Glass Porn!

[Odin]

Okay, here's the movie my son shot. I hope it gives you guys an impression of how the glass column still runs and feels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNoAtBjpM7Y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Regards, Odin.

[Richard7]

That was cool Odin thanks for sharing.

[FullySilenced]

Very NICE!

[Sungy]

That is some serious cool stuff. Love that creativity.....

[DAD300]

Beautiful Odin!

The SS Reflux Condenser looks to be condensing 100% vapor Below the mid point...just beautiful!

[Odin]

Thanks guys. I am much obliged to my technical personel. I am ... well, I think ... pretty good at designing and stating how my ideal rig should look & run, but I am very happy to have people around me who can actually build as well. And who want to do that for me. Running this new rig is ... off worldly. A fantastic contribution to those who love art as much as practice. Or to those who like to entertain clients, 'cause they run a micro distillery.

For me ... I will sell this all new glass column ASAP. Because if I wouldn't, I would feel like that mouse, trapped by that snake hypnotizing me. I love, absolutely love our VISION model. But, just to keep both of my feet on the ground, I will personally run my good old (okay, 6 months old) SS column. As is? No, not completely. With my new Au bain, Marie! boiler.

I love the automation in my rigs. I love how they help me gain time to do other things (4 kids ... I say no more). But with the all glass additions ... instead of doing something else, the only thing I am doing is watching the rig, drewling, uttering words like "uh" and "ah" that nobody (significant) seems to understand.

Have a good night,

Odin.

[Odin]

Beautiful Odin!

The SS Reflux Condenser looks to be condensing 100% vapor Below the mid point...just beautiful!

Thanks DAD. Coming from you, and having watched your builds ... that means a lot!

I can pretty much up or down the amount of cooling water. In the video the top temperature (close to the opening to the air) was like 25 or 26 degrees. If you tune it the cooling water, you can raise that temperature to around 35 degrees C and use pretty much the whole cooling section without venting.

That's one of the things we still feel you can do by hand. I mean, we could automize it, but the costs would be high (water flow rate, water temp, water pressure, ...).

Odin.

[woodshed]

Odin, what price are we looking at? That is truly beautiful.

[varocketry]

Trailer - iStill VISION - Disitilling made beautiful

Odin:
Typo on your website -- "Distilling"

[Odin]

Varocketry, what is the spelling mistake? Isn't "distilling" written with two LL's?

Thanks for the feedback!

Odin.

[Odin]

Very nice. Im not going to pretend to know what all that is , but I'd love to see it run also. Any way to narrate it for us newer folks.

Sorry R, missed you post the first time!

An update as to what it is. Well, it is a electrically heated Liquid Management system. Actually it is a Boka design. The boiler can hold up to 50 liters. Boka means it is a fractionating column. Boiler heats up, steam enters the column and is cooled down by the column cooler. Liquids travel down over the packing and exchange molecules with gasses, thus enriching the vapours more and more, the higher up the column they go. At the top of the column is a take off point, controlled by a needle valve. The needle valve setting decides what portion of the reflux is sent back down the column, and which part is taken off as 96% strong product. Less alcohol in the boiler means more reflux is needed, etc.

What the interesting points of this design are (apart from it being made out of glass), is the packing, the automation, and the programming. The packing is SPP, a new sort of packing with an HETP of around 2.6 centimeters. In plain English: the packing performs one re-distillation every 2.6 centimeters. For the 120 centimeters this column normally has, that means you can get some 40 re-distillations. The copper catalyst adds an extra few plates.

The automation takes care of things. It auto shuts down the rig in case of column flooding or lack of cooling. It manages, via a tablet computer, the settings of the still. For instance, if you dialed in you want to stabilize for 30 minutes it will do that. If you want it to stay within 0.3 degrees C of the boiling point of pure azeotropic ethanol, it will manage the needle valve in such a way that it always stays within that set parameter. If you dialed in you want the run to stop when temperature at the bottom of the column is 96 degrees, again, it will automatically stop at that temperature. Fores and Heads can also be taken automatically.

The programming allows me to chose what I want: make a pure vodka with or without the carbon filter? Maybe a whiskey by using the potstill program, etc.

The combination of automation and SPP, together with boiler size and shape, column size, power management, mean that every detail is not just optimized on its own. The whole system is optimized as a whole. Apart from control, it gives me unprecedented performance. Fores of just 1%, Heads faction makes up between 5 and 6%. Hearts is bigger, tails better compressed. And you do not need like a whole day to run it, since it pisses out up to 3.5 liters of pure azeo per hour.

Hope this info helps.

Well Rumpestitskin, that's what it is right now. But we are still working on the tablet, so we can offer some more functionality: remote access & control, wifi, cell phone, iPhone/iPad connectivity, apps, instructional video's, software updates. The basic program is ready, we now want to start doing the graphical user interface.

Regards, Odin.


Regards, Odin.

[goose eye]

Dern good job. Shaky as I am be scared to be near
it. It's amazein the no how yall folks got on this
place.

So IM Tole

[woodshed]

Odin, finally got the wife to check it out. Love's it. Hoping this is a sign we will be talking sooner than later. Gotta have me that Vision. I do love my copper but, DAMN that's cool.

[junkyard dawg]

Odin,

That is too cool. Very nice vision and execution.

[Odin]

A small correction on the column cooler. It is made out of SS that's not 0.5 mm, but 0.2 mm thick.

Odin.

[ChairLawyer]

Odin, that's a beautiful piece of equipment my friend. Did you guys (IStill) build the glass column sections, or import them from someone?

[Odin]

We have them handmade and laser cut by a glass making specialist with whom we work closely together. Expensive, but increadibly well made. Not just the fact that they look good and are made to exact specifications, but those glass sections are increadibly strong. And that's what we wanted in the first place. Functionality first, beauty later. We actually dropped the segment filled with copper SPP from 5 feet high. By accident. The thing that said "crack" was the floor. The glass or SS didn't have as much as a scratch. I think there's glass and then there's glass. That's why we can't just order this via the net or from a supplier, but want to work closely together with a specialist to meet the quality levels we seek.

Odin.

[OlympicMtDoo]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/corrugated" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

That is really a thing of beauty Odin, I don't think that in all the excitment you ever got a definition of corrugated, see if this link helps. Cardboard is corrugated in the middle, the wavey part between the inner and outer layers, hope this helps buddy. OMD

[Odin]

Thanks OMD!

I now understand what it means. I still don't know how it would be in Dutch, though. Yet, it is about its shape. Prior to your explanation, I thought for sure "corrugated" refers to some kind of chemical treatment. Glad it does not!

So full heartedly I confess: yes our column and product coolers are made out of 0.2 mm thick CORRUGATED SS!

Regards, Odin.

[OlympicMtDoo]

Glad we got that cleared up, I think you do a damn good job with our confusing English language Odin.

[hellbilly007]

I fully agree OMD. I wish I could grasp Dutch half as well as Odin takes on English. I deal with alot of Dutch peoples (Amish and their variations) and they're constantly speaking Dutch when they don't want me to know what they're talking about. They've mellowed out since I confessed my Dutch heritage (Starr) to them. Sorry for the off-topic posting Odin. BTW Odin, if I was ever to purchase a still yours would be the top of my list. I guess I'm too paranoid to purchase one though.

[Mazriam]

I fully agree OMD. I wish I could grasp Dutch half as well as Odin takes on English. I deal with alot of Dutch peoples (Amish and their variations) and they're constantly speaking Dutch when they don't want me to know what they're talking about. They've mellowed out since I confessed my Dutch heritage (Starr) to them. Sorry for the off-topic posting Odin. BTW Odin, if I was ever to purchase a still yours would be the top of my list. I guess I'm too paranoid to purchase one though.

I would absolutely love to purchase this still, but at 3,000 euro's, it's far far far too much out of my price range. That makes me sad, because, this still is gorgeous!

[Mazriam]

is it possible to order, just the boiler section? how much would that be?

[Odin]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the interest. Does not feel like post hiyaking to me. And no, we do not sell parts, only complete systems.

Odin.

[glassedover]

beautiful work... would to pick your brain! lol

[RandyMarshCT]

I'm not sure when it will happen, but if you're selling these when I can manage to afford it, I'm going to buy one. I'm going to be thinking about this all day. I'm blown away by the beauty of this setup.

[Odin]

Thanks for the compliments!

Odin.

[rumplestiltskin]

Very nice. Im not going to pretend to know what all that is , but I'd love to see it run also. Any way to narrate it for us newer folks.

Sorry R, missed you post the first time!

An update as to what it is. Well, it is a electrically heated Liquid Management system. Actually it is a Boka design. The boiler can hold up to 50 liters. Boka means it is a fractionating column. Boiler heats up, steam enters the column and is cooled down by the column cooler. Liquids travel down over the packing and exchange molecules with gasses, thus enriching the vapours more and more, the higher up the column they go. At the top of the column is a take off point, controlled by a needle valve. The needle valve setting decides what portion of the reflux is sent back down the column, and which part is taken off as 96% strong product. Less alcohol in the boiler means more reflux is needed, etc.

What the interesting points of this design are (apart from it being made out of glass), is the packing, the automation, and the programming. The packing is SPP, a new sort of packing with an HETP of around 2.6 centimeters. In plain English: the packing performs one re-distillation every 2.6 centimeters. For the 120 centimeters this column normally has, that means you can get some 40 re-distillations. The copper catalyst adds an extra few plates.

The automation takes care of things. It auto shuts down the rig in case of column flooding or lack of cooling. It manages, via a tablet computer, the settings of the still. For instance, if you dialed in you want to stabilize for 30 minutes it will do that. If you want it to stay within 0.3 degrees C of the boiling point of pure azeotropic ethanol, it will manage the needle valve in such a way that it always stays within that set parameter. If you dialed in you want the run to stop when temperature at the bottom of the column is 96 degrees, again, it will automatically stop at that temperature. Fores and Heads can also be taken automatically.

The programming allows me to chose what I want: make a pure vodka with or without the carbon filter? Maybe a whiskey by using the potstill program, etc.

The combination of automation and SPP, together with boiler size and shape, column size, power management, mean that every detail is not just optimized on its own. The whole system is optimized as a whole. Apart from control, it gives me unprecedented performance. Fores of just 1%, Heads faction makes up between 5 and 6%. Hearts is bigger, tails better compressed. And you do not need like a whole day to run it, since it pisses out up to 3.5 liters of pure azeo per hour.

Hope this info helps.

Well Rumpestitskin, that's what it is right now. But we are still working on the tablet, so we can offer some more functionality: remote access & control, wifi, cell phone, iPhone/iPad connectivity, apps, instructional video's, software updates. The basic program is ready, we now want to start doing the graphical user interface.

Regards, Odin.


Regards, Odin.

Sorry Odin. I cant believe I missed this post for three months. I was just re-reading the thread and found it. Thanks for taking the time to explain it all. It makes perfect sense....and it looks great too.

[Odin]

An update. We are changing a few things to finalize this project and start delivering.

First thing we did was put the needle-valve section a bit higher. That means the feed from the slanted plates towards the needle valve is horizontal now. That does not change performance, but just looks better.

Secondly, the water tubes going to the top of the column are now made out of white/clear see through material. Hey, this piece is called the "VISION" right? Well, that's why we replaced the original blue hoses.

Thirdly, we skipped the computer standard to the left side of the column. Since this rig is managed via a tablet computer, that gives you mobility, why build it in, right? Since you want to be able to walk around with that tablet, we will provide a standard, mounted to the column, instead. So you can place the tablet back into its rest, if you grow tired of walking around with it.

Fourth thing we changed is the diameter of the treads that hold the glass sections together. They are now twice as thick. That way we assure that the strength of the SS is in tune with the very strong 4 mm thick borosilicate glass. The glass will not brake, if you let it fall to the floor. And neither will the now thicker treads bend.

The new automation is all but done. The power management module now has an antenna as well as WiFi and Blue Tooth connectivity. That way the tablet can "talk" to the still and vice versa. The only thing we are still working on (should be ready in 2 weeks time) is the actual program on the tablet. The guy that said he'd do that, didn't deliver in time, so we had to switch to someone else.

When the program is ready to be ran from the tablet, we will add a few options that make distilling easier and even more fun. After that, we will slowly further develop the software, based on customer demand.

For now:
- Air pressure: you can see the actual air pressure readings on your tablet (an important value, since air pressure greatly influences boiling points);
- ABV management: you can dial in the ABV of the wash or low wines you will be distilling, so the automation can choose the most suited neede-valve opening right away;
- Power management: the tablet allows you to change the power input during the run. Instead of the standard 2 KW, you can go lower (for instance on a potstill run) or higher (to make even better use of SPP's ever lower HETP in semi-flooded conditions).

Well, that's it for now. I expect to give you guys updated pictures and a new video in about three weeks time.

Regards, Odin.

[Odin]

Here's a picture of the new interactive Power Management Module (iPMM) for my all glass rig. With Blue Tooth, WiFi, air pressure, etc. functionality. It supports both tablet management of my still as well as manual control. So ... if I brake my tablet, I can still dial in all menu options and distillation programs. Any program or menu setting can be changed during the run. Power settings can be dialed in from 0.1 to 4.0 KW. That's the really fun part of the new iPMM: I can run the rig at higher than 2 KW settings. Love to try that out and see if we can get it to 2.8 KW without flooding it. That should get the HETP of the top layers of SPP to under 0.5 centimeters I estimate. Enough to push the output at azeotropic temperature towards 4.5 liters per hour on a 30% low wines charge, using a 2 inch column.

Odin.