Single Tube Coldfinger(sort of) coolant flow

[googe]

I guess we've thrown this thread off track, as usual. Your original question was about coolant in top or bottom, the difference is very minimal on this level of still.

[skow69]

We have probably sold over 3000 of the Torpedo towers in the last 7 years and it’s what I have for my personal still and it seems to work for me. The few complaints we have had or people running a little too fast and the condenser will not keep up.

Simple fix cut a thin strip of copper mesh about 1” wide 2’ long work it in the ¾”condenser tube. It helps to get the vapor swirling and works.
This is a video of the Torpedo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL0rEx6-YuI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I think I should apologize for accusing you of not testing it. Sorry. That is an assumption I should not have made. Your video states 3 quarts per hour. Can't sneeze at that.

Maybe it's a matter of standards. My education comes mostly from this and similar forums, where I was taught that the reflux condenser should be sized to the input power so that it can knock down all vapor created. This is a safety issue for an open topped still, a VM or LM, but not so for a CM. So the torpedo has a range of operation where you have the coolant maxed out and control the reflux ratio by varying the heat, right? Sounds reasonable, I had just never thought of it like that. Maybe we should call it Power Management. Any thoughts?

[T-Pee]

Maybe we should call it Power Management. Any thoughts?

That would be a pot still and maybe a CM in unnatural circumstances.

tp

[Getsmokin]

We have probably sold over 3000 of the Torpedo towers in the last 7 years and it’s what I have for my personal still and it seems to work for me. The few complaints we have had or people running a little too fast and the condenser will not keep up.

Simple fix cut a thin strip of copper mesh about 1” wide 2’ long work it in the ¾”condenser tube. It helps to get the vapor swirling and works.
This is a video of the Torpedo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL0rEx6-YuI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

question: was this tower ever intended to go into full reflux? How do you feel about the recommended mods for cm's like yours on this forum?

[Getsmokin]

So this is my solution to add more cooling capacity. But Question, should one run the "coldfinger" as well as the add on coil?

[skow69]

I would forget the cold finger, unless you need it to supplement your new coil. But in that case I'd prolly make a bigger coil. You've got lots of unused space and making a continuous coil would get a lot more surface area per length if you need it.

[Getsmokin]

I would forget the cold finger, unless you need it to supplement your new coil. But in that case I'd prolly make a bigger coil. You've got lots of unused space and making a continuous coil would get a lot more surface area per length if you need it.

can't make a continuous coil with that silly coldfinger in the way. There's 60" of 1/2 corrugated tube in the way I have it.

[Hound Dog]

If 60 inches of 1/2" CSST isn't knocking down your vapor, you need to take your power bill into consideration.....

[skow69]

can't make a continuous coil with that silly coldfinger in the way. There's 60" of 1/2 corrugated tube in the way I have it.

LOL. So that's why you made that crazy curlyque kinda shape. Ya, 60" ougthta do it. Let us know how it goes.

[Getsmokin]

can't make a continuous coil with that silly coldfinger in the way. There's 60" of 1/2 corrugated tube in the way I have it.

LOL. So that's why you made that crazy curlyque kinda shape. Ya, 60" ougthta do it. Let us know how it goes.

It works great! More like what I was thinking a reflux condenser should do. I had plumbed the factory rc in with the added tubing, that didn't work very well. So I completely disconnected the factory tube and just run the corrugated tubing. Will knock down 4000 watts with almost no coolant flow!

[skow69]

Glad to hear it, man. That was a long road you had to travel. Your stainless curlyque still cracks me up.