2" VM and SPP

[thepatchworkdoll]

Hi Guys
Any of you guys running a 2" VM with SPP. Just wondering what the maximum take off speeds and running temperatures are say on a 25 litre 40% low wines run. Any info greatly appreciated.
Regards
Patch

[Mud Mechanik]

What is spp?

[rad14701]

What is spp?

Spiral Prismatic Packing... Also known as Structured Prismatic Packing... There are several topics here on HD about the stuff... It's little wire coils that can be purchased or made in DIY fashion if you have the skills and desire...

[lampshade]

You can purchase it from iStill: istill.eu/#!product/prd2/737750201/spiral-prismatic-packing-(spp)%3A-1-litre

[Odin]

Optimal: 2 kw.

Odin.

[thepatchworkdoll]

Hi Odin
Thanks again. Can't really run it over 1500 watts. It starts flooding quite badly. Is this normal for a 2" VM 1400 mm SPP.
Regards
Patch

[Odin]

No, that's not normal. Then again, neither is 1400 mls of packing. But I think the problem may lay elsewhere. Not sure, just inviting you to investigate and see if it helps. You run quite high abv. Maybe, together with the relative high amount of packing, you encounter a clogged column. Not in the traditional sense of to much water refluxing and choking the column, but of too much pure alcohol in a relatively low part of the column, preventing gasses rising from the boiler to adequately enter the column. "Pure ethanol hold-up". I experienced it once in my iStill, when I miscalculated and ran a 50% wash. So ... my advice to you would be ... to lower the abv of what you are running to around 30% and then try again.

Regards, Odin.

[thepatchworkdoll]

Hi Odin
Thanks again for all your comments. I see you say 1400mm SPP is not normal. What length do you recommend in a 2" column. Originally had a 1500mm copper packed column and didn't want to cut it down. So 1400mm SPP and 100mm copper packing. Got 3 litres of your SPP. Any further info greatly appreciated.
Regards
Patch

[Odin]

I'd go for 120 centimeters to start with. But only if lowering the abv of your boiler content does not work. And, just to pre-empt it not working, a next step could be refilling the column with 120 centimeters of packing. And making sure you just poor it in and only tap the column once or twice when filling is done.

Regards, Odin.

[F6Hawk]

You can purchase it from iStill: http://www.istill.eu/#!product/prd2/737 ... 3A-1-litre

Am I reading that correctly, Odin? 0.24mm, or 0.010"? Seems kinda delicate for SPP. I would have expected more like 0.81mm.

[thepatchworkdoll]

Hi Odin
Thanks again. Will try a few things. Keep you posted.
Regards
Patch

[Stump]

What a nice forum this is I have built me a 3" all stainless VM and i am concerned about the risk of flooding due to the 1.3m of packing. I have a 50l 2000w boiler and are currently using SS scrubbers so flooding is not an issue yet, but i ordered 5l of Odin's SPP packing today, and i understand they are improving on the SPP as we speak, better gasflow, HETP, etc.. So i have to wait about a month before i can testrun SPP. In the meantime i can modify my rig if necessary.

I have the opportunity to install another 2000w element with dimmer, and both my column and boiler are well insulated. My reflux cooler can cope with 5000w (so i think ) My current setup gives me 1 liter 94-95% an hour.. Pretty clean but do need carbon filtering for neutral taste.

So here's my questions;

Is my column to long for spp? Too wide? Do i run more power?

[lampshade]

I have the opportunity to install another 2000w element with dimmer, and both my column and boiler are well insulated. My reflux cooler can cope with 5000w (so i think )

Do i run more power?

This question is mainly for my benefit, to address my ignorance: Will all of that power create off-flavors that may result from scorching the particulate matter in the boiler wash?

In my case, I used to run a T500 without power control (2000 watts). I got a terrible burnt-yeast smell and off-flaovor.

[Odin]

Stump, on a 3 incher, I'd use a bit more than 2 kw. Maybe try 3 kw.

Regards, Odin.

[Stump]

Allrighty.. 3kw it is! By the way i make large cuts, 20-60-20, i also let my column stabilize for 2 hours before bleeding fores.. I like it neutral.. Thanks!

About burning the wash. I think if the wash isnt clear, leftover yeast, dead yeast, unfermented sugar, etc.. You could definetely get offtaste in your product during long runs. I strip my wash as fast as i can, making my VM into a potstill by plugging the top. (Removing refluxcooler) And i do have a good quality wash to start with. I dillute to 30% and do the "spirit" run

[Odin]

I think doing a strip run first will give you less off-tastes. Stumpy. If you add an extra 2 kw with dimmer, you can experiment. My guess is a bit over 3 kw would be good as well.

Regards, Odin.

[Stump]

Yes, i always strip and run slow. That have given me the best results.
I think i can find the "sweetspot" with the additional 2kw dimmer. My fuse can handle 3680w (16 amp)
I feel the scrubbers i use for packing are holding back the quality a bit. The still is cleaned after every run.

Cant wait to try out your new spp, Odin!

Many thanks

[Odin]

You are welcome! Since we are currently re-developing our SPP (for even better performance), delivery will take some more time. More than usual.

Regards, Odin.

[kerberos]

Since we are currently re-developing our SPP (for even better performance), delivery will take some more time. More than usual.

Regards, Odin.

Hi Odin, re-developing how if i may ask? What difference in performance are we talking about? If i place an order on your site would i receive the new SPP when it was ready or the existing SPP Odin? (I am looking to place an order in approx 2 weeks). Final question/s is; will i still need the same amount for a 1 meter column or will the amount required change and what will the cost be?

thank you

Kerberos

[Odin]

We are automating and computarizing the manufacturing process. This allows us to make springs that are exactly the same size over and over again. The ideal size that is. Next thing is that our new manufacturing machines will create less "wastage". With that I mean small parts/particles from the cutting process that enter the SPP.

Our current SPP is the state of the art packing with a tested HETP of 2.6 centimeters. Nothing out there beats it. But we felt we could improve it, so that's what we are doing. Prestation improvements? More open space, lower HETP still.

We pretty much stopped delivering our "old" SPP, so any order will be awaiting the introduction of our new SPP. But it may still take some time, because we are not yet operational with our new SPP.

Price will be the same and I'd still advice one meter to 120 centimeters of packing.

Regards, Odin.

[kerberos]

Thank you Odin.