Adult's Meccano Set

Vapor, Liquid or Cooling Management. Flutes, plates, etc.

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kimbodious
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Thanks DS. I get an easy 3 litres an hour. The really long copper output pipe is required more so for the CCVM. I went for 3/4" copper pipe mainly for aesthetic reasons and I am happy with the look of it.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

image.jpeg
Thinking infusions... I have a source for some great native botanicals. I have an idea for a carter? head? using two 2" tees and a couple of extra endcaps I have kicking around... see diagram... didn't draw in the basket but I figure you'd know where I'll shove it. Thing I'd like advice on please is if 2" is wide enough for effective infusions?
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Danespirit
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by Danespirit »

I'd say my concern would be that it gets too crowded when you put a basket in there, so a problem with the vapor passage occurs.
Of course, that depends on the basket you plan on putting in. I've seen some for aquarium use made out of 316 ss, pretty cheap on E-bay, think they could fit.
You'll get some oils dripping down in the bottom of your first tee, but that wouldn't be a problem for one run as you are limited to the volume of a 2" tee.
So the tee would easily hold the amount of oil residue leaking from the botanicals.
If you wish, you could install a valve at a later point...I don't see the need, though.
Be aware of you'll only be able to run small batches, I doubt you can run let's say a gin with a full keg of neutral.
There would possibly not be any taste worth mentioning left after you've run just 1/4" of the boiler charge.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Thanks Danespirit.
The caps for the gin head bit are actually a 2" cap with a 1/2" female socket so I could put some sort of drain setup in the bottom one. Not having a sight glass I'd have to guess when to open the drain. Apart from a basket, I've got everything I need to give it a try, it will be ghetto for sure!
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

image.jpeg
Nearly there with my two-tee gin head based on parts I already had at hand :thumbup:
I need one more triclamp. I am waiting for a 1/2" BSP plug for the top endcap reducer, a 1/2" BSP male to 1/2" hose barb adapter plus the #20 SS mesh (for the baskets).
In keeping with the ultra-basic style, there will be no sight glass in the gin head but there will be some clear PVC tubing from the spigot at the bottom of it. There'll be a plug in the tube which I will remove when the oils and condensate build up in the tube.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

image.jpeg
Botanical baskets made! All I have to do is attach a piece of clear tube and a valve to the spigot and its done! Oops I still have to make a basket stand.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

image.jpeg
image.jpeg
Stripping run tonight but I have added on the completed gin head (left side vertical piece). Sal has mixed up one basket of lemongrass stalks plus kaffir lime leaves. The other basket has cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and cardamon pods. Once the product is flowing, I will first drop in the herb basket and collect one litre. Then I will replace that basket with the spice basket and collect one litre. Tonight this is about proving the concept and not so much about the finished product.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Yeah this will work :D ! I ran off 500 mls of product before turning the power to the boiler right down. Within 4 minutes the flow of product stopped showing me that the vapour column had collapsed and it was safe to open the gin head. Then I put the first basket in (herb) sealed it back up and turned the power back up. Within 4 minutes product started coming out and another 4 or 5 minutes it was lovely lemony-limey hooch. I ran off 1000 mls of the lemongrass kaffir lime infusion before turning down the power removing the basket before sealing it back up to run off 500 mls of product to rinse the condenser. Now I am running the spice basket - wonderful smells!
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

image.jpeg
initial run CCVM. See you on the other side with a report.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Oops, sorry, I forgot to report back. As the say no news is good news and the news this time is all good!

Hot weather as I recall, in the mid 30s C; water temperature in the high 20s C
Brought the power up slowly on a spirit run with kale recipe low wines.
Took a guess for position of RC coil.
Sight glass fogged about 105 minutes from power on.
A few drips appeared in the collection vessel; lowered RC coil about 1 cm and drips stopped.
Left the column in that state for nearly an hour until the thermometer at the takeoff registered a slight drop in temperature.
Raised the RC coil about 4 cm until there were two drips per second going in to the collection jar.
Collected 150 mls of "foreshots" before lowering the RC back to the position for total reflux
Left the column in total reflux for 15 minutes
Raised the RC coil (about 10 cm) to the point where there was a faltering stream going in to the collection jar.
Collected 300 mls in 5 labelled jars (heads)
From jar 6 started collecting in roughly 600 ml amounts per labelled jar
Very slight adjustments to power controller to maintain a constant level of fluid partway up the sight glass.
Did not adjust the water supply for cooling from the initial quarter turn of the handle
Measurement of ABV mid-run gave a temperature corrected 95
The thermometer fluctuated +/- 06C during the run, probably just the odd draught
Collected 16 jars of roughly 600 mls each until I noticed the fluid level suddenly dropped below the level of the sight glass
Started collecting in 300 ml amounts but the second jar smelled very strongly of tails
Turned off the power at that point
Two days later I checked my cuts and made the blend
I discarded the first 4 x 300 ml jars as heads and added the fifth to the hearts blend
A total of 9 litres of hearts
The final 2 x 300 ml jars discarded as they were clearly tails
The final analysis showed a temperature corrected 94% ABV for the hearts

I am very pleased with how easy this system is to operate compared to the previous VM and CM stills!
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Testing out a couple of recent mods on a CCVM spirit run (30 litres of kale recipe low wines at 30%ABV).

First mod was an attempt to reduce the risk of flooding by reducing the amount of packing by 33% (22 instead of 33 SS scrubbers). Result; I can run at higher power, achieve slightly greater output but still at azetrope.

Second mod was a hardwire bypass of the power controller i.e. run power directly to the element without the power controller in the circuit. Result; a much shorter period between power in and reflux. When required I can simply connect in the power controller. From the success of this mod, I have just ordered a cam bypass switch (on-off-on) to wire in so that I don't have to physically plug and unplug the controller in the heating circuit.

It is breezey here on the verandah where I am running my still. Even though the boiler and the column is insulated at least up to the sightglass the breezes are knocking the vapour column about a bit
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

6.5 litres of hearts at 94% ABV made the final cut; all in readiness for the first run with the offset infusion chamber
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by nzdistiller »

What's the max you've thrown at that Big Baby?? :)

Looks good!!!!
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

nzdistiller wrote:What's the max you've thrown at that Big Baby?? :)

Looks good!!!!
Thanks, I have used one of the Keg King 2200W element on full power (pot still PC mode) no issues; the BB stayed cool to touch on the outside though I reckon I was putting 3-4 litres of water per minute through it. I have some SS scrubber material in each of the tubes. I bought the BB initially as the RC for a VM where it also performed very well. I love having a modular system! :thumbup:
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Put a SPDT switch on my power controller. I can now bypass the SSVR if I choose for a quick heat up. The centre position is also for an open circuit so it gives me a "kill switch" right at the boiler.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

a pic of my CCVM with me standing near it to give an idea of scale.
image.jpeg
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Controller bling time!

I installed a SPDT switch so that I could bypass the controller (1), kill the power (0)) or (2) use the SSVR to control the rate of boiling :thumbup:

I also installed a multi-parameter meter 8)
image.jpeg
Set to bypass controller
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Swedish Pride
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by Swedish Pride »

no thongs??!!
Think you have to hand your Aussy card back in, though you fellers lived in em
Don't be a dick
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Swedish Pride wrote:no thongs??!!
Think you have to hand your Aussy card back in, though you fellers lived in em
LOL, you mean the footwear sort? Nope. The kids go barefoot to school here. We get summer rainfall like the stuff Noah saw (our annual rainfall is measured in metres). Better to have no shoes than wet shoes!
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Photo essay - assembling the modular 2" pot still
image.jpeg
50 litre beer keg boiler with 2200W electric element
image.jpeg
Boiler insulation made from roofing insulation
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305mm SS spool for riser
image.jpeg
SS tee section with cap
image.jpeg
SS elbow and Still Dragon Big Baby shotgun condenser (PC)
image.jpeg
Output tube (3/4" copper pipe)

to be continued next post...
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Photo essay continued
image.jpeg
Coolant lines attached (uses 3/4" triclamps :thumbup: )
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Power controller connected up

Thanks for indulging me, I do get a few queries/ comments about the modular style of still construction.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by Benredbeard »

kimbodious wrote:
image.jpeg
I have an idea for a carter? head? using two 2" tees and a couple of extra endcaps I have kicking around... see diagram... didn't draw in the basket but I figure you'd know where I'll shove it. Thing I'd like advice on please is if 2" is wide enough for effective infusions?
Kimbodious how come two tees rather than ells? Or ell and tee?
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

Benredbeard wrote:
kimbodious wrote:
image.jpeg
I have an idea for a carter? head? using two 2" tees and a couple of extra endcaps I have kicking around... see diagram... didn't draw in the basket but I figure you'd know where I'll shove it. Thing I'd like advice on please is if 2" is wide enough for effective infusions?
Kimbodious how come two tees rather than ells? Or ell and tee?
Well, I needed a drain at the bottom and the means to swap baskets from out the top,
Image
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by emptyglass »

Should be even sweeter now with the fancy new condenser :thumbup:
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by Benredbeard »

kimbodious wrote:
Well, I needed a drain at the bottom and the means to swap baskets from out the top,
Image
Sorry, I'm dense. Why a drain at the bottom? Wouldn't condensate just drain back to boiler as usual with an ell? What do you do with the product from the basket?
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

I could answer your questions but I believe you’ll learn more by doing some online research.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by emptyglass »

Its a drain for the botanical oils.

Are we not here to help our fellow brothers (and sisters)?

We all get more back from sharing than trying to hold what we know as our own knowledge.

Most of us wouldn't be able to turn a trick without what we have learnt here ands elsewhere
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by Benredbeard »

Apologies. I haven't seen a drain for botanicals before: I thought the intent was typically for it to either reflux back to boiler or vaporize into the product condenser. I'll keep hunting.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by kimbodious »

People learn different ways. Me, I read very widely to assimilate an overall understanding. Other people find enquire directly putting faith and trust in the people and the answers provided.

I have not properly operated the offset infusion (gin basket) chamber and have no confidence to attempt to answer detailed questions about it. StillDragon have a great video demo on operating their GB4 otherwise search for Carter Head.
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Re: Adult's Meccano Set

Post by Benredbeard »

kimbodious wrote:People learn different ways. Me, I read very widely to assimilate an overall understanding. Other people find enquire directly putting faith and trust in the people and the answers provided.
I do both! Sometimes a pointer/lamp in the dark is welcome.
kimbodious wrote: [snip] search for Carter Head.
Perfect, that's got me on track. Thank you!
Happy bees, home brews, and two green thumbs.
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