Water pressure in cooling lines

[Kegg_jam]

I have a 33" Liebig 3/4" over 1/2" with 1/2" inlet and outlet for cooling and a 8" x 1/4" reflux coil. Running on city water from my basement sink thru garden hose to another inline 1/2" valve then to Liebig into RC and out to waste.

So, I'm having a hard time getting the water flow slowed down enough so that the temp exiting the RC is "just right". I'd like it in the 120-130 deg range but it is either coming out too cold wasting water or too hot.

Just barley have the sink valve cracked open and the inline valve is very touchy.

The reflux design is a ccvm.

Would a pressure reducer help or possibly a needle valve? Just looking to get some control over cooling temps without wasting water through a bypass or something.

[Bushman]

I've used an adjustable garden spray nozzle to adjust the flow as well. If you do make sure it has the threads on the end to tie into your inlet lines. Similar to the image below.

[Kegg_jam]

That's brilliant bushman.

Now that you mention it, i may have seen that idea somewhere before (probly you). but for some reason i couldn't find the right search criteria for hd google search. some days i think im google-lexic.

was previously recirculating water before with a fountain pump. works fine for just the liebig (pot stillin'). thought perhaps there would be too much back pressure on the pump with the RC hooked up. my city water is so dang cold now, i guess it don't take much to get the job done.

Thanks

[Prairiepiss]

I like needle valves. They give you more precise adjustments.

And I don't know about you guys. But every one of those sprayer nozzles I buy. Leak and break easily. I wouldn't trust one for my still cooling.

[ShineRunnah]

+1 on the needle valve.

Most pond pumps are magnetic drive and don't mind backpressure.

[Kegg_jam]

Well there goes the needle valve I got with the intention of making a boka head.

The hardware stores are getting used to me standing in the plumbing and fittings isle with a confused dumb look staring aimlessly at all the pretty brass adapters. And then getting a deer caught in the headlights look when someone asks what I'm hooking up.

[cob]

Well there goes the needle valve I got with the intention of making a boka head.

The hardware stores are getting used to me standing in the plumbing and fittings isle with a confused dumb look staring aimlessly at all the pretty brass adapters. And then getting a deer caught in the headlights look when someone asks what I'm hooking up.

replacing the 1/2" valve with something more accurate or smaller may work. what kind of valve is the 1/2"?

you can make a flow reducer by drilling a small hole in a disk the size if your hose washer.

needle valves in parallel gives a lot of control.

[Kegg_jam]

Something like this. I had left over from a furnace install. Not exactly precision but gets some adjustment closer to the still

[Truckinbutch]

I've got a ball valve on the inlet of my condenser . Like you said , it is very sensitive . I just carefully play with it to get what I need . Settings are never the same from run to run . Differences in charges and ambient temperature . Strip or spirit run . All of this makes a difference .

[Kegg_jam]

Hooked up a 1/4" needle valve in front of the Liebig. Worked much better but still could only crack it open just a little. Might try going back to recirculating and plumb in a bypass.

[bship]

KG. some fish pumps submersible or dry ones have flow adjusters, maybe that with the needle valve would do it. or like cob said add another valve. good luck.

[goinbroke2]

Guys your over thinking it. Go to a hardware store and get a threaded garden hose regulator. I bought two at Canadian tire for like $5.00 if that. They're black plastic with red handles, I'll see if I can post a picture of mine.

http://s23.photobucket.com/user/goinbro ... rt=3&o=182" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[goinbroke2]

wtf??? it keeps showing the wrong picture? No matter which picture I take the link from it shows a picture of the output instead of the complete bucket and regulators.

Is it just me? Are you guys seeing a bucket and two regulators or a close up of output tube?

Edit..another question, is it showing just one picture or can you scroll through all the pictures in the albums???

[Kegg_jam]

I looked for one at lowes and even asked a salesman. He looked at me like I had a third eye.

I hate that place.

Figure I'll get one eventually.

[rad14701]

Fucking external image hosting site malware bullshit...!!! Just upload a picture directly...!!! No excuses...!!!

Time for yet another round of scans on my own laptop... And people wonder why I bitch about those fucking hosting sites all the time... I even watched that shit get snuck on my laptop using software not available to the public... Grrr...!!! Seems I've proven my point yet again... And NEVER again...

[goinbroke2]

I agree Rad, for the longest time I couldn't log in to photobucket, I could only look at my public albums. I frigged with a bunch of stuff and added malware killer, etc, etc and now I can use the site but after clicking on it I hear "click, click, clickclickclick, click, click...obviously a whole bunch of more shit openeing/loading onto my computer! FUCK!!!

Anyway, here is what I was talking about, they're about $5.00 at Canadian Tire or Home depot or wherever.

Valve open


Valve half closed

[SenileToo]

I was looking at these PVC globe valves in 1/2" to control flow through my Liebig and reflux condensers separately. Do they do the job for you? I read elsewhere that their precision is not so hot so it's better to use them for shut off and PVC needle valves to control flow. Whadoyathink?