Thumper?

[Truckinbutch]

I just started cleaning runs on my thumper . Running a 15 gal pot with a very high domed cap (commercial cream separator) 2" out reduced to 1" to a 1/2" liebig . Dropped the 1" into another 15 gal keg through a 2x1"reducer with 2 tees . One fitting is for fill pipe and the other is for vapor out and routed to the liebig . Also put a 3/4" drain in the bottom . Water cleaning run gave me positive results . Vinegar and then alc scheduled for tomorrow . Will keep y'all posted on how it works for me . Water cleaning run was 5 gal in boiler and 4 in thumper . Well proven rig without the thumper . Hope this was an improvement .

[corene1]

I just started cleaning runs on my thumper . Running a 15 gal pot with a very high domed cap (commercial cream separator) 2" out reduced to 1" to a 1/2" liebig . Dropped the 1" into another 15 gal keg through a 2x1"reducer with 2 tees . One fitting is for fill pipe and the other is for vapor out and routed to the liebig . Also put a 3/4" drain in the bottom . Water cleaning run gave me positive results . Vinegar and then alc scheduled for tomorrow . Will keep y'all posted on how it works for me . Water cleaning run was 5 gal in boiler and 4 in thumper . Well proven rig without the thumper . Hope this was an improvement .

Mine only added about 15 proof on comparable runs , but it really cleans up the taste of the product and seems to run a little steadier throughout the hearts while doing spirit runs. After the fores and heads come off it will only vary about 1 to 2 % completely through the hearts, and then taste and ABV will drop quickly into the tails.

[sltm1]

I'm going the traditional thumper route (switching from the line condenser and using a worm), and I was wondering how much longer percentage wise it takes to complete a run. Just a rough guesstamate is fine (6gal boiler/3gal thumper pot, 6gl bucket for the worm). Thanx

[sltm1]

OK, no answer, so here's an easier one. When running a condensing tube, what comes out is condensed vapor as a liquid. If this condensed vapor takes up "X" amount of space, why would you have to worry about your thumper overflowing (when it's 1/4 to 1/3rd the size of your boiler), when you're condensing the same amount of vapor minus approx 15% (that reverts to H20), which is what you'd expect your alcohol content to rise (120-135)? Seems the math doesn't work. ie; two liters of 120 proof minus 15% of the volume, seems like you'd only be adding 6-9 oz of liquid to your thumper....providing you're not puking at the same time

[Richard7]

sltm1, It is really hard to apply math in a real world situation like a thumper. So many things to consider. Ambient temp and insulation, ABV in the boiler and what is the ABV of the initial charge. The list could go on for days. I have not attempted to run a thumper yet, but I can see so many variables that can come into play.

This may not help answer your question but it may help you see that experience of people who are running thumpers is words of advice that should be given attention.
You may know a lot more about it than me, like I said I have never ran a thumper before, but I am putting trust in the folks that have given it a go before and always come back to say what will happen if you go too small. Not trying to slam ya, Just saying!

Richard7

[sltm1]

Richard7, I'm no pro, this will be my 1st experience with a thumper setup. In as much as I don't want to piss off SWMBO by ruining a carpet, I also want to fully understand the unit before I put it to use. I'm asking a simple math question based on one of the immutable laws of science, "you can't create something out of nothing". I believe puking to be the culpret, but that's why I'm asking before doing.

[corene1]

I'm going the traditional thumper route (switching from the line condenser and using a worm), and I was wondering how much longer percentage wise it takes to complete a run. Just a rough guesstamate is fine (6gal boiler/3gal thumper pot, 6gl bucket for the worm). Thanx

In my experience which is short in comparison to some others here. The actual run doesn't take any longer, the time is added by the heating of the thumper barrel. The wash in the boiler has to come up to operating temp then that has to heat the contents in the thumper up to operating temps . Then we have production as per normal run.

[corene1]

OK, no answer, so here's an easier one. When running a condensing tube, what comes out is condensed vapor as a liquid. If this condensed vapor takes up "X" amount of space, why would you have to worry about your thumper overflowing (when it's 1/4 to 1/3rd the size of your boiler), when you're condensing the same amount of vapor minus approx 15% (that reverts to H20), which is what you'd expect your alcohol content to rise (120-135)? Seems the math doesn't work. ie; two liters of 120 proof minus 15% of the volume, seems like you'd only be adding 6-9 oz of liquid to your thumper....providing you're not puking at the same time

As far as I can tell the volume in the thumper is increasing the most during heat up. Vapor from the original boiler is re condensing as fluid in the thumper, until the thumper reaches operating temp the volume is always increasing. When the thumper is up to temp and running then it equalizes a bit and your math can take over. I run a 8 1/2 gallon pot and a 2 1/2 gallon thumper and have not had a problem. I start my still run with about 6 1/2 gallons wash in the boiler, and tails cut down to 10% in the thumper. I only put enough liquid in the thumper to cover the inlet pipe by about an inch which is about 20% capacity of the thumper. After the run the volume is about 50% so in my experience so far The volume increases about 3/4 of a gallon in my particular setup. I am guessing you can figure it out mathematically with these numbers for your particular set up.

[Truckinbutch]

I'd been doing strip runs after I got my new thumper in operation . 12 gallon boiler charge , 3 gal thumper charge running sweet feed wash with a propane burner . I'm picking up a gallon or less in the thumper over initial charge . Running down to 20% on each run . Have hit some problems that I will present on another thread .

[corene1]

I'd been doing strip runs after I got my new thumper in operation . 12 gallon boiler charge , 3 gal thumper charge running sweet feed wash with a propane burner . I'm picking up a gallon or less in the thumper over initial charge . Running down to 20% on each run . Have hit some problems that I will present on another thread .

That looks pretty much the same as mine, percentage wise. Funny thing though, I did a run today and with all this talk on thumpers and volume I was constantly tapping on the thumper trying to sound out where the fluid was. It never got over 70% full and that was just before product started coming out of the condenser.

[sltm1]

I have a stainless steel 3 gal pot to use for my 5 gal boiler. The problem is getting a seal. It's thin steel with flared rim's and I'm thinking of making a wooden backing for the lid which will be a snug fit on the inside of the pot, both for strength and as a way create a seal by wrapping the outer edge with ptfe tape. Naturally I'll have clamps on the outside also. I'll connect it with rivet's (no glue), but all I have handy is some pine tongue and groove wainscoating. Any problem with pine? I'd prefer oak, but pine's what I've got.

[Truckinbutch]

I have a stainless steel 3 gal pot to use for my 5 gal boiler. The problem is getting a seal. It's thin steel with flared rim's and I'm thinking of making a wooden backing for the lid which will be a snug fit on the inside of the pot, both for strength and as a way create a seal by wrapping the outer edge with ptfe tape. Naturally I'll have clamps on the outside also. I'll connect it with rivet's (no glue), but all I have handy is some pine tongue and groove wainscoating. Any problem with pine? I'd prefer oak, but pine's what I've got.

Do ya like to drink turpentine ?

[sltm1]

Tomorrow, I'll be finishing my thumper set up and getting ready for my cleaning & sacrificial runs. My question is, if the proof goes up, does the quantity go down.If so, figuring the proof to go up 15%, would I expect that much less product?

[aussie_redneck]

I have not lost any quantity since running my thumper on my pot. Makes a cool noise too..

[sltm1]

Final still modification, 6g boiler, 3g thumper. Gonna do the cleaning runs tomorrow and Friday....Happy, Happy, Happy !

[Truckinbutch]

Final still modification, 6g boiler, 3g thumper. Gonna do the cleaning runs tomorrow and Friday....Happy, Happy, Happy !

Think you are happy now ?......... Wait until that rascal starts makin it's music and you are trying to do the 'happy dance' to it

[sltm1]

I don't recall who I "stole" this thumper bubbler arm design from, but thanks. It works perfectly!!

[shadylane]

Final still modification, 6g boiler, 3g thumper. Gonna do the cleaning runs tomorrow and Friday....Happy, Happy, Happy !

Think you are happy now ?......... Wait until that rascal starts makin it's music and you are trying to do the 'happy dance' to it

Music, happy, dancing? That's not what I'm thinking when the thumper is first starting to come to temp.
More like, turn the heat down and run.

[Truckinbutch]

Final still modification, 6g boiler, 3g thumper. Gonna do the cleaning runs tomorrow and Friday....Happy, Happy, Happy !

Think you are happy now ?......... Wait until that rascal starts makin it's music and you are trying to do the 'happy dance' to it

Music, happy, dancing? That's not what I'm thinking when the thumper is first starting to come to temp.
More like, turn the heat down and run.

Oh ye , of little faith .............

[jarheadshiner]

Don't remember seeing anyone ask this. Does it make any difference if the thumper is lower than the boiler? Reason I ask is that I plan on putting a packed column section on mine and if I can set the thumper on the ground it will give me another 12 inches or more of column height. I heat with propane and the burner stand is at least a foot tall.

[shadylane]

Don't remember seeing anyone ask this. Does it make any difference if the thumper is lower than the boiler? Reason I ask is that I plan on putting a packed column section on mine and if I can set the thumper on the ground it will give me another 12 inches or more of column height. I heat with propane and the burner stand is at least a foot tall.

A thumper below the pot will work fine. Just be sure the thumper is big enough, since a downcomer isn't possible.
Just a thought. On a hybrid still were the column's being fed high proof vapor from a thumper, the column can be shortened.
I haven't tried this yet...Neutral steamer still... Charge the thumper/column with low wines and the pot with water.

[jarheadshiner]

Thanks shadlylane. I'm using 2 kegs of the same size so all should be good. I will be potstilling as well as running a packed 2" VM on the thumper. Wanted to get it down as low as I could so I could make the column for the VM as tall as I could.
I am pretty excited about plumbing this up. A lot of different stuff you can try with a pretty simple piece of gear.
I remember Prairiepiss had mentioned somewhere about wanting to try and charge the main boiler with water and the thumper with his ferment, grain and all. Then run his Fu man on the thumper. Not sure if he ever got around to it yet or not.

[Ferguson]

Anyone use a piece of pipe for a long narrow thumper?
I was thinking a length of 4" copper capped at both ends. Maybe 18 to 24 inches long?
At the top, connected by a 2" union, I'd have a coaxial design with a "T" like for a liebig condenser.
The union would allow for filling and cleaning.
Btw, i'm running a 5 gallon pot.

[jarheadshiner]

With that length of 4" copper I think I would use it to add a few plates

[Prairiepiss]

I think that 4" would cost more then its worth. And could be better utilized as a plated column.

[LWTCS]

There are a few "stretched" bubble ball builds out there how ever. Reports were positive.

[jarheadshiner]

There are a few "stretched" bubble ball builds out there how ever. Reports were positive.

You just gonna leave us hanging?

[LWTCS]

There are a few "stretched" bubble ball builds out there how ever. Reports were positive.

You just gonna leave us hanging?

Oh sorry.
Some members have built these "stretched" versions of bubble balls. They are essentially micro thumpers that have been stretched in order to allow for a larger fluid bed.

The larger fluid bed does a very good job of copping with what will become unneeded heat being discharged by the primary boiler when users mount a packed section above the bubble ball.

They have also bee used solely as "micro thumpers". With forced reflux they do a very respectable job of flattening out the typical ABV drop / curve associated with a more conventional thumper.

They are installed inline with a drain/ downcomer solution so that flooding becomes a non issue.

They do not handle the "slobber box" duties that a more traditional thumper is capable of.

[jarheadshiner]

There are a few "stretched" bubble ball builds out there how ever. Reports were positive.

You just gonna leave us hanging?

Oh sorry.
Some members have built these "stretched" versions of bubble balls. They are essentially micro thumpers that have been stretched in order to allow for a larger fluid bed.

The larger fluid bed does a very good job of copping with what will become unneeded heat being discharged by the primary boiler when users mount a packed section above the bubble ball.

They have also bee used solely as "micro thumpers". With forced reflux they do a very respectable job of flattening out the typical ABV drop / curve associated with a more conventional thumper.

They are installed inline with a drain/ downcomer solution so that flooding becomes a non issue.

They do not handle the "slobber box" duties that a more traditional thumper is capable of.

I gotcha now. Thanks for elaborating. Sounds like something you might build

[LWTCS]

Thanks.
They are varients based on the Humper Thumper.
We were not completely able to determine the optimal size of the liquid bed but did determine that when used in conjunction with a packed column the increased size of a single liquid bed can offer diminished returns under certain circumstances.