PieterPost
(stranger)
07/13/03 02:39 PM
re-using cooling water
Because distilling uses a lot of water, which is thrown away, I have an simple idea of re-using this water.
My idea is to run the heated water through a car-radiator where a fan is blowing/sucking the air to cool the radiator.
This way I would need only a radiator (which are cheap from the car-yard), a water-pump and a fan.
Do you think this will cool the water down enough? So will this work?
Post Extras: Print Post
Anonymous
(Unregistered)
08/31/03 07:23 AM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: PieterPost]
I have made such a unit using the heater core of a VW Jetta, blower fan from a computer both assembeled in a shroud. The pump is 12 volts submersible unit (bilge pump for a boat) which circulates an antifreeze solution designed for recreational vehicles and plumbing. (It is non toxic) do NOT use automotive antifreeze which IS toxic. The reservoir contains about 10 litres of the antifreeze solution. This works well in the winter as the heat exchanger is outside the house, have not tried it in summer. It all boils down to the heat loss generated by the exchanger versus the heat input from the condenser. You will need to make some calculations or use the try it method. Good luck!
Post Extras: Print Post
Anonymous
(Unregistered)
08/31/03 09:58 PM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: PieterPost]
Your idea will work admirably, I use a 50l storage container to hold my coolant water with a submersible pump, this works OK for about 4hrs, then I change 3/4 of the water to lower the temp. This gets me about 8hrs distilling using only 40 litres or so of water. With a radiator and fan you will never need to change your water. It's good to see some conservationally minded distillers out there
cheers
Tony
Post Extras: Print Post
unclejesseAdministrator
(journeyman)
09/04/03 12:37 PM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: PieterPost]
it will work just fine, but remember, never EVER use a radiator for your worm! radiators contain aluminum and are welded with lead. if you let your spirit come into contact, you're in deep trouble. same with coolant, if you use coolant as mentioned in this thread, be absolutely certain that you arent letting any interfere with your spirits. i cant emphasize this enough. in fact it might be better to have a holding tank of water and use your radiator/coolant system to externally cool the holding tank.
i've seen mini-systems which took up about 2 sq. feet and worked on a small pump with a heater core and a small fan.
It was the whiskey talkin', not me.
Post Extras: Print Post
Fourway
(journeyman)
09/05/03 12:47 AM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: unclejesse]
I've strongly considered using a SlantFin brand undercounter fan driven radiator as a coolant cooler... but I'm loath to run cooling water through something that isn't designed for potable water on the off chance that my rig develops a condenser leak.
Looking into pulling the water cooler goings on out of a commercial grade refrigerated water fountain, but I'll need to find a junked one as those things are seriously expensive.
Post Extras: Print Post
unclejesseAdministrator
(journeyman)
09/05/03 01:43 PM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: Fourway]
good idea, i'd like to hear how that goes.
commercial distilleries use glycol systems to cool their fermenters. as i mentioned, its' roughly 750 million active yeast cells per ml during heavy fermentation - this puts out a lot of heat. just have to be absolutely sure nothing leaks in to contaminate your mash.
It was the whiskey talkin', not me.
Post Extras: Print Post
Free_Loader
(Unregistered)
09/05/03 10:59 PM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: unclejesse]
i'v been toying with the idea of drilling a 1/2 hole in each side of the freezer section of my "beer fridge" in the garage and running a copper coil thru it to chill my cooling water just before it hits my condenser .... then out of the condenser into a 55gallon water drum where it is pumped back thru the whole process again .... probably a major overkill ... but it sounds like fun
Post Extras: Print Post
Fourway
(journeyman)
09/06/03 01:22 PM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: Free_Loader]
you won't get a huge amount of cooling from a coil of copper tubing in a fridge unless you attach some fins to the copper and put a few fans inside the fridge to move air around.
The whole still air to metal heat transfer thing is fairly ineffecient.
It might be fun to braze the copper tubing to the cooling coils or attach to them with arctic-silver epoxy heat transfer compound (made for gluing CPU coolers to computer processors).
Post Extras: Print Post
tater
(newbie)
09/07/03 10:51 AM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: Fourway]
refrigators and freezers for home use are only 1300 btu per hr or less.takes most of them 2 hrs to freeze ice cubes. you would have better luck useing a small window ac. have the evap removed lines leathened and place evap in cond water. window ac evap temp run at a 45 degree f under normal conditions. window units will have a data plate with the btu ratings on it hope this helps.Tater
Post Extras: Print Post
USMALE
(stranger)
06/20/04 05:14 PM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: PieterPost]
Reflux
Just started using a refux still....was leting the water run down the drain. Now I run it into my 7 gal ferment buckets and clean the inside at the same time.Then use the water on my lawn.
Call me cheap............just call me
Post Extras: Print Post
AkCoyote
(newbie)
06/20/04 05:28 PM
Re: re-using cooling water new [re: PieterPost]
I freeze milk jugs and add them to a small storage container that holds the water and pump. I go through a jug an hour and the water stays fairly cool.
AkCoyote
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." Thomas Jefferson