pressure explosion

[desahih]

hello guys,
i have a glass still with a vigreux column(i know it is not recommended but i bought it before knowing it),i decided to redistill 1 litres of my 40% vodka back to 90% so i can make some cinnamon schnapps liqueur.
here's what happened i started distilling and figured out i was going a bit too fast, so i opened the 2nd neck in my 5l boiling flask and added the cold 90% distillate to the hot 30%is alocohol.A kind of reaction happened and i disregarded it,i closed it and went away.10 mins later i heard an explosion,it was the thermometer adapter and the boiling flask cover that went flying due to (maybe)pressure.
any ideas?

[Rain Distillate]

First things first, never leave a running still unattended, even briefly! It only takes one second first something to happen when you're not right there watching it. Dangerous hobby, use caution.
Rain Distillate

[Truckinbutch]

Use what this site approves for vessels and follow the safety protocols prescribed here for distilling .
NO BRAINER

[Rain Distillate]

Use what this site approves for vessels and follow the safety protocols prescribed here for distilling .
NO BRAINER

[desahih]

take it easy guys on me, i was asking if someone had an idea about hot alcohol and cold alcohol mixing together ,i never had any problems before with my all glass still.thank you for your replies anyway.

[still_stirrin]

take it easy guys on me, i was asking if someone had an idea about hot alcohol and cold alcohol mixing together ,i never had any problems before with my all glass still.thank you for your replies anyway.

The cold alcohol (addition) had waaaaaay more volatiles in it than the already heated alcohol. The volatiles have a lower boiling point and when heated rapidly (when mixed), the volatiles boiled catastrophically.

Now, this site promotes safety....and that includes the use of proper (and accepted) materials. If you choose to disregard the rules, then you'd better be prepared for the admonishment. What I'm saying, is DON'T bring unapproved materials here. If the site responds to you, then later along comes another newbie and he gets hurt, or killed, then the site is at risk. Point is, this site is viewed by many, many more hobbiests than just you. Your problem may be yours...but the site has responsibility to all.

Be safe. Be responsible. And be discrete.
ss

[rad14701]

desahih, you know you screwed up so now would be a good time to get up to speed with doing some research here in the forums and on the parent site before proceeding further... What you don't know can kill you, so your scare should confirm that you need to slow down and learn more about the theories and fundamentals of this hobby... Basic physics should have kicked in that pouring cold liquid into boiling liquid was going to cause problems... The cold liquid is going to expand uncontrollably and, in your case, created a pressure and shock failure of your labware which is inferior for the task in the manner you subjected it to... We take safety very seriously here and you should too... Start by planning your next still so you can be both safe and successful but only after you've done ample reseach here... You got lucky - this time...!!!

[desahih]

yeah you are right both of you guys,i'm currently working on a reflux copper still and yes i am lucky it went easy that way,live and learn.thank you.

[Brutal]

The boiling point of your 90% is fat lower than that of the larger amount of 30% you poured it into. There was enough thermal energy present to force a very rapid boiling of the alcohol. You are really lucky that the thermo port just popped out. Especially on a glass unit.. You need to go take a long hard look at the building you were working in. Think of all you would have lost if that glass broke first. Think what would have happened if that glass broke and you had a loved family member standing next to you.

Listen I am not usually the one pointing at the rulebook here but this is a textbook example of a very dangerous situation that could have been avoided. Ditch the glass. Get a keg. Read read read and never stop learning.

Happy stillin' and stay safe friend.

[StillerBoy]

Think of all you would have lost if that glass broke first. Think what would have happened if that glass broke and you had a loved family member standing next to you.

+1.. that where we miss bringing in focus during our learning curve, the property and love ones..

Mars

[UrToopid]

What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger; two wrongs sometimes makes a right.. (cold to hot addition + leaving the room); Thank the Lord you got to post this after the fact (yer still kickin); Maybe someone else was just about to do the same thing and learned from this beforehand...; I'd like to hear how that copper rig turns out for you when it's ready.