Condenser

[tools]

In the collective experience,

Would a 50' coil of 3/8 od copper present too much internal resistance for a simple 15 gal sanke keg based rig?

The coils are merely stacked, no spacers, so not a lot of gradient, but will still have some. I'm repurposing a beer brewing immersion chiller. Want to keep it as intact as possible.

Tools

Edit: by the way, it's going in a 6 gal bucket with constant fresh cold water flow. I am cutting off one of the arms and exiting through the side of the bucket at the bottom, through a bulkhead fitting I made, using copper compression fittings. Just wondering if a piece that long will pressurize the whole rig too much, or at all?

[bellybuster]

I couldn't recommend a 3/8ths coil at all. Go 1/2".
The immersion chiller will come in handy when you end up going all grain.

[tools]

Why 1/2, surface area or free flow? I do have a length of 1/2 laying around, about 10' long. Is that enough? If not, how long would be considered good?

I'm using a plate chiller now for brewing, but want to keep the old immersion chiller around.

My primary still came along built, as part of a large home brew buyout. It's condenser is about 25', maybe less, of 3/8 stainless, but nicely spaced with very good gradient. Has pressure Gage's built into it and runs at a coupla psi max. Could easily split this immersion chiller in half and replicate that setup which gives great results, but just don't want to unless unsafe or something as is.

[S-Cackalacky]

You said it was 3/8" OD. If it were 3/8" ID, it might be passable, but that's considered the bear minimum. Most here would recommend 1/2" ID as the minimum. It's a matter of safety. A puke and the possibility of a few stray pieces of grain can cause a blockage with the possibility of a catastrophic outcome.

[bellybuster]

maybe consider a leibig condenser, easy and cheap to put together

[tools]

Ah... That's practical and makes sense. I'll just buy some more 1/2 copper and go that way. What's a good length? I'll research the liebeg too.

Thanks!

[Prospekt]

+1 on the liebig. Put it on a 45 degree elbow with a straight union and you get a still that breaks down easy and has a height-adjustable output.

[DAD300]

You have the spear from your keg...make a Leibig or Dimroth Product Condenser.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... r#p7149119

[Tokoroa_Shiner]

Seems like everyone has missed one very important piece of info.

A pot still should not need a pressure gauge. And should not be running at " a coupla psi" that there is proof that the worm is too small and causing to much resistance.

[rad14701]

1/2" is the absolute bare minimum for any vapor passage on a 15 gallon boiler... Anything smaller, 3/8", should only be considered if using an extremely smaller boiler, like 2 - 4 gallons... Get up to 5 gallons and you should be bumping up to 1/2"... It's all about vapor speed... Why bother trying to run a big boiler charge through a small piece of copper when knocking down that fast moving vapor is gonna be problematic...??? Makes about as much sense as running a moped carburetor and a big block Chevy engine...!!!