Keeping Condenser Water Cool on an Alembic Still

[Gator]

Hey Folks,

I completed an initial cleansing vinegar run yesterday in advance of my first sacrificial run next weekend. I already learned that an induction cooktop won't cut it and have already ordered a suitable propane burner based on researching your recommendations in the forum. The photo attached is my exact model - a 5 gallon copper alembic still. Biggest grievance yesterday was manually adding cold water practically every 8-15 minutes to keep the condensing unit's water from heating. Most of what I've read and seen so far has the condensing recipient equipped with a water inlet tube located at the bottom of the condensing recipient and an outlet tube at the top where the water exits. As you can see from the photo, I only have one inlet/outlet tube at the top of the condenser. Without drilling/soldering a new inlet tube on the bottom, what do you recommend I do to keep me from manually siphoning out the upper hot water while adding cool water every 15 minutes? With the propane setup I can't distill indoors, so that limits some water options. Perhaps it'd be worthwhile to simply connect some tubing to the existing outlet as a release and somehow rig a hose over the unit to keep things cool? Only problem is the outlet is about 3/4 inch below fill level so the water won't have much of an opportunity to cycle through. Most of what I've read throughout the forums (Newbie, Main threads, etc.) don't really get to this issue. Thanks for your help in advance!

[S-Cackalacky]

Just run your cooling water hose in at the top of the reservoir and extend the end of the hose to the bottom of the reservoir and use the top outlet to take off the warm water as you normally would.

[BoomTown]

Just run your cooling water hose in at the top of the reservoir and extend the end of the hose to the bottom of the reservoir and use the top outlet to take off the warm water as you normally would.

Wonder if that still came with a garden fountain pump? That would alow the use of the kitchen sink as a recycle resevoir which could be refreshed at will. I think that chilling pot would get pretty hot, pretty quick with a 5 gallon pot like that.

I do that with my worm, I have a large container with the pump in it, and push the water through the 15' of flexible tubing that my worm is inside of. That water gets pretty warm now and then, expecially during a spirit run, when I run slow.
Boom

[S-Cackalacky]

Just run your cooling water hose in at the top of the reservoir and extend the end of the hose to the bottom of the reservoir and use the top outlet to take off the warm water as you normally would.

Wonder if that still came with a garden fountain pump? That would alow the use of the kitchen sink as a recycle resevoir which could be refreshed at will. I think that chilling pot would get pretty hot, pretty quick with a 5 gallon pot like that.

I do that with my worm, I have a large container with the pump in it, and push the water through the 15' of flexible tubing that my worm is inside of. That water gets pretty warm now and then, expecially during a spirit run, when I run slow.
Boom

Yep and if he's running outside, he could just use a garden hose set to a very slow trickle with the end of the hose in the bottom of the reservoir. Shouldn't take much water flow to keep a good temp gradient from bottom to top.

[Gator]

Just run your cooling water hose in at the top of the reservoir and extend the end of the hose to the bottom of the reservoir and use the top outlet to take off the warm water as you normally would.

Thanks for confirming what I was thinking of. Wasn't originally sure if clamping a hose and letting that water cycle through my condenser with the one outlet hose would be sufficient, so I'm glad to hear it'll be satisfactory for the time being.