Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Anything cooling/condenser related.

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EricTheRed
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Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by EricTheRed »

So i have a 5L copper Alembic that i use for small batch runs. Gin mostly.

But it has an annoying flake stand that is difficult to control.

So i want to build a small liebig.
3/4 over 1/2"
How long should i make it?
8" 10" 12"?
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by still_stirrin »

It depends on how much heat you put into the boiler, not the “size” of the boiler. For a 1.5kW heater, you’ll need a meter (39”) of vapor tube for “average” coolant flow at “average” coolant temperature differentials.
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by EricTheRed »

When i run it, gas burner on smallest flame possible. Takes more than an hour to do an OEG run of 1L with 450ml taken off.

The existing flake stand has about 30cm of 8mm tubing
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by Corn Cracker »

I didn't like the flake stand either so, I used my 30 inch liebig and it worked fine, after a thread a couple of weeks ago, i cut it down to 12 inches between coolant inlet and outlet, It works the same as when it was 30 inches except, it seemed like there was a lot less "huffing". I still ran 30 gallons of water through the condenser on a 5g stripping run.
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by Andrew_90 »

EricTheRed wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 1:15 am So i have a 5L copper Alembic that i use for small batch runs. Gin mostly.

But it has an annoying flake stand that is difficult to control.

So i want to build a small liebig.
3/4 over 1/2"
How long should i make it?
8" 10" 12"?
Just made one for my 6l Kentucky pot. An overkill at 22/15mm and 330mm long. That should knock down 800W, however I run at circa 400W. The additional length is to enable me to get away from the hot plate and still and still have a jar beneath.
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by EricTheRed »

Thanks all.
I think I'll go for a 30 cm
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by still_stirrin »

EricTheRed wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 5:26 am Thanks all.
I think I'll go for a 30 cm
Do you plan to use a pump and recirculation water reservoir? If so, I’d recommend upsizing your Liebig build to at least 18” (preferably 22-24”) of vapor tube, especially since you’re heating the boiler with an open flame. The heat input will vary (with environmental conditions) and you’ll need extra cooling dynamic “headroom” to ensure you don’t puff alcohol vapors out of the spout.

Building a longer Liebig won’t cost much more but it will increase the range of operation. And now is the time to consider your future plans for your equipment. Don’t “under build” a Liebig now, or you’ll end up building another in the future.
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by jonnys_spirit »

F0EC1004-DAA9-40C2-B0A8-043048D92F56.jpeg
Product liebig is 3/4” over 1/2” x 25”. The reflux is 1” over 3/4” x 7”. Both knock down 1.5kw power controller modified hotplate. 10liter alembic. I also made a product liebig for this without the reflux liebig.

Like SS recommends - if your running on flame i’d get the product take off far away from the flame.

Cheers!
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by psf »

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=86883

Mines 8” 3/4 over 1/2 with 1/4” water it let’s. with Dented vapor tube and wire wrapped.

I’ve only done a spirit run but I did turn it up at the end to pull tails off fast and it knocked it all down.

I haven’t tried it with gas yet.
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by EricTheRed »

still_stirrin wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 6:10 am
EricTheRed wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 5:26 am Thanks all.
I think I'll go for a 30 cm
Do you plan to use a pump and recirculation water reservoir? If so, I’d recommend upsizing your Liebig build to at least 18” (preferably 22-24”) of vapor tube, especially since you’re heating the boiler with an open flame. The heat input will vary (with environmental conditions) and you’ll need extra cooling dynamic “headroom” to ensure you don’t puff alcohol vapors out of the spout.

Building a longer Liebig won’t cost much more but it will increase the range of operation. And now is the time to consider your future plans for your equipment. Don’t “under build” a Liebig now, or you’ll end up building another in the future.
ss
Thanks.
I have an endless supply of cold well water. One time use. No pump. Gravity fed. Outflow goes to the garden.
Maybe I'll just build 2 of them. 1x30cm and 1x60cm.
Then i can choose.
Slow run, 30cm
Faster run, 60cm
Don't want to go down to 8mm tubing as fittings are hard to find here.

But anything larger than a 4L run I'll do in my 30L boiler.

This little fella has been relegated to spirit runs for small batch gin. Was my first still.
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by Andrew_90 »

Hi Eric,

Do you have access to a small lathe? If you do you can buy the small hexagonal gas hose tail connectors at Builders Warehouse, machine out the inside to fit over the 15/15/22mm T Piece and then remove the hex outside for neatness. Less components to solder. Note that the brass fittings differ from manufacturer to manufacturer so I machine to fit each T Piece independently.

The brass hose tail connecters have a hole of circa 5mm which is sufficient (I use a pump) but your head of water from an overhead tank will have more pressure. I then buy from a pet shop the 9/12mm aquarium hose which fits nicely over the hose tails and fit a small clamp.

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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by EricTheRed »

Andrew_90 wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 11:52 pm Hi Eric,

Do you have access to a small lathe? If you do you can buy the small hexagonal gas hose tail connectors at Builders Warehouse, machine out the inside to fit over the 15/15/22mm T Piece and then remove the hex outside for neatness. Less components to solder. Note that the brass fittings differ from manufacturer to manufacturer so I machine to fit each T Piece independently.

The brass hose tail connecters have a hole of circa 5mm which is sufficient (I use a pump) but your head of water from an overhead tank will have more pressure. I then buy from a pet shop the 9/12mm aquarium hose which fits nicely over the hose tails and fit a small clamp.

Image
No access to a lathe but collected all the bits i need today.
Itching to build this thing now. :D
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by EricTheRed »

So, it is built
In the end i went for 45cm of cooling
The original setup
image.png
the end piece showing the coiled wire around the vapour cooling tube
image.png
The unit prior to closing it up
image.png
The inner coil (inside the vapour path)
image.png
the finished assembly
image.png
the cooling hose connections
image.png
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by EricTheRed »

the modified original - i put a 90° elbow in so i can swing the liebig up and down to suit setup
image.png
Assembled
image.png
Ready for Sac run
image.png
Did the sac run (heads from the rhubarb brandy) - let it steam nicely (windows open :D )

Pushing enough power to create a pencil lead stream, used a trickle of water to keep it cool - didn't measure it, but in size, about double the size of the distillate stream

Now, just to create a stand for it to hold it up. The brick is kinda "meh"
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by psf »

I like the idea of the elbow for more adjustment.

Coil in the vapor path? you worried about smearing? I dented the vapor tube based off bushmans post.
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Re: Mod to 5L alembic pot still condensor

Post by EricTheRed »

The coil in the vapour tube is to create more cooling surface area.
Also creates some turbulence at the start.
I doubt it will smear.
Will be doing a gin in next day or so to really test it.
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