lost my high proof in my reflux colum
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lost my high proof in my reflux colum
and I cant figure why
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
So what % were you pulling out?
Start simple ---is reflux condenser water flowing?
Start simple ---is reflux condenser water flowing?
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
This happens to me all the time, usually associated with the boiler containing no alcohol
_____________________
EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
I always run over 180 proof and water is running,,,,and in the keg boiler with a mile high 2 inch reflux coluum with a one foot extention,,, I have around 17%acl. in 12 gallons of mash in the keg...I have always run on ez street till this has biten me in the az...I'm about going nutz…
ive done everything I know,,, but i do need help
ive done everything I know,,, but i do need help
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
And its turned on?
Going to need more details to be of assistance... take off rate? abv?
Going to need more details to be of assistance... take off rate? abv?
_____________________
EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
What does 17% abv mean, or asked a different way, how do you know you had 17% in your mash... or was it low wine reduced from a stripped run.. or you were doing a one past..aaa186 wrote:I have around 17%acl. in 12 gallons of mash in the keg.
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
– Albert Einstein
– Albert Einstein
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
I saved 9 quarts of tails and I ran it with 10 gallons of water,, the run before that I ran 13 gallons of mash with 34 pounds of sugar and after cleared,, I put roughly a little over 12 gallons of mash in boiler,,,, which is what I have done for years,,, I am puzzled
- cranky
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
Could your reflux or product condenser be leaking internally watering down your product?
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
9 qts dissolved with 10 gal water, my estimate is a very low abv.. tails are very low in abv, maybe 20% overall.. so 10 gal of water in 9 qt tails, very low in my estimate. so you may not of had any alcohol in that run.. the run time must have been very quick..aaa186 wrote:I saved 9 quarts of tails and I ran it with 10 gallons of water,, the run before that I ran 13 gallons of mash with 34 pounds of sugar and after cleared,
34 lbs of sugar in 13 gal of water for a sugar wash, that is like 2.6 lbs per gal, your yeast must be having a hard time, unless you are using turbo yeast, and even at that, that high.. the norm for sugar shine is a pound per gal or there about..
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
– Albert Einstein
– Albert Einstein
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
do u mean,,,leaking through my stainless steel,,, or do u mean ,,, leaking down past my copper packing
I have used 34 lbs of sugar per 13 gallons,,,many many times,,,, many many years and always got over 180 proof
I have used 34 lbs of sugar per 13 gallons,,,many many times,,,, many many years and always got over 180 proof
- bluefish_dist
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
If the pc has a small leak, you will be adding water to the takeoff. Easy to check. Just fill with water and apply a little pressure. If you have a leak, you will know it.
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Dsp-CO-20051
Dsp-CO-20051
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
Just trying to understand your process and help, but.. your're the expert..aaa186 wrote:I have used 34 lbs of sugar per 13 gallons,,,many many times,,,, many many years and always got over 180 proof
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
– Albert Einstein
– Albert Einstein
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
lolol if I was a expert,,, I would not be asking for help,,, ive run a lot but just the set up that I told u mostly,,, that's y I cant figure what is wrong..
l'm going 2 try now to see if I have a leak
l'm going 2 try now to see if I have a leak
- bluefish_dist
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
If you had a thermometer at the head, it could have helped trouble shoot the issue. If you had a low temp (high proof) then it's definitely a leak in the pc. If the temp would not get low enough then it was either a wash or still operating condition issue.
If you are modular and installing the plates each time, check to make sure they are staggered. If they are not you won't get the same abv. Did that once by accident and couldn't figure out why the still wouldn't work.
If you are modular and installing the plates each time, check to make sure they are staggered. If they are not you won't get the same abv. Did that once by accident and couldn't figure out why the still wouldn't work.
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Dsp-CO-20051
Dsp-CO-20051
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
the temp would not get low enough,, now i'm not getting smart with u,,, I have run the same way as always but I think iam,,,tell me some of the issues u think,,,, by the way,,, I am using a mile hi,,, 2 inch pc with a one foot extentsion,with copper mesh and rings,,, also I have a thermometer at the top
- cranky
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
Personally I see 4 possibilities.
1= You have a leaking condenser watering down the product
2= You have a leak somewhere else letting your product escape to the atmosphere
3= You have low ABV in your boiler
4= You have a clogged water line to your RC or something else causing the RC not condensing the vapor giving you no reflux
1= You have a leaking condenser watering down the product
2= You have a leak somewhere else letting your product escape to the atmosphere
3= You have low ABV in your boiler
4= You have a clogged water line to your RC or something else causing the RC not condensing the vapor giving you no reflux
- bluefish_dist
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
Was the head temp the same as previous runs? That is an indicator of abv. If temp was higher, then abv is lower. If the abv was lower at the head, then it's not a pc leak causing the issue.aaa186 wrote:the temp would not get low enough,, now i'm not getting smart with u,,, I have run the same way as always but I think iam,,,tell me some of the issues u think,,,, by the way,,, I am using a mile hi,,, 2 inch pc with a one foot extentsion,with copper mesh and rings,,, also I have a thermometer at the top
When you say ran the same, was the potential abv of the wash the same? Same opening gravity and finishing gravity?
See post above for possible solutions.
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
Ya got ya water pipes connected the wrong way round ?
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
water lines are connected right
head temp. was higher and abv was lower
potential abv of wash was the same and same open gravity and finishing gravity
in crankys list,,, only possible problem that I see,,,is,,,rc not condensing the vapor enough, giving not enough reflux
head temp. was higher and abv was lower
potential abv of wash was the same and same open gravity and finishing gravity
in crankys list,,, only possible problem that I see,,,is,,,rc not condensing the vapor enough, giving not enough reflux
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
that still is the one with just a cork blocking the top of the column right?
Any chance the cork was not down far enough and all your vapour got out that way?
Any chance the cork was not down far enough and all your vapour got out that way?
Don't be a dick
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
That is normal with a Coolant Moderated still - that's why I asked.aaa186 wrote:water lines are connected right
head temp. was higher and abv was lower
....
The water goes into the cooling jacket First and the Liebig second - right ?
It still has All the packing in to the top of the water jacket - right ?
Have you tried turning the water UP ?
[Edit - I don't know where you are - but if it's coming up to summer, the temperature of your cooling water might be higher than it was - I have that problem over here.]
- bluefish_dist
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
That says you were not running it the same. Head temp and abv are inversely related, so a higher head temp is lower proof. That means you ran the still differently, as stated above it could be cooling water temp is higher, I get a summer to winter change. On a basic level the reflux rate was lower or heat was higher, thus the abv is lower. since the head temp is proportional to abv, you can drive the still based on the temperature. If you want higher proof, lower temp, lower proof, higher temp. Just realize it takes a min or two for any adjustment to take effect.aaa186 wrote:water lines are connected right
head temp. was higher and abv was lower
potential abv of wash was the same and same open gravity and finishing gravity
in crankys list,,, only possible problem that I see,,,is,,,rc not condensing the vapor enough, giving not enough reflux
Formerly
Dsp-CO-20051
Dsp-CO-20051
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
Now that I think about it, I've seen this situation before.
Essentially the problem is this, a rogue angel decided your boiler would be a great place to party for awhile and take an overly large share of your shine.
Two next steps 1) if possible, thoroughly rinse your still with a solution (1-3) of anti-holy water and dechlorinated water.
2) ferment a new batch of wash, accurately record it's SG and FG, run it and confirm the results.
Likely you'll be fine.
Essentially the problem is this, a rogue angel decided your boiler would be a great place to party for awhile and take an overly large share of your shine.
Two next steps 1) if possible, thoroughly rinse your still with a solution (1-3) of anti-holy water and dechlorinated water.
2) ferment a new batch of wash, accurately record it's SG and FG, run it and confirm the results.
Likely you'll be fine.
_____________________
EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
EXPAT
Current boiler and pot head
Cross flow condenser
Modular 3" Boka - pics tbd
___________________
Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
expat,,, u r reading my mind [whats left of it] im goona start from scratch and very carefully start with my mash and do everything by the book and check everything till the run is over,,, then that's when I hope u r right,,, it will b awhile but I will let u all know the verdict
thank all of u,, uall were helpful
thank all of u,, uall were helpful
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Re: lost my high proof in my reflux colum
Expat stated vary similar to what I stated at the very begin.. 9 qts of tails (which are low in alcohol to start with) reduced in 10 water, went run will not give you any alcohol in the 180 proof range.. they are tails.. plus the run will be over very quickly..aaa186 wrote:I saved 9 quarts of tails and I ran it with 10 gallons of water
But you keep comparing that run (tails run) with a regular run.. 2 different animal behavior in the pot/boiler..
Don't take my word for it, save the same amount of tails again and reduce them with 10 gal water, and see what you get..
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
– Albert Einstein
– Albert Einstein