Malting system

[bluc]

Thought i would post up my malting /kilning setup. 100l stainless pot. 12v solenoids for flood drain,1800w element , a blower to push warm air through while kilning grain and an aquarium pump to aerate the grain while steeping sprouting.also a false bottom. Will use an inkbird to regulate heat.
I am using home assistant and a smart power strip to automate the steeping. Hope to give it a good workout this winter. Heres some pics.

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[Wellsy]

Nice looking setup Bluc, fingers crossed it works the way you hoped it would :)

[hjubm2]

Looks good Bluc. How much grain are you planning to do in one go with this system? Are you planning to use it the whole way through from steeping to kilning or remove the grain once sprouted & then add it back into the pot to kiln it?

[bluc]

I cant really think of why it wouldnt. Only thing I may need to come up with a way to turn the grain. I have heard of people combating heat and co2 by flushing with cold water. It will just take some experimenting I think..

[bluc]

I want to fully automate it so will all be done in one pot.
20kg for sure but hoping for more. 40kg would be better. Is a 100l pot.

[hjubm2]

Sounds like exactly what I've been planning except on a slightly larger scale. In regards to turning the grain, a sort of auger through that hole in the top would be perfect. Doesn't need to be anything too substantial. Have a look at the Joe White Micro Malting system, just used a really thin augar/paddle to slowly turn the grain.

[hjubm2]

Heres what i was talking about...

[bluc]

Have been thinking an augar also :handgestures-thumbupleft: trying to work out the details is the hard bit. How to power and redistribute evenly in the pot. Apparently turning the grain has a big impact on how evenly it sprouts also.
Have been thinking of a wide blade augar maybe a thin one would be better. Disrupt the bed enough but also lay it back down better :handgestures-thumbupleft:
I want to do lots different grains. Corn especially love white 100% malted whiskey..

[bluc]

What size is your container and how much per batch?

[hjubm2]

I was thinking of using the mixer from my boiler the turn the grain. It uses a 2" tri-clamp fitting and has a speed controller attached so nice & easy to retrofit when needed. The auger will be a basic frame that i can attach different size auger width sections until i can find the right size for the tirning needed. From what i can see it doesn't need much turning, just a slow turn to not disturb it too much & to not effect the roots etc but enough to make sure it doesn't clump.

In regards to size, best reference i can find is that maoze (corn) & buckwheat are the grains that swells the most at about 65% so I'm planning to allow atleast double the space for the amount of grain, allowing about 1kg =1L (really rough figures, not accurate at all) so with a 200L drum for trials, removing a bit for the false bottom etc would leave around 180L of room (hopefully) so batches should be about 90kg at a time...

Hardest problem will be with the kilning. Depending on what temperature levels your planning to go to. With a flat bottom & a single inlet for hot air I'm struggling to work out a way to get the airflow/temperature stable across the whole grainbed. Might not be an issue with a smaller container size though and if only going to lower temps/not wanting commercial quality/consistency?

[bluc]

I have seen comercial setups that can reverse the flow of hot air bottom to top, then top to bottom air may be an option. I watched heaps videos on grain silos they use augers and constantly move grain from bottom to top. They have a arm that re disributes it evenly on top. They force warm air in under false floor.
Been trying to think of a way to duplicate it but not sure it is nessacary with small amount 40kg a go . I should be right with my convection oven and agitation. Just gotta work out a good stirrer arm..

[bluc]

Found this calc for grain volume may come in handy for someone
https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/wei ... tance/malt

[bluc]

A Busshel of grain is .035m³ my container is .13m³ hopefully gives me enough space to do 2 bags per go..

[bluc]

Heres what i was talking about...

Is there video with this in operation?

[hjubm2]

Heres what i was talking about...

Is there video with this in operation?

Possibly. I have come across some videos of it in operation but not sure what it shows exactly. I'll have to see if I can relocate the videos for you

[hjubm2]

This video might show you what you need to know...

https://youtu.be/yoxRbEWVRFg

[bluc]

Thanks that cleared it up looks like about 1/5 inside augar and 1/5 outside :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[BigRig]

Hey bluc, what about a doner kebab machine ?
Or you could try a rotisserie motor ?

[bluc]

Yea either would work I reakon. And the rotisserie turns nice slow too :handgestures-thumbupleft: hard bit will be designing and building the arm.

[bluc]

I think i will make the arm like this. Like fingers dragging through the grain. Bottom angled to suit domed false bottom made out of 6mm solid stainless round bar. Fingers overlapping slightly in middle. Lots open area to reduce drag/ effort on motor. Either a rottisserie motor or wiper motor on a speed controller. Any thoughts?

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