Keg Boiler Insulation

[Eire Whiskey]

I've been looking at all grain recipes. It seems I need more grain than what I will have on hand. I will have 10 pounds of peated barley, 15 pounds of 6 row barley, and 5 pounds of rye. Seems I need 10 more pounds of something. LOL
Maybe I should stick to corn. I can get 50 pounds for 8 bucks from the feed store. Sweet feed is about the same price. I haven't read up on sweet feed yet. I like the barley recipes but the sellers like the barley much more at nearly a dollar a pound if you buy 50 pounds, and then there is shipping.

[Twisted Brick]

You read it right, ER. In large commercial shell and tube condensers, the OD of the tubes provides more vapor contact area than the ID and are thus more efficient than the other way around. We don't have that problem on our scale.

Here's another example of the baffles inside shell and tube units (a friend owns a firm that builds/repairs industrial heat exchangers).
.

[Eire Whiskey]

The pics I saw of the distilleries using the shotgun also had them hanging straight down, makes more sense now since it's vapor coming in contact with the cooling tubes.
I am familiar with exchangers having been an HVAC Super/tech.
I just received an order from Brewhaus for my grains, they sent the barley, they did not put the rye and gypsum in the box. They are supposed to call me back in a few. Kind of annoying.

[Twisted Brick]

I know what you mean. Until you get your AG chops down on your rig, you might want to 'train' on corn and wheat, both of which can be purchased from the feed store.

[Eire Whiskey]

I know what you mean. Until you get your AG chops down on your rig, you might want to 'train' on corn and wheat, both of which can be purchased from the feed store.

They don't have wheat at our feed store just corn and sweet feed. I figured I would do corn to get the hang of things before using the more expensive grains and wasting them because I screwed up. Still waiting for the call from Brewhaus.
They are sending the missed items out today.
I looked in my war supplies and I had 5 pounds of red wheat in them. It's in with my other grains now. LOL

I called another feed store I used to use and all they have is corn and rye. Rye is 38 bucks for 50 pounds.

I received the peated barley. The odor is strong thru two plastic bags.

[cob]

some folks using gas opt for a shroud to utilize that escaping heat, instead of insulating.

That might cause problems. If you try this, make sure you have easy access to the boiler to scrape off the mess.viewtopic.php?f=88&t=57668#p7346290

further down in that thread is this link, viewtopic.php?f=88&t=57668#p7346385

in that thread is this post, viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19790&start=0#p7250735

before you condemn shrouds both these threads would deserve a thorough read.

edit; never had any scorch with a shroud, just sayin.

[Eire Whiskey]

Just found the thread on having holes in the bottom rim. I suppose I will walk out to the shop and check the bottom of my rim. I sure don't need any accidents. It did however remind me I need to invest in a fire extinguisher.
The keg did have four holes drilled in the bottom edge, I drilled four more.

[Eire Whiskey]

I received the supposed 400GPH pump yesterday. I hooked it up, it does pump. It sure doesn't appear it could pump 400GPH. I took a cooler I had and drilled a couple holes for the water lines to go thru. It pumps. I do need to replace the water lines with something more rigid. I found some 1/2" vinyl line in the shop and figured I'd use it. It works, but kinks easily. I also have not removed the insulation from the condenser yet. No hurry I'm not cooking anything yet.
Here are a couple pics. Supply at the bottom, return at the top.

[Swedish Pride]

Id connect a pipe to the end of the condenser to s point a few feet away from your current collection point.
It would be very easy to kick a jar over.
That would be a bad day indeed

[Eire Whiskey]

Id connect a pipe to the end of the condenser to s point a few feet away from your current collection point.
It would be very easy to kick a jar over.
That would be a bad day indeed

For sure! Don't want to kick jars around, spilling the contents.

[The Baker]

I have always used a shroud (right to the top) with my current small (20 litre) pot still.
I have never had a problem with the shroud extending above the liquid level, in fact I would have it no other way.
Of course I have no grain in the boiler and no rubbish that could burn onto the inside of the boiler....

Geoff

[JDweeler]

Take a look at aluminum bubble wrap insulation. We use it on wine tanks. Think you can get it for hot water heater insulation. Or they make stick on heat control mat for car floor boards. That’s what I will be using

[SaltyStaves]

Take a look at aluminum bubble wrap insulation. We use it on wine tanks. Think you can get it for hot water heater insulation. Or they make stick on heat control mat for car floor boards. That’s what I will be using

Still boilers are definitely not water cylinders or fermenters. They get much much hotter.
Wouldn't recommend investing too much in anything that uses adhesive. It won't stand up to the task. You'll be sniffing glue before you're sniffing jars.

I use a Polyolefin insulation material that is rated for high temperatures and doesn't give off odour.

[JDweeler]

Exhaust wrap.

[cob]

it comes to mind that every insulation mentioned here is flammable and off gasses toxic fumes if burned

the exception being unpainted metal. fiberglass and rock wool have binders that could off gas when burned.

obviously no fire is the ultimate goal, however fire without toxic fumes is less dangerous than one with

toxic fumes, if only marginally.

edit; and then JDweeler comes up with exhaust wrap while i'm posting

[JDweeler]

Exhaust wrap only stinks the first hour you run it. And the same with the stick on heat shields..... I know this because in my last crawler the headers from my 5.3 where about 6 inches from my knee. They do make a fire blanket that is black. Can check the name when I go back to work I use it when brazing 4” copper 2” from the wall.

But really if you are using an open flame on the bottom you would only need to wrap the top portion of the still where less heat is directed. Could be wrong but that’s my 2 cents.

I’ll let you know. I should have my beer keg finished by next weekend and will be messing around with these things.

[JDweeler]

I received the supposed 400GPH pump yesterday. I hooked it up, it does pump. It sure doesn't appear it could pump 400GPH. I took a cooler I had and drilled a couple holes for the water lines to go thru. It pumps. I do need to replace the water lines with something more rigid. I found some 1/2" vinyl line in the shop and figured I'd use it. It works, but kinks easily. I also have not removed the insulation from the condenser yet. No hurry I'm not cooking anything yet.
Here are a couple pics. Supply at the bottom, return at the top.
20191019_102927.jpg20191019_102938.jpg

That 400gph pump might not have the head pressure you need. Check the label. It might be 400gph at 1 ft, 200gph at 2ft and at 4ft 0. Try raising your ice chest up a foot or two. See if it help. Also go with a thicker wall hose so it doesn’t kink as easy.

[NZChris]

Also go with a thicker wall hose so it doesn’t kink as easy.

There's a gazillion pictures of Liebigs on the internet showing the hose tails at right angles to the jacket, but it's usually the wrong thing to do. Point hose tails down so that the hoses don't kink when they have some weight in them.

If you find that your current Liebig isn't knocking all the vapor down, you can extend it by adding on another one at least the same size. Attach it using a bend of at least 45 degrees so that you can swing it to adjust the outlet height.

[Eire Whiskey]

I received the supposed 400GPH pump yesterday. I hooked it up, it does pump. It sure doesn't appear it could pump 400GPH. I took a cooler I had and drilled a couple holes for the water lines to go thru. It pumps. I do need to replace the water lines with something more rigid. I found some 1/2" vinyl line in the shop and figured I'd use it. It works, but kinks easily. I also have not removed the insulation from the condenser yet. No hurry I'm not cooking anything yet.
Here are a couple pics. Supply at the bottom, return at the top.
20191019_102927.jpg20191019_102938.jpg

That 400gph pump might not have the head pressure you need. Check the label. It might be 400gph at 1 ft, 200gph at 2ft and at 4ft 0. Try raising your ice chest up a foot or two. See if it help. Also go with a thicker wall hose so it doesn’t kink as easy.

I'll check pump data when I get home from riding in a few hours. Thanks. Good idea raising the cooler. I won't have to bend over to get my drink.

[Eire Whiskey]

Also go with a thicker wall hose so it doesn’t kink as easy.

There's a gazillion pictures of Liebigs on the internet showing the hose tails at right angles to the jacket, but it's usually the wrong thing to do. Point hose tails down so that the hoses don't kink when they have some weight in them.

If you find that your current Liebig isn't knocking all the vapor down, you can extend it by adding on another one at least the same size. Attach it using a bend of at least 45 degrees so that you can swing it to adjust the outlet height.

Yes, I did not point my hose tails totally horizontal, they are at about the 4 o'clock position. The reason I did it though was to take any strain the hoses might have put on the liebigs.
As for modifying this still, I'm not going to bother. I am already working on a better still, larger column and shotgun condenser. I will play with the one I have till the other is built.

[Eire Whiskey]

When I was at Lowe's today buying copper, I found some reinforced vinyl hose which should work fine for my pump.

[Eire Whiskey]

My insulation came in, now I am not sure if I want to wrap the boiler/keg. LOL
It makes sense to wrap it, to keep the heat in the boiler, but....... I guess I'm just feeling lazy this morning!

[Eire Whiskey]

I insulated the Keg/Boiler this morning. Approx. five wraps of R-19 insulation, then I wrapped with metal tape. I have not done anything with the top. I'm thinking I do not want insulation on the top. I may just throw a towel on top when cooking or use foam like they use for ground pads for camping. I think I am also going to put roof flashing around the keg to protect the insulation from me and dogs.