Using a boost heating element
There is no separate button for the boost heating element in the web interface: Samovar switches it on and off by itself based on temperatures. The thresholds are set in the configurator on the "Temperatures" («Температуры») tab ("Boost exit temperature, °C" («Температура перехода из разгона, °C»), "Cooling opening temperature, °C" («Температура открытия охлаждения, °C»), "Boost heating element threshold, °C" («Порог разгонного ТЭНа, °C»)); when building in the Arduino IDE, the same lines are in
Samovar_ini.h.
Boost heating element operation in "Rectification" («Ректификация») mode
To use the additional boost heating element function, nothing needs to be changed in the sketch. This function is enabled by default.
The logic is similar to that of the RM in "Boost" («Разгон») mode:
On the "Turn on heating" («Включить нагрев») command (in the web interface, in the mobile app, or with the universal button), besides Samovar switching on the main heating element, relay No. 4 switches on a contactor or solid-state relay, which in turn supplies voltage to the boost heating element. The status line then shows "Boost" («Разгон»). When the steam temperature reaches the value set in the settings (39° by default):
//Steam sensor temperature at which the column switches from boost mode to working mode
#define CHANGE_POWER_MODE_STEAM_TEMP 39
Relay No. 4 opens its contacts and switches off the boost heater. Samovar prints the message "Boost finished. Stabilization/self-reflux." («Разгон завершён. Стабилизация/работа на себя.»)
With a UART-controlled regulator, the boost heating element switches off earlier if the boiler temperature rises above the cooling opening temperature (77° by default), even when the steam has not yet reached 39°. If the boiler sensor is not connected, Samovar does not control the boost heating element.
If the command "Turn on heating" («Включить нагрев») has not been given, or the sensor temperature is above the value set in the sketch, the boost will not start.
Boost heating element operation in "Distillation" («Дистилляция») mode
The boost heating element switches on together with the main one when distillation starts. It switches off at the first transition to the next line of the
distillation program. If the checkbox
"Use boost heating element during boiling" («Использовать разгонный тэн при кипении»)is cleared in the settings ("Settings" («Настройки») → "Beer" («Пиво») tab), the boost heating element is switched off earlier, as soon as Samovar detects the start of boiling.
Boost heating element operation in "Beer" («Пиво») mode
The heating element is connected as described above.
But the algorithm is different.
During mashing, the boost heating element is governed by the "Boost heating element threshold, °C" («Порог разгонного ТЭНа, °C») parameter (the "Temperatures" («Температуры») tab of the configurator); in the file Samovar_ini.h the line is:
#define ACCELERATION_HEATER_DELTA 4
//If the difference between the target temperature and the current temperature (for beer and sous-vide modes) is greater than the set value, then with a UART-controlled regulator relay No. 4 additionally switches on the boost heating element; with a smaller difference, the boost heating element switches off
Enabled by default; 4 is the value in degrees C°. Works only with a UART-controlled regulator.
When switched on, Samovar commands the regulator to supply full power to the main heating element. If the boiler temperature is lower than the one set in the line of the mashing program by 4°, Samovar switches on relay No. 4, which in turn commands the boost heating element to switch on. If the difference is less than 4°, the boost heating element does not switch on and heating comes only from the main heater.
When the next temperature rest is complete, or the operator gives the "Next program" («Следующая программа») command, Samovar compares the boiler temperature with the one set in the next program line. If the difference is greater than 4°, the boost heating element is used.
If the "Turn on heating" («Включить нагрев») command has not been given, or the delta is less than the set one, the boost heating element does not switch on.
When the wort is boiling, the boost heating element switches on if the "Use boost heating element during boiling" («Использовать разгонный тэн при кипении») checkbox is set, otherwise it is switched off. During PID controller autotuning the boost heating element is not used.
Samovar 7.00: In "
Cheesemaking" («Сыроварение») mode relay No. 4 is occupied by the brine drain valve, so the boost heating element and this valve cannot be connected at the same time. In the "BK" («БК»), "NBK" («НБК») and "Sous-vide" («Су-вид») modes the boost heating element is not used.
