Continuous Stipper Build

[Getsmokin]

I'm going to attempt to put together a continuous stripper for on the grain mashes. At this point I'm still collecting parts, so not much for pictures so far.

Planning on using these plates

[acfixer69]

Not much information there with just 2 drilled plates but I'm sure their will be more Yummyrum has one that works. Best of luck.

[Getsmokin]

Sorry for the lack of content.. I'm still collecting parts and working out the design. I have read the dish and donut may not be efficient enough to make a good stripping plate. Has anyone messed around with them?

[LWTCS]

Is that like an oversized (single) valve plate?

[pope]

Yummy has a working continuous with packing (so no solids, only washes), I want to say he's working on plates?? I think I read that on his thread but I don't want to put words in his mouth.

I have done a lot of research and had a ton of input and am working on a 10-plate design, it will be a series of three 3-plate pipes with a tenth plate on top in a mash feed and take-off chamber. The short version will rely on brute power from my steam boiler but once it runs I'll be working on a series of heat exchangers to recycle energy from the hot bottoms and product condenser into the incoming mash.

I'll get a post going now so I have a thread on my build.

[Getsmokin]

Is that like an oversized (single) valve plate?

More of a baffle tray or side to side tray.

[LWTCS]

Got it.
As I recall, before googe got too old and decrepit to experiment anymore ( ) he fabbed up a flexible (floppy) plate system that worked really well.
The rub was that finding a safe, suitable, flexible material. But it worked like a charm.

[Yummyrum]

Yummy has a working continuous with packing (so no solids, only washes), I want to say he's working on plates?? I think I read that on his thread but I don't want to put words in his mouth.

I got a whole bunch of copper Pope , I have the desire but not the time at this point . Seeing what I have works for Rum and neutral ( which I mostly make ) , I’m in no real need , it’s just a curiosity . I’m more eager to convert ti steam power before building the plates .

Getsmokin , is it this type of thing you are going to do ?

[Getsmokin]

Yummy has a working continuous with packing (so no solids, only washes), I want to say he's working on plates?? I think I read that on his thread but I don't want to put words in his mouth.

I got a whole bunch of copper Pope , I have the desire but not the time at this point . Seeing what I have works for Rum and neutral ( which I mostly make ) , I’m in no real need , it’s just a curiosity . I’m more eager to convert ti steam power before building the plates .

Getsmokin , is it this type of thing you are going to do ?

8124DC49-FA25-4DB6-9B49-201C741E7630.jpeg

There's that picture, couldn't remember where I saw it. That's what I was thinking of doing, but am having second thoughts after that builder said it wasn't efficient enough.

[LWTCS]

Yeah, that's Abbott's rig from Telluride.

I'd have to go back and read through that thread again, but I think his efficiency issues are really just because he isn't recovering BTUs?
He may have been capturing BTUs at the PC? But he wasn't doing anything about heat going down the drain as column bottoms.

[Getsmokin]

Yeah, that's Abbott's rig from Telluride.

I'd have to go back and read through that thread again, but I think his efficiency issues are really just because he isn't recovering BTUs?
He may have been capturing BTUs at the PC? But he wasn't doing anything about heat going down the drain as column bottoms.

I believe it was on a different thread on the same forum that he said it wasn't efficient enough and to use large perf instead.

[LWTCS]

Large perfs because it would flood too easily?

[Getsmokin]

For solids, he suggested like 6mm holes no downcomers. I'm going to have to go find the thread again. It is also possible I am mistaken..

[pope]

The column bottoms are going to have so much more heat between being hotter and being a (presumably) larger volume! Solids just make it such a pain to exchange the heat from waste line slurry to the feed line slurry.

I'm doing 1/4" with downcomers but no caps, we'll just have to see how that pans out. Luckily I have plenty of sheet copper so if the plates don't work out I can just throw more hours of my life at the problem.

[LWTCS]

Bottoms waste will not have the same viscosity as the beer feed.
Agitating your beerwell will insure uniform beer delivery and
moisture levels in the effluent will increase as beer makes it's way down the column.

There will be enough pressure in the column to drive out waste.

[pope]

moisture levels in the effluent will increase as beer makes it's way down the column.

Dilution finally working in our favor!

[googe]

Got it.
As I recall, before googe got too old and decrepit to experiment anymore ( ) he fabbed up a flexible (floppy) plate system that worked really well.
The rub was that finding a safe, suitable, flexible material. But it worked like a charm.

[Getsmokin]

Haven't had much time lately, with the world ending and all. Did get the column base plate made and parts acquired to put together most of it.

[cayars]

I get the fact many like to do things just to see if you can do it. I certainly get that as it's a challenge and I'm all for it.

But what I wonder is how many of you guys actually can ferment enough to keep a continuous still running? Are you actually going to have shifts of people keeping it going for days at a time? If not how much advantage do you think you'll get over a few batch runs? You could for example use a wort chiller off the condenser in the next batch of mash to start heating it up and to cool your coolant to save time on the next batch leaving just a quick empty/fill.

Just curious how "continuous" have any of you guys done so far in hours?

PS if you guys get these working well, we'll have to add a new rule over column size of continuous stills to fit the hobby size, like the 30 gallon boiler size. LOL

[Getsmokin]

I get the fact many like to do things just to see if you can do it. I certainly get that as it's a challenge and I'm all for it.

But what I wonder is how many of you guys actually can ferment enough to keep a continuous still running? Are you actually going to have shifts of people keeping it going for days at a time? If not how much advantage do you think you'll get over a few batch runs? You could for example use a wort chiller off the condenser in the next batch of mash to start heating it up and to cool your coolant to save time on the next batch leaving just a quick empty/fill.

Just curious how "continuous" have any of you guys done so far in hours?

PS if you guys get these working well, we'll have to add a new rule over column size of continuous stills to fit the hobby size, like the 30 gallon boiler size. LOL

Would you feel better if it was titled Contintious Style Stripping Column?
"Not for actual continuous use"

[cayars]

Nah, title don't matter, but same questions I guess.
I'm not knocking in anyway, just wondering.

For example if doing batches are you trying to replace 3 or 4 batches in one shot? Is that sort of the objective?
Does it save time overall for those who've done it?

[Yummyrum]

Not being continuous is an advantage for me .

Instead of having to fill a boiler then wait an hour and a half before the first drips appear , its starting to produce after 10-15 min .

On a batch strip you have to then empty it and if you want to do another , refill it again . Now sure , you can preheat the next batch and off you go again after empty/ refill , but you have to do it there and then otherwise the preheating was wasted .

So iffn your life only allows you an hour here and there , then the continuous stripper fills the gap nicely by being able to stop and start for as long as you like .

Oh did I mention that it also requires minimal to no cooling water .

But yes I guess most people think as running 24/7 .
Thats not and never will be the intention.

BTW : nice start on the plates Getsmokin

[cayars]

GREAT explanation Yummy.

That makes a whole lot of sense!

[Getsmokin]

If I may add a difference in flavor profile from flash boiling once momentarily and batch finishing.

[Yummyrum]

If I may add a difference in flavor profile from flash boiling once momentarily and batch finishing.

That is certainly something that has always piqued my interest in it . There is something about the taste of commercial Rum that has been continuously stripped and then Pot stilled . I am still getting mine functional so haven’t had time to investigate this yet .

[Getsmokin]

Finally a little more progress.

[Yummyrum]

Thats exciting

[LWTCS]

Can you talk a bit more about your thoughts on the plate design?

[Getsmokin]

Can you talk a bit more about your thoughts on the plate design?

Plan was for a plate that could handle solids well. My understanding that dish and donut plates are pretty inefficient, I was hoping to get around that a little bit by increasing the surface area and adding more plates. Probably didn't answer your question..

[Getsmokin]

Can you talk a bit more about your thoughts on the plate design?

I would gladly take any input you have on plates and strippers.