Last year I successfully ran my just built 11’ reflux still to get 97% ‘shine. This year I’m trying to understand it better.
I recently got a slick dual probe Polder thermometer and am contemplating the best locations to install the probes. I have a cheapo dial-style oven thermo soldered in place about halfway between the vertical part of the column and the collection cup.
- I suppose I’ll put one probe directly under the collection cup because above the cup there may be incidental vapour cooling from the falling liquid.
- When I calibrate and compare the Polder and the dial-style, this will give me the ability to assess vapour temperature change along a pretty small area (4 inches of about 1 ¾”).
Where is the most useful place for the second thermometer probe?
Should I thermally insulate the probes from the copper of the still?
- Given that the head is exposed to air, will the radiant surface of the copper give a significantly lower thermometer reading than the temperature of the vapour?
Exact Thermometer placement - Nixon-Stone
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