4" glass bubble plate column

[Swedish Pride]

Here's a drawing of how I might make a reflux condenser that fits inside the top of the glass column.
I saw someone else making a similar RC but forgot who it was and can't find their original post.
Figured it would be fun to watch the condenser sweat and drip
Hope the drawing makes sense

Just a normal delf that is in the column?
I know Bushman have one of those, OD did a few as well if I recall correctly.

or you could test your skills and do something like Sungy http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=31853
No way i'd pull that off but love the look and the originality of it.

[LWTCS]

OD did the drop in style on the second iteration of the Magic Flute no? Not sure who else?
Was it Mash rookie and Bushman?

[Bushman]

Yes mine drops in from the top. To get it to fit I cut the 4" diameter pipe for the dephlagmater length wise to make it slightly smaller than 4" then soldered it shut. I have five 3/4"pipes for vapor but also some vapor can rise between the column and the dephlagmater. Mash Rookie also came through the top but rather than a shot gun style he had wound tubing. Here is my link.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 50&t=28241

[shadylane]

Thanks for the ideas
I'm headed to the shop to smash my thumb and burn my fingers some more

[shadylane]

nothing says it has to be a case and tube, a graham or some other condenser may lead itself way better to this application

I suspect you might be right, here's the latest brain storm.
It ain't pretty but it was easy to build.
I haven't a clue how well it will work

[pfshine]

That puppy will knock anything you throw at it down.

[bentstick]

What size is the elbows and union for the Vaporpath to the Pc?

[shadylane]

The unions and pipe to the PC is 1" The PC is a 1/2" X 3 shotgun.
The gram reflux condenser works better than the tube and shell I was using
The throttle response is much better.

[shadylane]

I made the trap on the 1/2" downcomer a little deeper and this plate works now.
It didn't take much, I added a short piece of tubing into the downcomer.
This is becoming a real learning experience
Tomorrow I'll try the same plate with a 3/4" downcomer and the same trap depth

[acfixer69]

I tried that and found that it percolated rather than traped the vapors. My first guess at the problem is that the vapor pressure below the plate is dew to diameter of opening under cap minus downcomer diameter taking space. Carry on. I am in this deep with my shit too. Food for though Shady.

AC

Slowing it down will help and maybe fix but you won't know if it is the best it can be. You are IMO pushing the take off way to hard.

[shadylane]

I figure your right, I am "pushing the take off way to hard"
But once I find that limit, I'll have a reference point.

[acfixer69]

I'm sure you know but most 4" rigs run bout 1 liter/15 mins average less you sellin um. Start there and the still will find itself for you.

AC

[acfixer69]

I'm sure you know but most 4" rigs run bout 1 liter/15 mins average less you sellin um. The rigs I mean if ya sellin the rig you can claim all hell. Start there and the still will find itself for you.

AC

[shadylane]

Here's another experiment I'll try.
I'll cut one of the plates apart and make the plate liquid depth shallower.

[LWTCS]

2 to 5 liters per hour is a good range for a beer charge. 3 liters per hour seems to be a sweet spot for some. Should be able to dial in and make it stop when tails approach at the 3 liters per hour or less range.

Can run a bit harder with a low wines charge.
Pro in Missouri says he runs 7 liters per hour on his low wines charge. But I seen a video where he runs his plates in a flooded condition. Never tasted his product.

[acfixer69]

Here's another experiment I'll try.
I'll cut one of the plates apart and make the plate liquid depth shallower.

With th upcomer lower than the plate depth I found the plate weeping back to the plate below causeing smearing and vapor condensing in the cap and returning to the lower plate. I found this when raising the height of the downcomer. Saying this for you to have something to look at when running yours. I had a good solid column with a few steady consistant runs to compare the results. Not lab proven so this is just one old mans opinion. Great thinking.

AC

[shadylane]

With th upcomer lower than the plate depth I found the plate weeping back to the plate below causeing smearing and vapor condensing in the cap and returning to the lower plate.

Hadn't thought about that. Thanks for the words of wisdom

[shadylane]

I'm slowly learning how to drive the glass column.
The more I play with it and made mods, the smaller the reflux condenser gets.
I've been redistilling the same batch of feints. Run a gallon and pour it back into the boiler.
Change something and do it again.
I appreciate the suggestions and words of wisdom on how to drive a plated column
The damn thing has had enough practice now, that it will almost drive itself.
I've also been running the stripper still. One more strip and I'll have enough to make some real whiskey.

[shadylane]

I'm beginning to learn, faster, harder, deeper and more reflux isn't the best way to drive.
Slow and easy is beginning to look like the best way.
I've also changed the bubble cap plates, so they are shallower.

[acfixer69]

The one on the right looks damn nice. Slow to start with cap trays and up the speed as you learn the still and what the caps will do, If you would, I would like to know the daimeter of the hole under the cap, I will be back at the building, finishing a stalled project. Modular is a never ending build.

AC

[shadylane]

It's 1-1/2" ID
There wasn't any science, the size was based on my junk pile availability.
And it being thick enough to TIG weld.

[acfixer69]

Thanks. I dont use s calculator much anymore. Your will give me something to compare mine to, Mine is smaller but I dont have the downcomer in it.

AC

[shadylane]

It's fun to watch the plates begin to work.
First the reflux condenser starts to sweat and drip on the plate below.
When enough liquid builds up on the top plate, it goes to boiling and sizzling.
Then the top plate fills up, the reflux drains down to the next plate and the cycle starts again.
Watching your baby come alive, one plate at a time, is great

Posting with acfixer69

[shadylane]

I'm still experimenting and learning.
Once I figure out what I'm doing.
I'll try to give an accurate opinion.
And some hair-brained ideas
Any info, links or thought's are welcome.

[bitter]

Looking good watching this for when I build my flute!

So many posts on plate, single, Bubble vs perf plates... still all confusing to me!

B

[shadylane]

Sorry for the confusion.
I'm like a kid in a candy store.
I finally have the ability to see my plate experiments.
And have made multiple and confusing posts.

[bitter]

Not you shady... Just trying to keep all the posts straight in my head from the flute thread and all the searches. I am liking this thread to have apples to apples comparison and results so I know what to do.... when the time comes.

B

[shadylane]

I am liking this thread to have apples to apples comparison and results so I know what to do.... when the time comes.

B

Then this is my opinion from limited experience.
Don't drive a plated column too hard or you will be making pot-still bubbles.
Drive it slow and easy to make good whiskey.

[acfixer69]

My play on this is .... When OD put his on and it was proven to work on our scale. Shortly after that the speed thing began and pissin contests were the way to rate a still. We don't need to go through the my way is better then his cause I get more blaaa blaaa. The plate I build may resemble yours and yours may look like mine but how we drive them is just as important. The mash is even more important than that once you make it that far. Cheers to Shady on his glassier and the stuff that will go through it. A 2" sight glass will give all the info any of us will need to run a 4" and I thing all else is just more fun.

AC

[shadylane]

Having a 360 degree view of what's happening, while experimenting and modifying the plates has been valuable.
A glass column, made with these parts, was also cheaper and easier to build than traditional construction.
That uses copper pipe, ferules, tri-clamps and soldered in, small sight glass.