoff is exceptionally clear. This also makes Step infusions and mashouts much simpler.
You can read more details here:
http://www.ovha.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... 5&start=60
and
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index. ... sh_systems
RIMS
RIMS stands for Recirculation Infusion Mash System. This refers to a recirculating mash system in which the recirculated wort is passed over direct heat. The direct heat may be applied by an electric heating elment suspended in a tube after the pump. It may also be applied via direct heat under a metal mash tun (this would be called a direct fired RIMS to distinguish it from the previously mentioned version). In just about all RIMS systems, the pump operates constantly during the mash, and the heat (flame or electric) is cycled off and on to maintain the desired mash temperature. Common heating elements used in home-built RIMS systems are home hot water heater elements encased in a copper pipe with an inlet and outlet.
HERMS
Herms SystemHERMS stands for Heat Exchanged Recirculating Mash System. In a HERMS system, the wort is passed through the a heat exchanger, usually a copper manifold, that is suspended in hot liquid. Usually the hot liquor tank is used for convenience since water will be used for sparge afterwards. The most accurate and preferred method of mash temp control is inserting the temperature controller's sensor inline with the wort at the exit of the heat exchanger. The controller will then cycle HLT heating on and off to keep the wort returning to the mash tun at your setpoint.
Good show,Don.I can get it from there.I guess I coulda' googled all that on my own,but It feels so good when one can just ask.Thank you.I can see that you went the extra mile on your response and it is appreciated. 