83L HERMS Manifold Options

The HERMS Trio as sold requires a few hose changes during the brew process. This simple step simplifies the system immensely, requiring far fewer parts, and allowing the free positioning of your brew kettles on the brew stand. Cost is optimized, cleaning is easier, heat loss is minimized by using silicone tubing instead of stainless steel components, and frictional resistance is reduced by having fewer bends and reducing the overall length in the external circulation loops.

I highly recommend brewing with the standard system a few times to see where you would like to make changes, if at all. For most people the standard design is more than adequate, and if you agree that simple is better, then you will probably not want to make any changes.

If you are still interested in upgrading your system for fewer hose changes and don't mind the additional cost and cleaning requirements, this article will show you a few design ideas and provide the parts lists required to implement these changes.

Intake Manifold Design Considerations

One pump in the three kettle HERMS system is used for the hot liquor tank (HLT) to recirculate hot water within the HLT and transfer hot water to the MLT during the sparge process. The second pump is used for both the mash-lauter tun (MLT) and the boil kettle (BK). Because the second pump is used for two kettles, a hose change is required on the pump intake side between the mashing and whirlpooling steps. This hose change can be avoided with a pump intake manifold between the MLT and the BK.

Output Manifold Design Considerations

With the output side of the pumps it gets more complicated. Here are the flow requirements:

  • HLT pump back to HLT
  • HLT pump to MLT
  • MLT/BK pump back to MLT
  • MLT/BK pump back to BK

The manifold on the pump output side will need to connect both pump outputs to the HLT whirlpool port, the MLT return port, and the BK whirlpool port. In other words, two in and three out, with valves on each side of the manifold outputs to control the flow. The design examples will clarify things.

Intake Manifold Option

The pump intake manifold is designed uniquely to be compatible with the output manifold. That is why the shape is unusual and uses two 45 elbows on the brew kettle valve side. It is composed of the following parts:

You will need 1 each of the spool, tee, and 90 elbow, 2 of the 45 elbows, 6 clamps, and 8 gaskets. Please check your pump configuration to determine how best to connect from the manifold to your pump. You may need an additional hose barb.

 

Output Manifold Option

The two ports on the bottom are to connect to your pump outputs. On the top left, the 45 elbow connects to the BK whirlpool port. On the top right, the 90 elbow connects to the HLT Whirlpool valve. In the middle, the tee connects to the HERMS coil input with a short hose connection.

Notice the use of the two Tri-Clamp mounting clamps located at the whirlpool valve and HLT Whirlpool valve connections. These are to support the weight of the manifold and are required!

Here is the parts list for the output manifold:

You will need: 2 valves, 3 tees, 2 90 elbows, 2 mounting clamps, one 45 elbow, 10 clamps, and 10 gaskets.

The connection to the HERMS port can be made with existing hose barbs and tubing from the HERMS Trio set. The two pump input connections hardware will depend on which pumps you are using and how you want to connect them. In the gallery below you will find further information and connection examples: