reflux by cooling column

[Mr.Spooky]

i was wandering if you could get reflux by cooling the column. kinda like making a 3/8 or 1/4 coil that spirles around the outside the column for the whole length of the column that is controled from a water valve. eleminating packing the column w/ pads. I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN THIS ! JUST ASKING. because i gotta bunch of soft copper.
thanks

[Adverse Effects]

there are 1 or 2 designs that do this but it is a bad design so not many people do it

[rad14701]

The issue at hand is that, theoretically, and I believe currently being proven by Snuffy, reflux is more efficient when not traveling down the walls of the column... If the reflux is closer to the center of the column it will have a better chance of being reboiled by rising vapors than it will when in contact with the cooler column walls...

Cooling the column walls with a condenser coil further negates the reboiling efficiency... So, essentially, you are making your still work harder in order to get the same amount of output at a specific ABV...

Column packing is used to help with the reflux/reboiling process and also helps to wick any condensate from the column walls back towards the center of the column where the vapor speed is faster...

[lliw]

This is interesting, I think my dads Still sprints super reflux still has cooling around the outside of the column...does anyone know if that is right?

I guess by-passing it would be better?

[Adverse Effects]

This is interesting, I think my dads Still sprints super reflux still has cooling around the outside of the column...does anyone know if that is right?

I guess by-passing it would be better?

i haven't seen one of the stills you are talking about BUT
if it is possible to do removing the external coil and replacing it with an internal coil may make the unit work better

[Mr.Spooky]

The issue at hand is that, theoretically, and I believe currently being proven by Snuffy, reflux is more efficient when not traveling down the walls of the column... If the reflux is closer to the center of the column it will have a better chance of being reboiled by rising vapors than it will when in contact with the cooler column walls...

Cooling the column walls with a condenser coil further negates the reboiling efficiency... So, essentially, you are making your still work harder in order to get the same amount of output at a specific ABV...

Column packing is used to help with the reflux/reboiling process and also helps to wick any condensate from the column walls back towards the center of the column where the vapor speed is faster...

yea i guess that makes sence, plus with the packing, youd probabally be covering alott more surface area.
thanks

[rad14701]

This is interesting, I think my dads Still sprints super reflux still has cooling around the outside of the column...does anyone know if that is right?

I guess by-passing it would be better?

I was going to post links to the PDF files I found for these units but figured it wasn't worthwhile... Try Googling "still spirits reflux site:stillspirits.com" or "still spirits super reflux site:stillspirits.com" and you'll find several PDF's that make mention of bypassing the column condenser to run in pot still mode...

Now, if you were to bypass the external column reflux condenser and used a coldfinger condenser on the top of the column, replacing the rubber stopper and thermometer, you will gain efficiency... This quick fix might help more than extending the column although doing both would help even more... If the column is big enough you might be able to use a coiled condenser...

One thing to keep in mind is that due to where the take off port is located you may need to regulate the amount of coolant through an internal condenser so you don't get 100% reflux... A "Y" splitter valve would be a handy addition here because you could then control the water flow to the two condensers separately...