"Splitted" spirit run?

[simeonruiz]

Hi everyone,

I joined the community a couple of weeks ago and I've read a lot (and I mean A LOT ) and there is something that keeps me thinking and I'm not so sure it is possible at all or maybe yes but have some involved problems or what.

So, one of my problems for this new hobbie is that due to work I've not much time available for it, and as I readed I think a spirit run of 20 liters of wash at 40% (let's assume a previous strip run) may take more than 15 hours... and for me that is definitely impossible. So after reading about the processes and figuring things out, I was wondering, would it be possible to split a run in several sessions?

Let me explain my point (all of this would be hypothetical since I didn't even decide which kind of still I'm going to build, but I'm aiming to something modular so I can make any configuraiton):
If first of all I run a strip run to get something around 40% ABV., maybe also in several batches. The thing is I end up with 20 Liters of 40% ABV product.

Then I put together my reflux column, I drop that product in the boiler and start the spirit run.
I collect and discard the foreshots, I get the heads and start getting the hearts.

Now, at this point several hours are gone, so is probably 2:00 AM in the night, and I'm not even close to finish the run.

So here is where my questioning starts; Since I've already removed the foreshots from the boiler, if I decide to continue next day, I won't have any problem since, as far as I can understand, they where removed first of all due to their lower boiling temperature. Then if I run the still in "full reflux mode" turning the reflux condenser at max cooling, to allow the liquid to stabilize the temperature, and then start collecting again, I guess, and I repeat I GUESS, it should be no problem at all, since I will be collecting the remaining ethanol left in the boiler without adding any new liquid to it.

So, am I totally wrong? is there any kind of "sanity" in what I just said? or is this directly not a hobby for me if I can't get a whole day off from time to time for it?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers!

[greggn]

> and as I readed I think a spirit run of 20 liters of wash at 40% (let's assume a previous strip run) may take more than 15 hours

No way. Six (6) hours, maybe, and that's by my personal "low and slow" process.

[simeonruiz]

Ok, then for me is much better XDD actually a relief...

but just for the sake of curiosity, is what I said something remotely close to possible?

cheers!

[greggn]

> but just for the sake of curiosity, is what I said something remotely close to possible?

Yes, you can pull fores/heads, shut down, and then start up again and pull hearts.

[6 Row Joe]

Welcome. I can do a slow 3 gallon spirit run in about 3 1/2 hours, set up to clean up. You should be able to do a 5 gallon run in 5 hours I would think and like greggn said, you can shut it down and restart it later. I would let it cool down to 100° and cap the condenser tip so the alcohol in the wash doesn't evaporate.

[Yummyrum]

Even though you are already into hearts when you shut down , it would be wise to take a small initial cut of maybe 50-100ml after holding in full reflux before you continue . .... I have on the occassions I’ve had to split the run .

[NZChris]

I have no idea why removing a foreshot on a restart would be of any benefit to my heart cut so I've never done it.

[simeonruiz]

Woo, good so then I'm not as wrong as I suspected. What I didn't knew was I have to pull some heads every time, but actually makes kind of sense.

Anyway if as you tell, it doesn't take that long, then I might be able to get enough time at some points, but it it's great to know I'm not completely lost

Thx guys, you're awesome!!

Cheers!!

[NZChris]

Woo, good so then I'm not as wrong as I suspected. What I didn't knew was I have to pull some heads every time, but actually makes kind of sense.

I was saying that it doesn't make sense to me, so I don't do it.

[steelmb]

Welcome. I can do a slow 3 gallon spirit run in about 3 1/2 hours, set up to clean up. You should be able to do a 5 gallon run in 5 hours I would think and like greggn said, you can shut it down and restart it later. I would let it cool down to 100° and cap the condenser tip so the alcohol in the wash doesn't evaporate.

Without some kind of vacuum break I would be letting the still cool right down before capping it up tight.

[HDNB]

i split runs all the time. no big difference i can make out.

your expectation of time is off. if you have a 10% wash of 20L volume and your average take off rate for stripping is 4LPH, (slow on a 2") at 33% average (total 6 litres) your strip will take 1.5hours from the time it reaches operating temperature.

there is a handy calculator on the parent site that will give you very accurate warm up times, given volume and heat available. with a 5500w element, i'd bet you are boiling in less than 30 minutes, so about 2 hours total to strip a run.

a full spirit run would take a bit longer at 2-3 LPH output.