Keg still with keg thumper and steam injection

[seabass]

I'm rebuilding my still to accommodate a thumper . It's going to be a half barrel keg with a 5500w element driving a 1\6th barrel keg thumper. It will be very similar to Yummy's design except there will be a lot more triclamp pieces so I can set it up for stripping runs and other things. I can also use a half barrel thumper keg.

My main question is whether it is reasonable or wise to also use this setup for steam injection. Is it possible to use this same thumper setup with the boiler filled with water and a half barrel keg as the "thumper" filled with bourbon wash? I would only consider this for distilling on the grain, but I want to make sure that I'm not missing a major danger or being a dumbass.

Since I don't want a PRV when using this as a typical thumper and potentially venting alcohol vapor, I'd have a triclamped tee with a PRV on it to put inline for using steam. I'll make sure it's directed in a safe direction. Am I missing anything?

[Yummyrum]

I’ve used mine to steam strip rice .... basically stripping on the grain . I use a manometer to indicate pressure and function as a blow off incase of a sudden buildup .

You will need a valve you can open to stop the vaccuum that happens when you shut the boiler gas , otherwise all the grain and slops in the thumper will suck back up the Thump pipe . Mine is open at the bottom but if you have an injector with a lot of holes , you may find it blocks as the grains get sucked back .

[seabass]

Thanks for the reply. I'll add a ball valve on the tee. I might be able to fit a ball valve and small PRV on a 2in triclamp cap for use with steam.

If the thumper and boiler are filled with low wines or something clear, is a ball valve still necessary? I'm thinking there shouldn't be any danger of clogging if it's clear. I can't imagine there would be enough vacuum to cause an implosion.

[MichiganCornhusker]

If it plugs up you can easily get implosion.
But it’s easy enough to just loosen the tri-clamp at the thumper when you’re done to avoid the vacuum.

[Yummyrum]

If it plugs up you can easily get implosion.
But it’s easy enough to just loosen the tri-clamp at the thumper when you’re done to avoid the vacuum.

Thats exactly what I do MCH .... but I learned the hard way . Steam burns like hell for several minutes after you kill the heat , the boiler is still putting out enough steam to hurt . .... so wait a bit and use gloves or a very wet rag

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One advantage of using a manometer is I can see when the pressure has dropped back to zero and thats when I crack the tri-clamp . LOL I should stick a valve in there

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[MichiganCornhusker]

Good tip about the steam, yummy. I always wear gloves around my still when it’s hot, but still need to be careful, steam is a MF.

Your manometer is beautiful.
I’ve been thinking, if you put a thing inline with the tube, kinda like a slobber box, would that allow the tubing to work as a vacuum break as well, without sucking anything back into the boiler?

Not sure if that makes any sense but I want to build something like it.

[Midwest]

Vacuum break without risk of steam burn

[seabass]

Nice. I think I'll copy that. I'll need to put a 45deg bend in there somewhere since the straight pipe would direct the steam right at my face.

[seabass]

Got the thumper attachment ready to go.

[Chauncey]

Lookin good

[Beerswimmer]

That looks soooooo much nicer than mine

[seabass]

Thanks! I'm excited to use it! Hoping for a vinegar and sac run with the thumper and CM column this weekend. I still need to solder the water lines on the dephleg and shotgun.

[seabass]

I put everything together so I could start the cleaning runs. It's just water running through it at the moment to check for leaks. Hooking up the water tomorrow and doing the vinegar and sac run.

[Tummydoc]

You'll love it. I run a bubble plate column on my thump with grain slop in the thump and wash in the boiler for a one and done whiskey run. Plenty of corn flavor.[IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202004 ... db8ff5.jpg[/IMG]

[Yummyrum]

Nice
Just be careful if you are running the small keg with a reflux condenser above it that it will fill up a lot . Remember you have steam coming from the boiler and you will only be taking off maybe 1/10 of that as product so the thumper should really be able to handle the size of your boiler charge .

Or don’t fill your boiler more than the capacity of your thumper . Also be aware that as you are running in reflux mode , the time will be much longer than if you were just running a pot /thumper .... so there is a good chance of running the boiler dry .

I know , I did it twice ... but luckily on gas so no burnt dry elements ... only a cooked keg .

Liquid level Sight glasses are a good idea

[seabass]

You'll love it. I run a bubble plate column on my thump with grain slop in the thump and wash in the boiler for a one and done whiskey run. Plenty of corn flavor.

I hadn't thought of doing that. I was planning on experimenting with that method for stripping without packing to double my capacity, but hadn't thought of that for a one and done. How much can you run through at once with that? Would 10gal in the boiler and 8 gal in the thumper work? I imagine with the 24in packed spool I'm using in the picture that a fair amount of flavor will come through. I could also use the 15in spool I have instead.

Would I need to worry about overfilling the thumper or running dry? Is it worth it vs doing stripping runs and having a full boiler of low wines?

Nice
Just be careful if you are running the small keg with a reflux condenser above it that it will fill up a lot . Remember you have steam coming from the boiler and you will only be taking off maybe 1/10 of that as product so the thumper should really be able to handle the size of your boiler charge .

Or don’t fill your boiler more than the capacity of your thumper . Also be aware that as you are running in reflux mode , the time will be much longer than if you were just running a pot /thumper .... so there is a good chance of running the boiler dry .

I know , I did it twice ... but luckily on gas so no burnt dry elements ... only a cooked keg .

Liquid level Sight glasses are a good idea

I'll make sure I use a half barrel thumper if I run the reflux column. You think I could burn through 6 or 7 gallons of water during a reflux run with steam. I need 6 gallons in the boiler to cover the element. I think I could fill to around 13 gallons with water. If I did that, I would probably be running 10 gallons in the thumper. I think you're right about the sight glass. It's probably time to add some things to my boiler. Also an offset fill port so I wouldn't have to disconnect the 45deg spool to add more water.

[Tummydoc]

My thumper and boiler are both 15 gallon. Boiler charge is 12 gallons, thump is filled 1/2 to 2/3rds with grain slop. It ends up 3/4 full after run from condensate.

[seabass]

Looks like a 3/8 compression fitting needle valve does not fit over 3/8 pex tube. Oops. Need 1/4 pex. Also garden hose quick disconnects and ght adapters are way cheaper than getting Homebrew quick disconnects. So far everything is holding full water pressure. Not a single leak using sharkbite and pex for the plumbing.

[seabass]

Just puked a quarter of liquid into my foreshots. Guess I overfilled. Just running in pot still mode with no thumper for stripping.