Started some mods today

[LWTCS]

I'll post pics before I put solder to copper. Prepin parts on the cut list......Prolly gonna be a slow build,,,,,,,,,,,....and ugly too.
Gonna advertise this as a neutral column...... We'll see?

Pretty predictable based on what I been stumpin about for the last year or so.

Two stepped thumpers at the base of a packed (and insulated) column. And a thumper at the top with an external downcomer. This to collect distillate to feed downward. And for one final scrub before the send off to the product condenser.
However, traditional reflux will also return via an internal downcomer within the thumper at the top of the apperatus.
The two lower thumpers will do all of the heavy lifting and the column of course will perform all of the precision separating.

This is my attempt to exploit what Mike Nixon refers to as "positive feedback". I figure the vapor temps feeding the column will be 20 degrees (f) cooler than if feed directly from the boiler. And the external downcomer should keep the ABV feeding the column section more stable for a longer period of time,,,,,,,kinda like rolling down hill,,,,,,,with the wind at your back. This is not Mike Nixon's vapor reflux idea, but definitely is built with the spirit of what he talks about.

Also this is not the "as built" rendering as I am using a valved plate section after the Humper Thumper rather than a bubble cap.

[LWTCS]

This is what I worked on tonight

[LWTCS]

I installed a slight groove around the base of the existing cap riser to install the new plate section...... the new plate will snug down nicely and only tacked into position

Trust me...if this mod screws up my rum makin,,,it will be a snap to yank the thing right the heck out.......But I got a good feeling bout this.

[Prairiepiss]

Nice. Are you going for a certain size on the two lower thumpers? If so what is going to determined the sizes? Is the packed column going to be 2" or bigger? I will be very interested in how this turns out.

[Large Sarge]

Brother you Have got it bad. I'm gonna start making popcorn in anticipation of the YouTube installments. I'm still trying to take in you last project and now you go and change it up again. Right on!

[Prairiepiss]

Sory I just figured out the second pic. Never mind on the sizes. Carry on I'm a duffus.

[LWTCS]

2" packed column.......Gonna enlist opinions from the column builders for a recommended length on the packed section.....

Hell I already got the hole in my garage lid!

[LWTCS]

I'm thinkin 36"???????

[rockchucker22]

2" packed column.......Gonna differ to the column builders for a recommended length on the packed section.....

Hell I already got the hole in my garage lid!

What packing, how loose, centering rings????
I dig it, maybe this will change how tall a column has to be in order to get high abv with a clean product as an outcome.

[LWTCS]

What packing, how loose, centering rings????

Uh,,wha ???? duh,,,,er,,,,,,,,,5!!!

maybe this will change how tall a column has to be in order to get high abv with a clean product as an outcome.

Yes but for the time being I figger to start with a typical column section size to demonstrate speed and stability... Course this type of system is gonna be spendier than a plain coulmn section. So I'm not sure how using a shorter column will offer any meaningful advantage,,,,unless using the shorter (total height) section just works better for this configureation?...............Course I ain't worried bout total height Already got the hole in my lid

[Prairiepiss]

I am no expert by far. But with the thumpers on the bottom and one on top. 4 foot should be plenty. I would think?

Just think a stripping run and a reflux run all at the same time.

[LWTCS]

Yes PP.

And based on those bubble ball experiments taking place,,,a 40% boiler charge may very well piss like a a fire hydrant