New CCVM and nothing to the product condenser

[cmac62]

So I just put together my recently built CCVM, I can get 100% reflux, but as soon as I lift the RF nothing goes to the PC. What am I doing wrong? This is a 2" all SS, 36" column, site glass, t & elbow with 6" on top of the t. Once I lift the RC almost nothing goes through the PC. I did look for help first and there was something like 3000 posts. I looked through the first 5 or 6 pgs and did not see anything. This is just the water and vinegar cleaning runs. Thanks

[Stonecutter]

So I just put together my recently built CCVM, I can get 100% reflux, but as soon as I lift the RF nothing goes to the PC. What am I doing wrong? This is a 2" all SS, 36" column, site glass, t & elbow with 6" on top of the t. Once I lift the RC almost nothing goes through the PC. I did look for help first and there was something like 3000 posts. I looked through the first 5 or 6 pgs and did not see anything. This is just the water and vinegar cleaning runs. Thanks

I don’t have any experience with CCVM’s but I feel your pain brother
This sounds like a problem with your PC though. Water temperature and flow rate if I had a shot in the dark

[cmac62]

I'm using the pool for the PC and it is cold to the touch, the elbow is hot. I got a few drips and when put into pot mode with just water it ran okay.

[Sporacle]

Is it that you can't get anything out during a steam or vinegar run?

[cmac62]

I'm trying to post a pic, but I don't know if it is going through.

[Stonecutter]

The takeoff tee looks pretty big. I would think of you reduced that it might help
: Edit: your outlet looks smaller though. The reduction is hidden within the Liebig yeah?

[cmac62]

It was upside right when I posted it. Oh well.

[Stonecutter]

It could Be that your vapor speed is too high to get sucked into the final condenser. Packing can help with this.

[cmac62]

Its a 24" ss shotgun with a reducer on it. concerning the T, as long as I lift the RC above the T should it not flow into the elbow? Thanks

[Sporacle]

Can you see vapour in the sight glass ?

[cmac62]

It could Be that your vapor speed is too high to get sucked into the final condenser. Packing can help with this.

I have the column packed with Lava Rock, perhaps not enough restriction? If I need to slow the vapor down, I need to pack the column tighter. Can I use some scrubbies to get this done. If I pack the last foot of the column with SS or copper fairly tight would this get it done? Thanks for the input.

[Stonecutter]

It could Be that your vapor speed is too high to get sucked into the final condenser. Packing can help with this.

I have the column packed with Lava Rock, perhaps not enough restriction? If I need to slow the vapor down, I need to pack the column tighter. Can I use some scrubbies to get this done. If I pack the last foot of the column with SS or copper fairly tight would this get it done? Thanks for the input.

Water Flow rates, Liebig angles and water temps are going to be the biggest factors with your product condenser. What type of wash are you running? It may sound obvious but you’re sure there’s not an obstruction somewhere?

[Sporacle]

If its your cleaning runs, use it as a pot (blank of the reflux) use your sac run to figure out the reflux settings plus volumes, power and flow would help

[TheRevDr]

Are you losing it out the top past the RC? It's possible that when you lift the RC (part way out of the tube?), you lose some of its condensing effect.

[cmac62]

Can you see vapour in the sight glass ?

No, but I can see the reflux pouring down inside.

[cmac62]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm ordering some copper for the column. I hope that fixes it. Should I go with mesh or wool? I was thinking two rolls of the 5" mesh in the botton of the 24 in section and then another 5" roll in the 12 " section and lava rock on top?

[Sporacle]

If you can see the liquid pouring down the glass then your reflux may be still too far down

[Oatmeal]

I'm ordering some copper for the column. I hope that fixes it.

It's good to have some copper in the column, but it is not the solution to your problem.

Always good to take a breath and blow through the column and or condenser to check for obstructions. I had a weird wasp larva nest packed with grasshoppers in my takeoff once.

I concur about running it in pot mode. It will help shake the snakes out!

[shadylane]

So I just put together my recently built CCVM, I can get 100% reflux, but as soon as I lift the RF nothing goes to the PC. What am I doing wrong?
this is just the water and vinegar cleaning runs. Thanks

I suspect the CCVM will work better during the sacrificial run.
For now, you might try decreasing the water flow through the RC.

[kimbodious]

Water vapour behaves differently to ethanol vapour, that is simply your issue. Ethanol vapour is heavy compared with water vapour. Ethanol vapour will flow out the offtake and run downwards whereas all water vapour does is keep rising.

Good tip here “This is just the water and vinegar cleaning runs.”

[Setsumi]

As Shady said, vinegar behaves differently than alc runs.

As to your discussion. 2 tips. You do not reduce vapour speed by tighter packing, you reduce vapour speed by energy input.

And during the sacrificial run test for vapour escape from the top. In your pic your RC looks quite high. I understand you were in troubleshoot mode and do not think you will have it that high in normal runs but better to be safe.

[Stonecutter]

Thank the lawd shady and some others saved this thread. My best Peter Sellers investigative techniques were going nowhere.

[cmac62]

Thanks for the replies. So this weekend I have 6 gals or Winoes Simple Sugar Shine wash as my sac run. I'll run this and see what happens. I did order some copper mesh for the column, shoud I put it below or above the lava rock? Thanks again for the help.

[cmac62]

So I just put together my recently built CCVM, I can get 100% reflux, but as soon as I lift the RF nothing goes to the PC. What am I doing wrong?
this is just the water and vinegar cleaning runs. Thanks

I suspect the CCVM will work better during the sacrificial run.
For now, you might try decreasing the water flow through the RC.

Shady, one of the reasons I went with the CCVM style is I wouldn't have to worry about needle valves and all that. I have a submersible pump running at max, not sure what that is though. It was my understanding that lifting the RC out the top would control the vapor in the column and force it out into the PC. Thanks for the info.

[cmac62]

Water vapour behaves differently to ethanol vapour, that is simply your issue. Ethanol vapour is heavy compared with water vapour. Ethanol vapour will flow out the offtake and run downwards whereas all water vapour does is keep rising.

Good tip here “This is just the water and vinegar cleaning runs.”

Thanks for the reply and information. I had no idea, but it does make sense that they would be different.

[Sporacle]

Hey cmac, I'm really new to the CCVM and have about 6 runs on mine.
I don't have to adjust the flow on my reflux as I run a pretty low flow recirc system.
My CCVM runs really good numbers, I don't have a thermometer on it and have 2 height marks on my reflux and have 2 power settings one to run the column in full reflux and another once I get past fores.
They are a really simple thing, give it a run or two and you will have it dialled in

[kimbodious]

+1 what Sporacle said. If you have any issues feel free to ask, there are quite a few CCVM operators on here now.

[cmac62]

Thanks for all the replies and information. On Sunday I did the Sac run and was able get the still into fulll reflux for about 15 mins, then collected the first ETOH at 175 pf. I then switched it to pot mode and collected almost a gallon of 50% ABV. So now the still is clean and ready for some other stuff to be run Now I just have to get something fermented. Thanks again for the input.

[kimbodious]

You could always dilute what you collected and run it again to practise