Cooling water temperature
Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:45 pm
Well,I finally kicked the turbo yeast, AirStill, habit, did a TPW, and got the new still in "production". The still is a "compromise" 25 litre combined reflux/pot still (achieved by changing from reflux tower to pot head and vice versa). I now have the still connected by a power controller with the output into a copper parrot. I did a vinegar wash to clean the still, followed by a full rinse down. All worked fine, no leaks or issues. The boiler got running and by adjustment of the power in, with full cooling water flowing, I set the top of the reflux column temp to 78 deg C and a gentle flow of 90% ABV appeared. All fine and, having disposed of 200 ml fore shots into the "shower cleaner" jar, I monitored the continuing output.
Now to my questions - I am using a large "wheely" bin and a small pump to provide the cooling water - no running water in the vicinity of my "brewing shack". It's running at about 700ml per minute but, at a local ambient temperature of 32 deg C yesterday, the cooling water rose to a constant 48 deg C. The column temp remained steady at 78 deg C and output was at 3 to 4 drops per second at a true 90% ABV (corrected to 20 deg from 30 deg C output) for the first litre and a half and reducing after that. I stopped collecting at 40% ABV.
1. Is it OK to run like this and will the cooling water temp have any effect on the quality of the drinking stuff? - I can't freeze bottles of water to drop in the bin, as the wife has the freezer filled to capacity :0)
2. Will reducing the cooling water temp or setting the column temp a little higher enable faster collection or is this just a characteristic of my still?
3. Could I go deeper than 40% ABV by using smell, feel and taste or is there no benefit with a neutral run?
Cheers, AussieCol
Now to my questions - I am using a large "wheely" bin and a small pump to provide the cooling water - no running water in the vicinity of my "brewing shack". It's running at about 700ml per minute but, at a local ambient temperature of 32 deg C yesterday, the cooling water rose to a constant 48 deg C. The column temp remained steady at 78 deg C and output was at 3 to 4 drops per second at a true 90% ABV (corrected to 20 deg from 30 deg C output) for the first litre and a half and reducing after that. I stopped collecting at 40% ABV.
1. Is it OK to run like this and will the cooling water temp have any effect on the quality of the drinking stuff? - I can't freeze bottles of water to drop in the bin, as the wife has the freezer filled to capacity :0)
2. Will reducing the cooling water temp or setting the column temp a little higher enable faster collection or is this just a characteristic of my still?
3. Could I go deeper than 40% ABV by using smell, feel and taste or is there no benefit with a neutral run?
Cheers, AussieCol