Element wattage?

[your_eviltwin]

I am buinding my parts list for a beer keg 3/4" CCVM Still I'm some way off build phase for sure but I had a Question on Elements

In the UK you have 220-240v supplied to the house
A standard fuse is 13amps
Thus I work this out to a maximum rated element of 2860W (using 220v x 13Amps)

There for I assume you would buy a 2800w max element.

Also what sort of running times would it take a strip/sprits run?


Kind regards in advance

[your_eviltwin]

Ps I assume you don't work this out RMS Voltage. Thus a 5500w element can't be used

[Expat]

Actually, you shouldn't exceed 80% of rated capacity for a sustained period, so your actual max would be around 2300w. This is definitely going to be too small for a keg IMO.

I would recommend a separate circuit of 30A, 5500w element and a GFCI if you plan on using water for cooling.

[still_stirrin]

If you use an element with a higher heat rating, like the 5.5kW 240VAC ULWD element for example, you will definitely need a power controller to limit your current load below the circuit breaker trip load. Typically, you’d want to maintain a 10% margin, or better. So you wouldn’t want more than 0.90 x 13.0 = 11.7 amps powering your element. That would be 11.7 x 240 = 2808 watts, which would be plenty for a 2” reflux column, but marginal for a 3”, or larger column.

The element is purely a resistive load, so the power consumed will be proportional to the current through it. More current —> more power. But your household circuits (and wiring) will be the limiting factor. So, you’ve got to regulate the current flow so you don’t try to draw more than your circuit will allow.

The advantage to using a 5.5kW element is that it has more surface area, meaning it has a lower watt density (W/cm2) and will be less likely to scorch a “cloudy” wash. The heat, however, which produces the vapor production rate will be limited by the power input. Hence, the ideal power rating with respect to column diameter and the associated vapor speed (feet per second).

I’d get the ULWD element and a properly sized (and current limited) power controller.
ss

[OtisT]

I am buinding my parts list for a beer keg 3/4" CCVM Still……

Evil twin, please clarify something for me. Is your CCVM column 3/4” diameter, or is it going to be 3” or 4” in diameter?

If it is only 3/4” diameter, you will be able to use your full wattage for boiling water for mashing and when bringing your wash up to temperature before distilling, but you will be turning that way down to below 500 watts when you are doing a spirit run. With the kind of wash volumes you will have in a keg boiler, I would consider that diameter unusable.

I hope you mean the column will be either 3” or 4” in diameter. A 3” would be real nice on that keg.

Otis.

[Yummyrum]

he element is purely a resistive load, so the power consumed will be proportional to the current through it. More current —> more power.

It is not directly proportional.

If you double the current or the voltage you quadruple the power.

[your_eviltwin]

I am buinding my parts list for a beer keg 3/4" CCVM Still……

Evil twin, please clarify something for me. Is your CCVM column 3/4” diameter, or is it going to be 3” or 4” in diameter?

If it is only 3/4” diameter, you will be able to use your full wattage for boiling water for mashing and when bringing your wash up to temperature before distilling, but you will be turning that way down to below 500 watts when you are doing a spirit run. With the kind of wash volumes you will have in a keg boiler, I would consider that diameter unusable.

I hope you mean the column will be either 3” or 4” in diameter. A 3” would be real nice on that keg.

Otis.

Sorry yes it is either going to be a 3" or a 4" mats and £££ dependant. The price for.copper no a days

[bluefish_dist]

Realize that the elements are rated at 240v and less voltage will reduce the power. V=IR. So for 5500w at 240, it has a resistance of 4.78 ohms. At 220 that is only about 5000w. At 208 which is us commercial voltage it’s only about 4 kw. The moral of the story is don’t assume it will have the rated output if your voltage is different.

[The Baker]

It won't cost a fortune to get your electrician to install a 15 amp or 20 amp socket.
Or there may be a suitable, unused oven or dryer (etc.) circuit that you can use...
And for 15 amps, to run from the socket to your controller, you can get a relatively cheap
15 amp "caravan" extension cord in various lengths.

Geoff

[shadylane]

Actually, you shouldn't exceed 80% of rated capacity for a sustained period, so your actual max would be around 2300w. This is definitely going to be too small for a keg IMO.

With enough insulation, 2300w would be enough for a keg and 3" column.
The warm up will be painful slow, but it will get the job done.
Eventually

[Grundefuht]

Also what sort of running times would it take a strip/sprits run?

Let's assume you will have 2300W heating element
Direct heating mode, pot still
Wash/LowSpirits volume 30 litres,
Limit strength of distillate 2%Abv

You will have StripRun of 12% Abv wash as follows

StripRun 30@12%.pdf

(19.63 KiB) Downloaded 106 times

And Spirit run of 33% LowSpirits :

SpiritRun 30@33%.pdf

(21.8 KiB) Downloaded 94 times

[Saltbush Bill]

Actually, you shouldn't exceed 80% of rated capacity for a sustained period, so your actual max would be around 2300w. This is definitely going to be too small for a keg IMO.

With enough insulation, 2300w would be enough for a keg and 3" column.
The warm up will be painful slow, but it will get the job done.
Eventually

As above, it should work , just slow on the heat up and pretty slow if you want to strip with it.
Ive run a 3 inch Bok on a 50L beer keg boiler using 1x 2400W element. It still pushed out 2 Litres an hour at 95ish of good clean booze, would have been better with more power but sometimes ya just gotta use what ya got.

[NZChris]

Use two elements, each on a different circuit. If one blows, you can finish the distillation on the remaining element.

[Sulaiman]

Use two elements, each on a different circuit. If one blows, you can finish the distillation on the remaining element.

+1

[sw_reijnders]

@your_eviltwin

i would look for the possibility to use 3 phase elements.
than you can go up to 6kw (2kw/phase) which is app. 8.7A/phase

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001013231102.html

[Yummyrum]

@your_eviltwin

i would look for the possibility to use 3 phase elements.
than you can go up to 6kw (2kw/phase) which is app. 8.7A/phase

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001013231102.html

Cunning plan but most domestic houses don’t have three phase

[sw_reijnders]

@your_eviltwin

i would look for the possibility to use 3 phase elements.
than you can go up to 6kw (2kw/phase) which is app. 8.7A/phase

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001013231102.html

Cunning plan but most domestic houses don’t have three phase

in the netherlands more and more, especially when more houses are removed from a gas connection.
so you have to cook electric (big induction stove @12kw) heat you house and water electric (Heat pumps) etc. etc.
Try to do that on a single 35A main connection

[Expat]

Actually, you shouldn't exceed 80% of rated capacity for a sustained period, so your actual max would be around 2300w. This is definitely going to be too small for a keg IMO.

With enough insulation, 2300w would be enough for a keg and 3" column.
The warm up will be painful slow, but it will get the job done.
Eventually

Yeah, emphasis on the eventually Been there and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

[Rum Agol]

Eviltwin In the UK 13amps is the standard fuse in an electric plug attached to an appliance -not the house circuit. Check your circuit board it should tell you what each circuit is rated at e.g. cooker and shower circuits are usually 40amps. I am UK based and run my 2.4 kw element off a standard wall socket in the kitchen rated at 20amp.