How would this work as a worm???

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LFT1023
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How would this work as a worm???

Post by LFT1023 »

The attached picture is of a device I'm considering using for a worm. It consists of roughly 25' of 3/8 copper coiled in two layers, it is enclosed in a leak proof piece of PVC pipe 4" in diameter and about 14" long. The PVC pipe has an inlet and a outlet to flood it with cool/cold/chilled water, the copper coil has an inlet and an outlet as well that is sealed from the cooling chamber. The idea would be to pump cold/ice water through the unit thus cooling the condensate in the worm. This device works well in it's intended application, thought it might work well in distilling. Obviously the picture shows a cut a way unit allowing you to see the inside.
What do you think
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NZChris
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by NZChris »

You would be pushing condensate uphill.
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by Prairiepiss »

Worms need to be all down hill. With no up hill runs. And ice water isn't a good answer either. If you have to use ice. You have designed it wrong. And it causes other problems.

With all that said. No it will not work for a worm.
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by acfixer69 »

deleted bad wording
Last edited by acfixer69 on Fri May 09, 2014 6:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by acfixer69 »

acfixer69 wrote:
NZChris wrote:You would be pushing condensate uphill.
Counterflow is what we want. If used vertical cold in at the bottom and hot out at the top. This has been done a few times before with good results. The heat difference causes a failure at the copper to PVC connection other wise its just a worm in a can :D

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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by Prairiepiss »

acfixer69 wrote:
acfixer69 wrote:
NZChris wrote:You would be pushing condensate uphill.
Counterflow is what we want. If used vertical cold in at the bottom and hot out at the top. This has been done a few times before with good results. The heat difference causes a failure at the copper to PVC connection other wise its just a worm in a can :D

AC
I think you are missing the point. The condenser coils are like a LM double helix condenser. It doesn't just go in one end and out the other. It goes in and out the same end. So the vapors would have to go down hill. Then some how come back up hill as liquid to come out. Which isn't going to work.
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by acfixer69 »

Prairiepiss wrote:
acfixer69 wrote:
acfixer69 wrote:
NZChris wrote:You would be pushing condensate uphill.
Counterflow is what we want. If used vertical cold in at the bottom and hot out at the top. This has been done a few times before with good results. The heat difference causes a failure at the copper to PVC connection other wise its just a worm in a can :D

AC
I think you are missing the point. The condenser coils are like a LM double helix condenser. It doesn't just go in one end and out the other. It goes in and out the same end. So the vapors would have to go down hill. Then some how come back up hill as liquid to come out. Which isn't going to work.
You are right Mr P looked at it and saw what i wanted it to be. Sorry for the bad info to the OP and still a nice coil wind :wink:

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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by Prairiepiss »

I thoughts that mite be the case AC. LOL

Now if you were building a LM or VM. I would cut the coil out of it and use it for that. That would make a nice reflux condenser coil.
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by LFT1023 »

Yes, I can remove the coil and separate the two layers so the condensate only goes downhill. It's basically a pre-chiller for incoming water. The housing is designed to be mounted vertically and the flood water does in one end and out the other. I guess I was curious if the vapor would push the condensate out the coil. I'm trying to learn as well as use items I have on hand.
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by NZChris »

You could put it in a bucket of cold water and use it as a heat exchanger for your Liebig coolant.
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by Windy City »

How about pulling it out of the PVC and sticking it into some 4 " copper as a reflux condenser. :thumbup:

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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by Hound Dog »

Why not just build a liebig?
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by LFT1023 »

Actually I'm now thinking about putting it in a reflux, it has such a nice tight coil of 3/8 copper. I plan on removing it from the PVC and measuring the inner coil.
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Re: How would this work as a worm???

Post by shadylane »

LFT1023 wrote:Actually I'm now thinking about putting it in a reflux, it has such a nice tight coil of 3/8 copper. I plan on removing it from the PVC and measuring the inner coil.
Nice Job winding the copper coil.
I'm confused about what you want to do with it.
Since you stated that you want to use it as a worm, I'll assume it was meant for use as a product condenser.
As already pointed out that's not practical.

Goggle Dimroth condenser
It's not a common term used here, but the concept is.
If you have a big enough copper tube to contain the coil it will work very well as a product condenser.

Edited:
Windy already suggested that.
And HD has a good point.
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