coolant temp in condenser/worm

[rumlover]

What is a good range of temp. for the coolant in a condenser or worm. is a worm or a liegbig better or does it more of preference. Water conservation is a concern because of our water rates being astronomical.

[MuleKicker]

I run the water to my condenser so slow, it barely trickles out the end. I put the output of my condenser into a 55 gal drum to see how much water i used during a run once, i used maybe 25 gal in about 5 hrs. the water coming out the end is hot enough you cant hold your hand under it, and no steam is escaping my collumn. Cheers. hope this helps MK.

[Hack]

With a worm you want to leave the water in it as undisturbed as possible during your run. The top layer will get hot while the bottom will remain cool. I run a fifteen gallon keg boiler with a thumper, and a six gallon bucket with a 20' 5/8" copper worm in it. I can make a whole run without having to add or change water. I suppose if I wanted to I could reuse the water in my worm bucket from run to run. If I did that, hands down a worm would be the most conservative of water.

[rumlover]

I run the water to my condenser so slow, it barely trickles out the end. I put the output of my condenser into a 55 gal drum to see how much water i used during a run once, i used maybe 25 gal in about 5 hrs. the water coming out the end is hot enough you cant hold your hand under it, and no steam is escaping my collumn. Cheers. hope this helps MK.

Do you use a liebig ? how long?....yes this ie helping

[rumlover]

With a worm you want to leave the water in it as undisturbed as possible during your run. The top layer will get hot while the bottom will remain cool. I run a fifteen gallon keg boiler with a thumper, and a six gallon bucket with a 20' 5/8" copper worm in it. I can make a whole run without having to add or change water. I suppose if I wanted to I could reuse the water in my worm bucket from run to run. If I did that, hands down a worm would be the most conservative of water.

Is there any up or down side to having cooler or warmer water surrounding the worm?

[Hack]

With a worm you want to leave the water in it as undisturbed as possible during your run. The top layer will get hot while the bottom will remain cool. I run a fifteen gallon keg boiler with a thumper, and a six gallon bucket with a 20' 5/8" copper worm in it. I can make a whole run without having to add or change water. I suppose if I wanted to I could reuse the water in my worm bucket from run to run. If I did that, hands down a worm would be the most conservative of water.

Is there any up or down side to having cooler or warmer water surrounding the worm?

I don't think it really matters as long as it's knocking down all the vapor.

[MuleKicker]

I run the water to my condenser so slow, it barely trickles out the end. I put the output of my condenser into a 55 gal drum to see how much water i used during a run once, i used maybe 25 gal in about 5 hrs. the water coming out the end is hot enough you cant hold your hand under it, and no steam is escaping my collumn. Cheers. hope this helps MK.

Do you use a liebig ? how long?....yes this ie helping

No, i have a 1/4 inch copper coil, about 23 feet long all wound up inside a stainless enclosure. I attached a pic if that helps. I have also ran a small circulator pump from a 10 gal bucket. I would add ice too it maybe once during a spirit run, never during a strip. I live in the country with a well, so it just became easier to run it strait from the tap, and discharge into mama's flowers. (that way im accomplishing something in her eyes too. ) MK

[rumlover]

Thanx guys this IS helping. For some reason I was thinking that the water in the condenser really cool....like cool to the touch. If I understand this correctly,as long as al the vapor is knocked down to liquid and no vapor is coming from the discharge I am ok....Am I on the right track?

[rad14701]

Thanx guys this IS helping. For some reason I was thinking that the water in the condenser really cool....like cool to the touch. If I understand this correctly,as long as al the vapor is knocked down to liquid and no vapor is coming from the discharge I am ok....Am I on the right track?

Correct... As long as no vapor escapes the condenser with the spirits you have enough cooling...

[BillHoo]

I use a big Coleman picnic cooler filled with water.

The water circulates to a jacketed condensor with an aquarium pump.

I check the water temp by hand and cool it down with ice formed from a 2.5 gallon water jug that I had frozen in my freezer.

Two such jugs allows me to run my 9 gal capacity still for a 12 hour run.

I prfer to have the water chilled, but it really only has to be lower than the vapor temperature of alcohol.

[MuleKicker]

I use a big Coleman picnic cooler filled with water.

The water circulates to a jacketed condensor with an aquarium pump.

I check the water temp by hand and cool it down with ice formed from a 2.5 gallon water jug that I had frozen in my freezer.

Two such jugs allows me to run my 9 gal capacity still for a 12 hour run.

I prfer to have the water chilled, but it really only has to be lower than the vapor temperature of alcohol.

I like that idea, I bet those ice jugs work great.

[Savagesfolly]

Was running mine tonight, I have a 15 gallon pot, 7.5 gallon thumper... If I do not keep a close eye on things the water around my condensor gets really hot, I change the water out of my cooler every so often... think I may be running my still too hard, or need a faster circulation pump? either way I like the taste of what i have made so far, I just need to improve my cuts, I had a shot out of the tap that had no smell, no taste and sipped like water, and that was at 140 proof... need to get some more of that.. lol