Chugger Pump

Roger · July 16, 2013, 10:45:12 PM

So I tested my pump today and the pumping was so vigorous that it created a vortex and started to suck air from inside the kettle. This caused the pump to stop pumping. Until I turned it off and jiggled the hoses in order to get rid of the air in the hoses. I was wondering if any one has had a problem while pumping liquid from one vessel to another. If so what is the solution? Other than reducing the pumps flow when I tried this the flow rate was very slow. Any suggestions would be great!

Kyle · July 16, 2013, 11:38:37 PM

Hi Roger, this is a common issue among magnetic impeller pumps, such as the March, Chugger, and greatbreweh ones. The solution is to add a dump valve so that you can use gravity to prime, as the pumps are not self-priming. Basically, inline with the inlet to the pump, but just before, add a Tee with a drain valve.

Chris Craig · July 17, 2013, 06:46:15 AM

Quote from: Kyle on July 16, 2013, 11:38:37 PM
Hi Roger, this is a common issue among magnetic impeller pumps, such as the March, Chugger, and greatbreweh ones. The solution is to add a dump valve so that you can use gravity to prime, as the pumps are not self-priming. Basically, inline with the inlet to the pump, but just before, add a Tee with a drain valve.

This made a world of difference for me!

Roger · July 17, 2013, 08:06:12 AM

Forgive me for my ignorance! When I open all the valves i.e. MT, pump, BK the hoses fill with liquid it pumps fine at first then I get this vortex that forms inside the kettle I'm puming from. Looks like I pulled the plug in a sink full of water. So what will this extra valve do for me?

chrismccull · July 17, 2013, 08:15:43 AM

The suction of your pump needs to be completely flooded in order to function properly. The suction drain tee allows you to drain any air in the suction lines. Usually, you just use this valve to prime the pump for operation, I suspect that you ran it too long and ended up with air in the line after draining the kettle?

Roger · July 17, 2013, 08:32:09 AM

Actually I filled my hlt with about 5 gallons of hot water and bpw in order to get all the manufacturing dirt out of the system and test everything then I went to pump it into my mash tun. I opened the valve on the hlt, mt and pump the hoses filled with liquid I then turned on the pump it pumed great until the vortex formed from the surface of the liquid to the bottom of the kettle where it drains out then it sucked air. When it sucked air it stoped pumping so I turned everything off jiggled the hoses until I saw air bubbles restarted it, it did the same thing again so I restarted again but with the pump outlet closed down to about 1/4 flow but this seems very very slow.

Chris Craig · July 17, 2013, 09:02:16 AM

Well, there's not much you can do if you're getting air in the lines from the intake at the kettle. If you're getting a whirlpool, you must have the pickup tube pointing to the side inside your kettle, right? If you have it pointing straight down, you shouldn't get a whirlpool. Can you do that?

Roger · July 17, 2013, 09:07:59 AM

I don't have a pick up tube in any pot exept my bk the hlt and mt are both bottom drain.

Roger · July 17, 2013, 01:58:24 PM

I think I'm gonna use a grant from the mash tun to the boil kettle. This way I don't need to worry about having this issue wile transferring my sweet nectar to the boil pot. Any thoughts?

Chris Craig · July 17, 2013, 02:26:51 PM

WTF is a "grant"?

Roger · July 17, 2013, 06:16:47 PM

A grant is a vessel used to gently drain the liquid into from a mash tun. It helps with stuck sparges and things like that. I'll be using it to slow down the natural drining power from my mash tun. I hope!

fakr · July 22, 2013, 04:31:02 PM

That's odd you're getting such an aggressive whirlpool in your kettles. I get whirlpools but only when there is a small amount of liquid left. How many GPM is your chugger rated for?

Roger · July 22, 2013, 07:27:54 PM

7gpm is what it's rated for. I think my problem is I'm using the try clamp fitting on the top of the keg turned upside down. It's a very efficient way to drain but with a pump it seems to drain too fast. I think I'll just use an intermediate vessel (grant) to drain into first. Unless you have any sugestions?

Chris Craig · July 22, 2013, 07:33:49 PM

Wouldn't it be quicker to just throttle back on the pump? Less to clean too.

fakr · July 22, 2013, 07:42:32 PM

7GPM is quite a bit....are all chuggers rated for that?

I see what you mean by the tri clamp on the top of the keg turned upside down. Sounds like you need a deflecter of sorts. something as simple as a piece of flat copper or stainless with small holes drilled in it. Or a thick stainless mesh screen to create a bit of turbulance to stop the whirlpool.

Either that or restrict the flow of the pump like Chris mentioned. My pumps are rated for 3.5gpm and they work great on a 30 gal system, but I'd love a 7gpm and a bigger CFC. would cut a lot of time off the brew day.