Well, I gave my still a test run yesterday just with water.
I used Matt's Nixon Stone design as a basis to make mine, with a few slight differences.
My still is a Nixon offset head
41inch 50mm Column packed with SS scrubbers, 15L Hot water urn (2400W) for the boiler, Condensor is 260mm long. Cooling fluid is in a 20L bucket at the condersor height with an aquarium pump 1110L min. Condesor is 4m of 6mm copper tubing.
--Trying to insert a pic, but not having much luck---
I have a few problems / queries.
Im not sure if my still is operating as it should or if it will behave better when acutally distilling alchol as opposed to water.
1)
The first is my lid leaks, from what Ive read I will give the flour paste a go. This only happens when the urn is on high. From what Ive read, it seems most turn the temp down once boiling point is reached.
2)
With the Urn on high (2400w) Im generating a great amount of heat at the condensor, It seems to be handling it as no vapour is escaping from the top, but the 20L of cooling water is hot within about 20 mins.
Im also collecting very little, well to what I thought I would anyway.
After 1.5 hours I only collected about 15mls of distalled water.
With the Urn on Medium, no vapour escapes from under the lid, the cooling fluid does not get as hot, but I dont collect any thing. If turn of the pump for the condensor cooling fluid I have vapour escaping, so Im obviously condensing all the vapour but if Im not collecting it, where is it going. I can only assume its revapoursing before it gets to my collection valve.
Im wondering if the still will operate better with using a sugar wash, as the still head temp will only be 78 degress as oppposed to 101.
Im open to opinons / thoughts / critisims
Paul
New Nixon Stone reflux still - advice needed
Moderator: Site Moderator
-
Captin Moron
- Bootlegger
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2005 12:34 am
its possible that your collection tube is inserted to far into the head causing a dam, therefore the water will flow right past the collector tube. I have a ns setup 1 1/4 diameter, and it distills about 18 liters every 12 hours, so at least 1 liter an hour. Im also running at 1500 watts in a 23 liter boiler which is still to high for distilling alcohol, I run my whisky at 750watts.
Try cutting that power in half for water and stripping runs, as 2400w is far to much power for just about anything in a 15 liter boiler. It will burn your whisky. 750 would be perfect for your setup.
Tell me if your on 120 volt or 240 volt. because if your at 2400watt 240 volt you could wire it to take 120 volt which would run that element at less than 1000 watts. Theres some guys here that can explain this in alittle more detail than me.
Try cutting that power in half for water and stripping runs, as 2400w is far to much power for just about anything in a 15 liter boiler. It will burn your whisky. 750 would be perfect for your setup.
Tell me if your on 120 volt or 240 volt. because if your at 2400watt 240 volt you could wire it to take 120 volt which would run that element at less than 1000 watts. Theres some guys here that can explain this in alittle more detail than me.
I made sure that the collection tube did not protrude into the chamber, so I know thats not the problem.
The urn does have a low setting, so I guess as you guys have stated, set it to high to bring to the boil, then switch it to low for the distallation process.
Im still confused as even on medium I was not collecting anything.
The other thing is, my collection valve is not on the elbow, its a bit closer to the column, I did this as I wanted the collection point to be a the lowest point of the horizontal column.
The urn does have a low setting, so I guess as you guys have stated, set it to high to bring to the boil, then switch it to low for the distallation process.
Im still confused as even on medium I was not collecting anything.
The other thing is, my collection valve is not on the elbow, its a bit closer to the column, I did this as I wanted the collection point to be a the lowest point of the horizontal column.
See if any crud worked it's way into the hole for your collection tube.Paulwhy wrote:I made sure that the collection tube did not protrude into the chamber, so I know thats not the problem.
The urn does have a low setting, so I guess as you guys have stated, set it to high to bring to the boil, then switch it to low for the distallation process.
Im still confused as even on medium I was not collecting anything.
The other thing is, my collection valve is not on the elbow, its a bit closer to the column, I did this as I wanted the collection point to be a the lowest point of the horizontal column.
Maybe there is something wrong with the needle valve? You might want to increase the amount of cooling water or add some ice to it.
Yeah, i did have a thought that the collection pipe / valve may be blocked. So to test this I tipped some water into the top of the condensing chamber and water did come out of the collection pipe.
Im guessing what my query is, will there be a remarkbly reduced difference in the collection amounts between water and alchol.
I thought I should be able to distill water a resonable rate with the valve full open.
IM hoping when I run a sugar wash, my results will change, due to the condensor working more efficently due to lower temps.
Im guessing what my query is, will there be a remarkbly reduced difference in the collection amounts between water and alchol.
I thought I should be able to distill water a resonable rate with the valve full open.
IM hoping when I run a sugar wash, my results will change, due to the condensor working more efficently due to lower temps.