Liebig Arm????

TryMe · Post by **TryMe** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:35 pm

Done a good bit of searching and reading but havent found the answer yet..So will this work ok..

12 quart stock pot.

On top of the pot straight up 24" of 1/2 copper--column

Elbows tunring down at a 45 degree angle to a 28"-30" liebig arm..Arm will be 1/2 copper inside sleeved by 3/4 copper outside.

Do these measurments and pipe sizes look ok or need improved lengths and sizes? Thx.

Post by **rad14701** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:57 pm

My personal observation is that a 24 inch tall 1/2 inch diameter column won't do much of anything for you... It's too small of a diameter to be an efficient column and longer than needed for pure pot still use... Either go with a much shorter column, only several inches, or increase the diameter... But that's just my opinion... The column theory section on the main site should help explain the WHY...

TryMe · Post by **TryMe** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:59 pm

Ok I will shrink the column length to around 6"...Does the liebig part sound ok? 28"-30" long with 1/2" jacketed in 3/4".

Post by **rad14701** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:04 pm

I know people get tired of hearing it but the main site has calculations for such things as boiler size, heat source BTU's, and such which help in determining required condenser sizing... There are a lot more factors to be considered other than just post and condenser sizes...

Things like Pot Still versus Reflux Still need to be considered... What are you trying to build...??? What wash/mash will be be distilling...??? What type of liquor do you want to end up with...???

Post by **Dnderhead** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:08 pm

yes just as Rad said and about 30" on condenser some times pot stills
take more to knock down vapors

TryMe · Post by **TryMe** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:13 pm

I am building a pot still not a reflux.All I am looking to do right now is get started..A simple 12 qt stock pot with a head and arm for condensing.Just wanted to be sure 1/2" inside 3/4" would be enough and get a general idea of hieght and length.I know the calcs are there to be used but there are a lot of things to be considered if you want them to be accurate...I am not going for 100% science yet just a starting point.

Post by **Dnderhead** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:17 pm

just column tall enough so as condenser does not hit pot

GingerBreadMan · Post by **GingerBreadMan** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:20 pm

Here's my stlil - simple and works quite well -

I would recommend 3/4" column. I had a 1/2" column in my previous design here -

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4740

More details about the condensor size and my observations in that post. The condensor is 20" long, 1/2" pipe inside a vinyl jacket. Plenty of cooling power. The condensor probably could be smaller and still work - don't know, but I do know 20" is plenty.

TryMe · Post by **TryMe** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:38 pm

Thx for the link gingerbread.I read through your post and just have a couple questions...How tall is your 3/4" column and have you had any issues with the plastic tube your used as a sleeve on the condeser getting hot?

GingerBreadMan · Post by **GingerBreadMan** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:59 pm

The 3/4 " column is about 15 inches long.

The vinyl tube doesn't get hot. When I run the still when the temperature (I have a thermometer at the top of the columng) hits about 60C I turn on the cold water. The tube and the top copper tee at the top where the tube is connected to will be the same temperature as the water flowing out of the condensor.

The condensor is quite efficient and I don't have to run the water that fast.

Keep in mind, even if no water is flowing through the condensor the tube will never get hotter then the vapors which is less then 100C.

TryMe · Post by **TryMe** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:34 pm

Built it and cooked my first run today...Works like a champ...Thx for the info gingerbread...