Another element question

[Bob421]

I run gerber washes in a 15 gallon keg through a two inch ss 4 foot column using propane. I am able to run the turkey fryer burner wide open and have no trouble with flooding the column. I want to convert to electric and have two elements. One 240v 5500w and one 120v 1500w both extra low density type. My plan is to heat up with the 5500w and the. Run with the 1500w and maybe rn the 5500w on 120v for extra power. I have a 30 amp welder circuit and a 15 amp 120 cicuit in the shop to dedicate to this. Since I am able to run my propane wide open I worry about not having enough power to keep my output up to what is has been (about 1 quart of 92 percent every 40 to 45 minutes). What do y'all think? Is this workable. I wouldliene to build a controller for the 5500w one but i am still unclear on the details. Most seem to build conrollers for 120v elements.

[mrhooch]

Hi Bob!

The first question is how many BTU's the turkey burner is, and it should be on the certification sticker on the burner. Your 5.5kw element produces roughly 19,000 BTU's, but it is 100% efficient. There is a unit converter on the Theory tab that you can use to make calculations.

As for a 120v 220v controllers, there is very little difference between the two besides a few higher values of a few key components. The circuits would look identical.

Hope this helps.

Mr. Hooch

[Bob421]

Yeah it's those few "key" components and exactly what value that I have th confusion on. Don't get much time to study lately. Bu I will pobably figure it out soon. I don't really know the btu of the burner is could not find any markings on it. Got it for a Christmas present years ago. I know it makes the propane tank form frost about halfway through a run.

[mrhooch]

Cheesy trick.

If you can check out the orfice size at the end of the hose, and know the WP of the regulator, you can calculate the BTU'sof the burner. Example a .056 orfice at 11" WP (Water) = 25000 BTU. .008 = 8000 BTU. There are tables on the internet you can search for to find out.

Alternately you can find out the starting weight and ending weight of the cylinder when running a batch, and then do the calc. Propane (wiki answers) has a BTU of 15000 btu's / lb.

Any way you look at it, 5.5kw will allow you to produce something!

Mr. Hooch

[Bob421]

Hehe. I don't think I will be able to run the full 5500 but i was worried that only 1500 might not be enough and that the roughly 2600 combined when running them both on 120 might not be enough either, or too much. I guess I will poke around the calculators some more when I get time. I was going to quit for the summer but I have very thirsty friends and they have talked me out of most of my summer stash.
Thanks
Bob

[mrhooch]

Bob:

I run 1500 watts, and it works fine for the moment for me! In pot still mode I collect about 500mls /hour.

Mr. Hooch

[Bob421]

I collect double that in reflux mode 92% with propane. That is a gerber wash and it is very neutral. Someday I want to do rum and then I will want to run slow but right I want to save time where I can while still being safe and not ruining a run.
Seems like worst case I will have to run the 1500 by itself and maybe it will be slower but it will work. Best case I can run the full 5500.
Thanks a bunch

[Bob421]

Ok I found a calculator http://homedistiller.org/calcs/reflux_calc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow that suggests that I may be able to run the full 5500 watts. My column comes up over the minimum diameter but about 4 mm under the recommended diameter. If it works, according to the calculator it might even be faster. I hope it works out I hate seeing all that wasted energy going up the stack.

[mrhooch]

No waste, all the energy will go into vaporization once the mix is at the boiling point.

Hooch

[Barney Fife]

I can collect a liter in 25-30 minutes in pot still mode at 1500 watts. Sounds like your propane burner is pretty small. I think your plan is perfect; 5500 to heat up, then 1500 to run, with the 5500 at 120v added(for a total of 2875watts) for the tails collection. You may be able to run the 5500 for tails collection if you have a killer condenser and cool water, but I wouldn't try to collect the hearts at the rate, as you'll get a lot of heads and tails mixed-in.

[Bob421]

Thanks.
Looks like my heatup time will be less so I can take more time with the fores hearts collection.
I might have a line on a motor controller from a livestock ventilation system. The guys says it has a variable speed output set in percentage. I will have to check it out and see if it will work to drive an element.

[Centimeter]

I run my vapor management reflux still with a 5ft column using 1500W (3000W to bring to a boil). With a boiler charge of 7.5 gallons, it gets boiling in ~45minutes and, aside from heads, I collect 1L/hr of 92-94% for the extent of the run.

For tails, I crank the valve all the way open and increase the heat to 2-2.5KW and get maybe 2L/hr.

Hope this helps!

[Bob421]

Still haven't gotten that ventilation controller but I have my doubts that it will work. It is meant to run large elected motors/fans. So I have ordered some parts to make a pintoshine conroller. I know I will want more control than just the 120 240 options. And I can just use the one element. So it's propane for just a little longer.