Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

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kimbodious
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by kimbodious »

So plates in plated reflux columns are flooded?
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bluefish_dist
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by bluefish_dist »

kimbodious wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 2:19 pm So plates in plated reflux columns are flooded?
No, but there is a level of liquid on the plate. That height is set by the downcomer. Usually around 1/2” (13mm). A plate should be in equilibrium with a constant flow of vapor going up and liquid going down. Flooding is when too much vapor is coming up and not enough liquid is going down. The fluid level will slowly increase until you are pushing liquid up the column, not vapor.

You can also hold liquid in the packing like a plate holds liquid. Supposedly for SPP that reduces the hetp, but I have never been able to make that work. Usually I found once the liquid was being held up, it just keeps going up until it pukes out the top or I reduced power so it went back down.
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kimbodious
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by kimbodious »

Thanks Blue. I was challenging the comments about any liquid pooling on top of packing as being a column in a flooded state. As you say it is possible to maintain an equilibrium between vapour rising and condensate falling and it is only at the stage where the level of liquid is rising that flooding is a risk. Thanks again.
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Setsumi
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by Setsumi »

Andrew_90 wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:23 pm
Andrew_90 wrote: Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:31 am Here is a clip of my sight glass under operation.

You can see the distillate streaming down the sight glass sides as well as dripping down. It was the same when the column was being stabilized. The video posted is during the actual spirit run, the bubbling is about an inch above the packing.

https://mavness.co.za/vid/ginstillpercolating.mp4
So effectively the video I posted shows my column flooding?
I would like to see this a seperate discussion. I agree with Yummy that it borders on flooding. BUT, looking at the boiling action in the video it seems mild. If i remember correct previous posts on the subject showed more vigorous boiling action.

It is a pity your column is so well insulated, i would have liked to see what the outside temprature differences are between bottom, mid and top column in this state.

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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by Andrew_90 »

@Setsumi.

I have a infrared temperature probe for my multimeter so can give you bottom and top right at the entrance and the exit. This reading should be very close, or perhaps close enough for your purposes.

I need to wait for my multimeter to be repaired and then I will do it for you at the next run which will be in the new year.
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by shadylane »

Schuetzenman wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 5:28 pm I’m running on propane. I don’t think it was going to puke as it was 40% low wines,

ABV was 95-ish and takeoff rate was about 1.5qt per hour
What kind of regulator is being used between the propane tank and burner?
The more consistent the power input, the easier it is to control the column. :wink:

How tall is the packed section of the column?
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by cmac62 »

Thanks for the input folks. Hopefully I'll get to run it again this weekend and see how it does. Practice/Read/Practice/Read, what seems an endless cycle. LOL.
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by Schuetzenman »

shadylane wrote: Sat Dec 04, 2021 12:08 am
Schuetzenman wrote: Thu Oct 28, 2021 5:28 pm I’m running on propane. I don’t think it was going to puke as it was 40% low wines,

ABV was 95-ish and takeoff rate was about 1.5qt per hour
What kind of regulator is being used between the propane tank and burner?
The more consistent the power input, the easier it is to control the column. :wink:

How tall is the packed section of the column?
I run a blichmann burner from my home brewing setup. It is a low pressure regulator, so I can get pretty good control. My packed section is 48 inches. I finally got a chance to do a run yesterday. I repacked the column a little looser and it seemed to help. Still had the output speeding up and slowing down but it was windy and even in a garage half closed I think the drafts were causing that.
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by kimbodious »

Is your column insulated?
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by Schuetzenman »

kimbodious wrote: Sun Jan 16, 2022 1:02 pm Is your column insulated?
Yea I insulated it with reflectix.
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by kimbodious »

thanks, okay so maybe the drafts are affecting the gas burner? That would make sense
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by Schuetzenman »

Yeah I was thinking drafts were disturbing the flame and maybe cooling the headspace in the boiler.
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Re: Issues driving my CCVM- total noob

Post by The Baker »

kimbodious wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:22 am thanks, okay so maybe the drafts are affecting the gas burner? That would make sense
Put a shield around it.

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