Worried about condenser size/length (amongst other things)

Temple_of_Monkeys · Post by **Temple_of_Monkeys** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:35 am

I am building my first still -- a reflux still with a 40x650mm column based on the Spirits Unlimited 'Euro 60' design:

http://www.spiritsunlimited.co.nz/euro.htm

I have three 9mmØ cooling tubes near the bottom of the column, and another one just before the take-off. I am going to use an electric stove to heat my still, so I will have control over the heat. Cooling water will be from a town supply, which is normally at around 10-15 degrees out of the tap.

I have two questions:

1) Would I be able to use a spare 40x300mm length of copper pipe I have with some 9mm tube going straight down the middle as a condenser, or is this too short?

2) If it is an adequate size, would I be better off feeding the cooling water backwards -- into the condenser and then down through the column, so its cooler at the condenser and warms up towards the bottom, or just going the usual way?

Regards,
Brent

Post by **Husker** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:04 am

You will be much, much better off looking for a different still design, or at least, NOT running any cooling lines at the bottom of the column.

H.

copperhead · Post by **copperhead** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:40 am

To much plastic in the still for me. They can call it what they want to sell'em but it's still plastic. meaning the peice holding the packing and the flange.and like husker said cooling tubes at the bottom. not a very effishent design.

Cruiser · Post by **Cruiser** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:40 pm

Hey Copperhead, I was about to correct you and point out the plastic is just the cooling water tubes. That was until I looked at their assembly instructions

I agree, way too much plastic and glue and stuff. Not only that, but I reckon the rubber grommets for the cross tubes will last only one run if you're lucky. Pretty poor for a commercial unit.

But that doesn't answer Brent's original question. It's probably too late now but I would have use the spare 40 x 300mm tube as additional column height making it about 950 high. Like Husker said, do away with cooling to lower tubes as any reflux there just drops back into the boiler. To work properly the reflux has to pass down the entire column.

I think you will also need a lot more than a single 300mm length of 9mm for your condenser. Look at some of the designs and calculations on the parent site but most people would be running a coil containing 3 to 6m of tubing for their condenser.

Chris.

Temple_of_Monkeys · Post by **Temple_of_Monkeys** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:13 am

Apart from a single rubber bung to hold the thermometer in, there are no plastics in the vapour path of my still, its all copper. Those stills are horrible

(not to mention ugly!), but I know somebody who owns one of them and gets 94%, which is why I decided to follow the design. I measured the size of his condenser, and the water jacket is only 300mm long.. I'm baffled!!

Thanks for your help guys.

Cruiser · Post by **Cruiser** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:17 pm

Brent, it's possible that person's condenser contains a coil rather than a straight bit of pipe.

My condenser is only about 300mm long (but 100mm diameter) and it contains 6m of 10mm pipe formed into a double coil. It's probably 3 or 4 times the length needed (I'm running 1800w boiler) but I have the vapour on the outside and the water inside the piping (opposite to you).

Sounds like your still will be much better than the Spirits Unlimited one.

Chris.

Temple_of_Monkeys · Post by **Temple_of_Monkeys** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:23 am

The condenser is just a straight length of 9mm inside 16mm.

I might flip the vapour column upside-down so the three cooling lines are up at the top though.. any ideas on this?

hoochinoo · Post by **hoochinoo** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 1:17 pm

So far, all the material I read in this forum about still construction pretty much recommended Not using anything but copper/stainless steel and as little of any other materials. For my gaskets I use wheat dough and the only non copper material I have are the two valves on the valved reflux still.

I looked at the specs for the still you are planning to invest in. Not sure that I would personally invest in one like that. Why:
- Usage of rubber in places that are directly in contact with the boiler and in the path of hot vapors. The unit will get hot as you are operating it.
- The condensers are just straight pipes and I am not sure if they pack enough punch.
- The material that the still is made of. May not be as thick as I would expect it.
- This may just be a hobby grade.

These were some of my observations from the documentation that you supplied and I studied.

Just curious, how much are they asking for this unit?

Thanks.

Temple_of_Monkeys · Post by **Temple_of_Monkeys** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:29 am

My still is only going to be based on that one, as I have seen some very good results from my friend's 60l one, so I decided to follow the design. My still has a 13l stainless steel stock pot as the boiler, with a 650mm x 40mm copper vapour column packed with stainless steel scrubbers. It has 4 10mm copper cooling lines running through the column, which are at 12cm, 17cm, 23cm and 55cm from the top of the column. These will most likely be soldered in. I have not built the condenser yet, but I will probably coil a length of 6mm inside a 330x40mm water jacket. There are no plastics, sealants or rubber in the still, everything is soldered or screwed in. That is pretty much the basics of this still.

I'm not particularly concerned about producing massive batches of alcohol, so a backyard-style still is just fine for me.

I might put some pictures of my still up some time, although it isn't really anything special.

The company probably charges something wild for one of those stills, that's another reason why I'm building my own.