Making your own copper packing

[pfshine]

Sounds like a terrible idea. Could very easily get clogged or block vapor and cause a pressure build up. Not to mention the sheer weight of all the pennies. They would all have to be pre 1982 pennies here in the States.

[D in Texas]

Thanks!

[Bushman]

Sounds like a terrible idea. Could very easily get clogged or block vapor and cause a pressure build up. Not to mention the sheer weight of all the pennies. They would all have to be pre 1982 pennies here in the States.

Even prior to 1982 it had 5% zinc, bad idea as listed by pfshiner.

The alloy remained 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc until 1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper (copper-plated zinc). Cents of both compositions appeared in that year.

.

[Mash Madness]

I realize I am bringing this thread back from the dead, but it got killed with the penny question.
I would really like to know if anyone is using this for primary packing, and what are the HETP numbers approximately and results you are getting.

I will eventually want to make my own SPP but initially will have plenty of projects to complete right away.

[Bushman]

I am using it but have since added more packing as my original post calculation was a little low. I have a 4” diameter column that is approx. 50” tall but I drop a 6” long dephlagmater in through the top and there is probably close to another 4” above the dephlagmater so I am guessing my actual packing is probably about 40”. If I am aiming for as close to a neutral as I can after reaching equilibrium I draw it off slower and reach about 93%. If I am doing an AG run then I run the still a bit faster and my % drops considerably.

[Mash Madness]

Hey Bushman thanks for the reply!

You still doing it with long strands of balled up? The only packing your are using? Wash or low wines?

Only needing 40" on a 4" is pretty cool.

To get 93% how may L/hr you average? That is what is attracting me to the SPP so much is the high numbers and fast pulls some are reporting.
I have lots of free copper wire at my disposal, but may try black lava first before the SPP if you or others can't sell me on this idea.

[CypSteel]

I asked for 2/0 600v copper wire. It does have 19 wires as mentioned, but they are solid instead of stranded. I assume I got the wrong stuff? Or am I missing something?

copper.jpg

[Bushman]

I asked for 2/0 600v copper wire. It does have 19 wires as mentioned, but they are solid instead of stranded. I assume I got the wrong stuff? Or am I missing something?


copper.jpg

Used welding cable wire as Mash Rookie had the copper tested to make sure it was pure copper, and if you look at the earlier pictures they are stranded. Probably will be hard to twist that wire.

[HUMBERTOWERNECK]

good night or the type of copper wire that was used is it coated with varnish? if so how was it taken or verified?

[Bushman]

Mash Rookie had it tested at a lab. I don’t think it was coated in varnish but I gave it an acid bath to rough it up as I read someplace that it would perform better if the copper is not smooth.

[HUMBERTOWERNECK]

Mash Rookie had it tested at a lab. I don’t think it was coated in varnish but I gave it an acid bath to rough it up as I read someplace that it would perform better if the copper is not smooth.

how was this testing done

[Bushman]

I don’t know but he did a lot of research when he was alive and active on the forum. I have been using the packing with a SS column for over 8 years.

[fzbwfk9r]

regarding varnish on wire.... think about it... wire was designed to move electrons, these move along the surface and air gap as well, so by insulating the wire, you'd restrict some of this movement

the only wire that is varnished, that I am aware of, is wire needing to be insulated from other wire.. such as in a motor winding et al, where a non-insulated wire would short.

the wire CypSteel showed above would work well for making copper SPP, but it would appear difficult to make it compact enough to be efficient in a column.
At least, that's what I am thinking.

[Bushman]

I put all my wire through an acid bath to etch it then wash it before doing another cleaning run.

[fzbwfk9r]

Bushman, makes sense really just to ensure it is clean and ready

[Bushman]

What I have read is having the copper etched or scratched helps in their performance.

[Butch27]

I asked for 2/0 600v copper wire. It does have 19 wires as mentioned, but they are solid instead of stranded. I assume I got the wrong stuff? Or am I missing something?


copper.jpg

That looks like it might be nice for making SPP.

[Stonecutter]

Hey is that Basil in the last picture? I love basil! I have to try this, I have a section on my column that I use to experiment with packing, it's been full of lava rock for the last year or two.

Really that was three years ago? Man time flys.

Not to stray too far from topic but that plant is a Buddha's Hand. I plan on growing the fruit for my infused citrus drinks. A lot of members do not know what a Buddha's Hand is and it would not survive as an outdoor plant in my area. Hanger one vodka uses it in their product as it does not have the pith of a regular lemon. In Asia people grow them indoors for the fragrance. Below is a picture of the fruit (that plant is still several years away from producing).
image.jpg

I’m sorry but I about Spit my drink out! That has got to be THE shittiest looking Basil Planet I’ve ever seen but mad props to rockchucker22 for making a decent segue.

Should pack pretty tight, I did this tutorial as an example, what I did on my 4" with 6' of wire is just start working it down the the column, you can use a broom handle to help pack it. If you think it's not enough you can always get more and add to it.

Till the eyes bleed
Damn! 4” packed with a broom handle. That’s badass!
1/2 hour for 3’ Bushman? I would have never guessed that. I think the pictures give it plenty Justice. Thank you for linking this.