When running my still if the coil condenser has any water through put at all then nothing comes off the lieblig condenser. I am running a water vinegar mix at the moment to clean it after some soldering but cant imagine this should work differently to booze. If I shut off the flow to the condenser i get product but not otherwise. At the moment i'm running it unpacked - i cant see how packing would make a difference though.
Where did you get the design from for the built.. from the picture you have put together a VM design..
What type of valve is in the vapor outlet path.. plus you should be condensing vapors on a water run and should be able to see the condenser condensing the vapors..
Do you have a hole at the top of the condenser.. a hole is required so as to allow it to not be under pressure..
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
StillerBoy wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 8:00 am
What type of valve is in the vapor outlet path.. plus you should be condensing vapors on a water run and should be able to see the condenser condensing the vapors..
Do you have a hole at the top of the condenser.. a hole is required so as to allow it to not be under pressure..
its a ball valve (i know not ideal but was free from a buddy) which is fully open as indicated. Yes on the previous water run and now this water/vingear run i can see the coil condenser at the top of the column working -
Yes there is a hole at the top of the condenser
The coil condenser is tri clamped onto the top of the still
How much power and what type of power are you using..
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
Also.. to improve the RC efficiency, ss scrubbies should be wrapped around the condenser coil so as to provide a tight fit, and some in between the coil and center.. that may help solve your issue..
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
StillerBoy wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 8:17 am
How much power and what type of power are you using..
Mars
Two low density 3000W electric heating elements - with controllers. Only had one running at 3000W when having this problem trying to get product to come off.
Some product did come off when had both honking but when operating as a VM reflux I going to have only one running at like 1500 W so thought i should test like this.
The condenser is knocking down whatever i send at it fine - the problem is this seems to be effecting the vapor product stream. When i run the still as a pot still - placing a blank where the tri clamp is for the condenser - it runs fine.
Thanks
Big L wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 8:25 am
Two low density 3000W electric heating elements - with controllers. Only had one running at 3000W when having this problem trying to get product to come off.
Some product did come off when had both honking but when operating as a VM reflux I going to have only one running at like 1500 W so thought i should test like this.
Don't know where the idea that running it at 1500w will do the trick with a water run.. once you get into doing a scarifical run, then you will start to get some idea of what it is capable of doing and how much power to use.. the condenser in it's present form will be the weak link..
This is water, not low wine you are experimenting with.. you need to power upper with water to get the result you are looking for..
And what size is the ball valve inside..
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
StillerBoy wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 8:34 am
Don't know where the idea that running it at 1500w will do the trick with a water run.. once you get into doing a scarifical run, then you will start to get some idea of what it is capable of doing and how much power to use.. the condenser in it's present form will be the weak link..
This is water, not low wine you are experimenting with.. you need to power upper with water to get the result you are looking for..
And what size is the ball valve inside..
Mars
Ah okay yes that makes lots of sense thanks.
And also thanks for the condenser advise will pack with SS scrubbers for the sacrificial run!
The ball valve is 42mm internal i believe same as the pipe its place inline with. Is that a problem?
Big L wrote: ↑Mon Jul 27, 2020 8:39 am
The ball valve is 42mm internal i believe same as the pipe its place inline with. Is that a problem?
I don't think it will be an issue.. but often time, I've seen installed valve that were to small in relation to the pipe diameter..
On your sacrificial run is where you will see the different..
Also at that time, experiment for yourself with installing scrubbies in the condenser.. start without and see the efficency by the amount power used to overcome the condenser.. do this in slow/small increasement so as to reduce vapor surge.. then shutdown and add the scrubbies properly packed (need to be packed tightly and not loosely place) and see the different in the power requirement before the condenser is overcome.. again do this in slow/small increasement so as to reduce vapor surge..
Mars
" I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent. Curiosity, Obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have brought me to my knowledge and understanding "
check for a leak. the design is sound and if i understand correct you have 6kW... the leak may be your liebig... but a water run is different from alc.
My VM stil makes no product with vinegar, only with alcohol.
To do my cleaning runs I always have to stopper the top and run it like a pot still. This is probably because VMs take advantage of gaseous ethanol being heavier than water, but this is not the case with acetic acid (vinegar) or plain water.
