My Plans & My Questions

[Gr8brewer]

Here is my plan for my column. My biggest question is where to run the reflux back into the column. Is it crucial where you put it? Is lower better or higher. The next question I have is concerning the still head condenser will I get better performance by making it longer or by adding a coil within a coil with the inner coil flowing in the opposite direction.

Gr8brewer's Valve Re#499668.pdf

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Here are the parts i have so far.

Here is a snap shot of my materials

[mrhooch]

Gr8:

What you are trying to build is a version of the Nixon Stone offset still. In this still, the liquid coming off the condensor coil goes down the pipe again then there is a lip which trickles the condensate back down the center of the column.

You want to put the reflux down the center of the column, and at the top of the packing. Trickling it down the sides doesn't work. I know from experience....

The size of your condensor coil is determined by the amount of energy you are providing the system to boil it off in the first place. It is always better to oversize the condensor and run it hotter (with less cooling liquid flow), than make it too small as eventually you will make it too small and the vapour won't spend enough time hanging around to condense out completely.

Based on 1500 watts of input power, you can scale it ie, 3000 watts = twice the length, 4500 watts = 3x..., cooling vapour around 85C and and an input cooling temp of 15C and a designed output temp of 50C

1/4" tube = 1.89m
5/16 tube = 1.49m
3/8 tube = 1.25m

These are bare minimum numbers, most cooling coil builders tend to use about 10+ feet (3 meters) of tubing, and wrap it coil on coil with spacing between the tubes.

Hooch

[rad14701]

Those components could also be used to build a Vapor Management column with the addition of a gate valve and a cap for the top of the T in the condenser branch...

[kiwistiller]

+1 on making a vm instead! cap the left t, take away that reducing section (which is very nice btw) and put it on the bottom of the left tee. then a small extension at the top of the column for a coil, a valve at the bottom of the reducer and a leibig. done burger with awesome sauce.

[Gr8brewer]

Those components could also be used to build a Vapor Management column with the addition of a gate valve and a cap for the top of the T in the condenser branch...

I have a 1.5 butterfly valve I could throw in there. Looks like i need to research that. My problem is at this point I don't know what I don't know. Are there advantages to making a VM system?

[rubber duck]

Those components could also be used to build a Vapor Management column with the addition of a gate valve and a cap for the top of the T in the condenser branch...

I have a 1.5 butterfly valve I could throw in there. Looks like i need to research that. My problem is at this point I don't know what I don't know. Are there advantages to making a VM system?

The disadvantage of a Vm is cost. Seeing that you already have most everything that one would need to build a Vm I would go the Vm rough.

The advantage is a 8 year old could run one, Less tuning then the lm that your thinking about making. That and there easy to build.

[rubber duck]

It kinda surprises me that your going with a reflux still. Most of our beer brewing friends are more interested in pot stills and whiskey.

You do realize that this style of still is good for vodka but so much for whiskey.

[kiwistiller]

I think in his intro he said he wants very pure vodka.
anyway I did a rundown of the basic reflux designs, it's in the new distiller reading lounge, might help you understand some of the differences, gr8