Am I hosed?
Moderator: Site Moderator
Am I hosed?
So I've been working on a small still... And I think I've screwed up.
My condensor is only 14" long.... I was concerned about it shortly after I put it together.. then today I was running some numbers through the condensor size calculator and it confirmed what I was thinking... should I not even bother with it and go ahead and fix it? or should I try it out? I'd hate to have a fully charged still and the condensor end up being the downfall. I was thinkin about running some water through it but that wouldn't be the same cause water vapor takes more cooling to knock down than etoh right?
suggestions? tales of experience?
My condensor is only 14" long.... I was concerned about it shortly after I put it together.. then today I was running some numbers through the condensor size calculator and it confirmed what I was thinking... should I not even bother with it and go ahead and fix it? or should I try it out? I'd hate to have a fully charged still and the condensor end up being the downfall. I was thinkin about running some water through it but that wouldn't be the same cause water vapor takes more cooling to knock down than etoh right?
suggestions? tales of experience?
I agree with Byacey, the condenser just has to match your heat source. You will just have to run it slower or you can increase the water flow through it. If the water doesn't stay in it long enough to get hot than it will be fine.
It is most absurdly said, in popular language, of any man, that he is disguised in liquor; for, on the contrary, most men are disguised by sobriety. ~Thomas de Quincy, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, 1856
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Make it copper. Copper transfers heat faster than any other really affordable material.
"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance... baffle them with bullshit."
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"Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see"
20lt small pot still, working on keg
"Don't steal. The government hates competition."
"Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see"
20lt small pot still, working on keg
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not to be the nag, especially since i'm not familiar with your setup, but i'd be making damn sure that there wasnt too much vapour flow resistance with the copper packing (i.e. dont pack it too tight, make sure no gunk is building up between runs).
In most cases this would never present a serious issue, but you dont want your setup living up to the stigma by blowing up in your basement- it makes us all look bad
like everyone else said, turn it down and you'll be fine and end up with a higher proof to boot.
In most cases this would never present a serious issue, but you dont want your setup living up to the stigma by blowing up in your basement- it makes us all look bad
like everyone else said, turn it down and you'll be fine and end up with a higher proof to boot.
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I had planned on doing a run this evening but didn't... I just ran about a gallon of water through it to try to clean it out.. I don't feel that it was sufficiently cleaned and I'm going to run some cheap wine through it before i try to do a regular run.
I don't think I'll have much problem at all with cooling. I got a 250GPH fountain pump and was able to knock the water down pretty easily, and if what the home site says about water taking 3x cooling to condense than etoh, then I'll be fine.
Something I noticed was that my condensate usually stayed the same temp as my coolant. Which I felt showed me that I was doing the most cooling possible...
All in all.. I think I'm good. As soon as I get the whole thing cleaned out I'll be set.
I don't think I'll have much problem at all with cooling. I got a 250GPH fountain pump and was able to knock the water down pretty easily, and if what the home site says about water taking 3x cooling to condense than etoh, then I'll be fine.
Something I noticed was that my condensate usually stayed the same temp as my coolant. Which I felt showed me that I was doing the most cooling possible...
All in all.. I think I'm good. As soon as I get the whole thing cleaned out I'll be set.