UK Still Builder/Supplier

[Saltbush Bill]

One question that popped to mind though is that the T500 plastic condenser cap is loose, I assume this is for venting? I understand the boka type stills require a vent but I’m not sure if I ran this design in reflux whether it would also?

By that I presume you mean the black part at the top of the column ?
T500s do not vent through that cap, it should be a tight sealed fit , otherwise alcohol vapor will escape that area. If it is loose try removing the cap and wrapping some PTFE tape around it to get a good tight seal.
T500s are open to atmosphere through the small liebig type condenser that they use , in the same way that a Pot still or CM Plated Column is.

[Æther]

Hey Bill

Yes, the black cap at the top.

Thanks for explaining that. This is what has caused me a lot of confusion around venting as I’d read that this is why that cap is loose. Apparently it’s common. People notice it when they clean the condenser and it leaks, the answer is always it cause it’s a vent!

In actuality, it’s cause it’s shit.

[Saltbush Bill]

Usually if they leak its because people have tried to use them as a pot still and the extra heat damages the cap seal.

[cob]

For the vapour line, and I'm hoping I've not overdone it here but would 1.5" be too much? I figured this 2" - 1.5" hose would clamp just above the deflag spool and run to a 1.5" leibig


Screenshot 2021-01-21 at 09.34.43.png

Thoughts?

the lining of those flex hoses needs to be identified

personally I will only stainless steel or copper as a vapor line.

Even if those hoses are lined with PTFE I would not use them for vapor.

obviously you are free to make your own choices.

the 2" size is fine even 1.5" if you must

[Æther]

100% Cob, the point of this build was to eliminate all plastic and only use stainless and copper.

The hoses are out now anyhow, as Berserk pointed out, elbows make more sense. I was just being a spazz and not thinking past my original design. Having said that, they probably would save weight...but elbows are a done deal now. Going to need to sketch up a new plan.

[Æther]

Æther, if you're making a CM (I.e. basically a pot still with a dephlagmator) you're already open to the atmosphere through the condenser, so you don't need a dedicated vent hole.

LM and VM stilla however works by closing of the path to the condenser, and thus need a dedicated venting hole to avoid pressure build up.

On LM, is this because some condensate is returned back to the column via the valve? And thus the system is. closed?

[Berserk]

Æther, if you're making a CM (I.e. basically a pot still with a dephlagmator) you're already open to the atmosphere through the condenser, so you don't need a dedicated vent hole.

LM and VM stilla however works by closing of the path to the condenser, and thus need a dedicated venting hole to avoid pressure build up.

On LM, is this because some condensate is returned back to the column via the valve? And thus the system is. closed?

On the most common contemporary LM stills (Bokakob and concentric LMs) the valve regulate the amount of take-off distillate. So if it's in full reflux mode you close it all the way and return all the condensed distilate to the column. If there's no vent hole and the reflux condenser doesn't work pressure will build up since there's no opening to the atmosphere.

Same goes for VMs except the valve regulates the amount of vapor going to the product condenser.

[Æther]

Nice. Ok, this is beginning to make sense. Will have to dive into VM and LM more once I complete this build. Cheers dude.

[Æther]

So after a fair bit of research and a lot of great input from you guys, I’m hoping I can settle on this.

I’ve opted to build the dephleg myself, was thinking 1/8” pipe would be best for the 2” diameter of the spools. The CSST encasing the copper pipe is so I can make a tight connection to the short spool. I reckon I’ve worked out a series of fittings and reducers to go from the CCST to the copper with cones and PTFE to ensure the reflux column isn’t flooded (obviously this would be tested!)

All other fittings are triclamp with a reducer on the shotgun so I can attached a 45deg 1” bend for collection.

So, there’s no outlets under 1” in the vapour path. There’s no crazy ass dephleg, saving me about 1.7kg! And zero plastic save for some PTFE which is only on the outer fittings of the water line.

Trying to obtain weights for some of these parts as the question remains, will the T500 boiler just collapse?

[Berserk]

Looks good!

Some notes on cooling water:
You want the cool water to flow counter current to the vapor to maximize the cooling effect. So plumb the water in at the bottom of the shotgun for maximum cooling potential.

Dephlagmators are very touchy and delicate on the perfect amount of cooling water, so you might want to have separate water in and outs for the dephlagmator and shotgun condenser. That way you can keep your product cooler steady and still have fine control over the dephlagmator. To properly control the dephlagmator water flow a needle valve is very useful too.

What's the deal with the copper pipe inside the CSST?

Also: 1/8" might be a bit thin. 1/4" is commonly used though. My CCVM condenser is from 1/4" OD copper tubing and works great, but I know 1/4" ID is common too (I think. Pipe and tube sizing in imperial keep me confused to this day).

[Æther]

Thanks, Berserk

Appreciate the comments. I guess running the water through one line won’t provide the best cooling, good point, was probably just trying to keep it tidy there, but that is easily resolved and I’ll do a switcheroo on the waterflow direction.

The reason I chose 1/8” for the copper was one, getting a decent coil to fit in the 2” tube, but maybe 1/4” will be fine. Also, I don’t think I’ve seen a short spool that has ports that can take much bigger, it could be real tight, so the ccst was to take up the difference between the spool fitting and the 1/8” copper. Does that make sense?

If I can find a short spool with ports that fits 1/4” nice n snug, then the ccst can do one.

And yeah, I was brought up on imperial and metric. Imperial does my head in now but the standards are all over the shop with fittings, it’s a proper ball ache

Can we all just go metric, please. You know it makes sense.

[Hebden]

If you are suggesting a check valve... What PSI would you recommend?

Absolutely NOT!

No valves. Open vents only. And a 1/4” diameter hole is not adequate. A hole 3/4” or larger is needed in the reflux head.
ss

Well this could be good timing as I am reading this as I am building my 50L keg boiler, which is a simple VM 1500mm packed column with a Tee on top, then Reflux Coil.

I have purchased a 1/2" safety release valve from a coffee machine, which I was going to install on the keg.

I have seen others with a hole on top of their RC and thought that my valve was just as good at releasing pressure.

Should I be changing my design and just drilling a large hole in my RC cap?

[howie]

Screenshot 2021-01-21 at 09.27.05.png


For the vapour line, and I'm hoping I've not overdone it here but would 1.5" be too much? I figured this 2" - 1.5" hose would clamp just above the deflag spool and run to a 1.5" leibig


Screenshot 2021-01-21 at 09.34.43.png
Screenshot 2021-01-21 at 09.31.59.png


Thoughts?
[/quote]
my thoughts on the deflag is that it only has 3 pipes.
the distillex store has a 1.5" with 5 pipes and 9 spacers.

the boiler lid, if it's the same as mine, will cope with almost anything you put on it.
that is only ok in a downward weight and is self supporting in pot still mode with only 1 x column, 2 x elbows and the condensor.
if you put a packed 2nd column, reflux condensor on as well, it needs support to stop it leaning sideways.
i have a pulley overhead, i just attach some heavy SS fishing line through a piece of silicone tube.
that goes around the elbow, job done.

[Æther]

Hi all,

Sorry to dig up this old thread but I never did complete this build and I'm revisiting it again now. I've spent a couple of hours just refreshing and going over the past suggestions and I have a couple of new questions. As a recap, I'm essentially looking to rebuild the column for a T500 (50L keg boiler now an option but still looking into heating options).

Anyway, using bulk head adapters, a 500mm spool tube and a 200mm deflag, I'm wondering if I can simply fit a recently acquired T500 alembic condenser to the top of the deflag using a bulk head adapter to use as the PC.

My concerns are: does the PC from the T500 alembic have a wide enough diameter running from a 50mm column to support the vapour flow rate? I can't find any info in my search to confirm a minimum PC diameter or PC to column ratio for vapour flow.

Also, this copper deflag below, is that a vent between the water in and out? Most deflags I've seen don't have that and I'm concerned about how that will effect the operation - will vapour exit here when I'm trying to pass it though to the PC?

https://distillinguk.uk/copper-2/

Thanks