Theoretical knockdown power of shotgun condensers

[rockymars]

Don't sweat it at all. It won't funk up your neutral runs at all. That's what's so great about a good reflux column, it cleans that stuff up nicely. I once made a bunch of UJSSM and it sat around for so long, I wasn't drinking it so I just ran it through my VM and it came out amazing. No odor or flavor whatsoever. If it can do that then you can use the same equipement/boiler for both flavored and neutral spirits.

Sounds good SMF
I fully trust your experience.

What would be beneficial is a bigger boiler for doing stripping runs. Match your ferments or fermenters size with the stripping boiler size. One big stripping run then do your spirit run in the smaller boiler. It's more convenient than doing multiple stripping runs then a single spirit run. Adding a 2nd element cuts your stripping time in half. Upgrading the packing used. These kind of upgrades make the most impact in my opinion.

My boiler (35L Digiboil, with wiring mod for SCR control) has two elements (500W and 1900W). For stripping runs I’ll switch on the 500W element (on all the time) and tune the larger element up as high as the shotgun can keep up with.

However I am limited by it’s size (~28L washes). I know this will give me a small volume of low wines to run through the reflux, which then means the 35L boiler is too big? Doing multiple ferments is not a problem at all, I have 5 x 5 gal fermenters so could easily make up a minimum volume (10L for the 35L boiler) reflux. However I do not want so much alcohol for drinking, so I plan to use some as fuel in my car.

I do plan to build a compact LM still as per Rad’s, which would be able to deal with smaller volume reflux runs.

[rockymars]

I don't use elbows pointed straight down on my still. I have them pointing straight out like you do. I have velcro straps that secure the insulation to my column. I secure the hoses to the column so the hoses are more manageable.

Yeah I was thinking of the exact same setup for mine. What size (OD/ID) is your tubing?

[rockymars]

i put SS camlock fittings on everything for water (not cheap), like my condensers,water hoses & cooling coil so it's all interchangeable/plug&play.
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NB i always take my gear in so they can sort the threads and sizes out for me.

I reckon that’s what I’ll do, my knowledge of weird threads and pitches is very, very slim.

[rockymars]

there you go, overthinking again

No…how did you notice?

it's pretty hard to tarnish SS.
as salt must flow said the fores/heads will clean most stuff out.
sometimes i do a quick steam run if the rig has been idle.(4l of water/full power/no cooling)
sometimes i dismantle the rig, which is very easy, after some heavy rum runs.
i always have have shallow bath full of starsan(ex fridge crisper drawer) that i can submerge all the parts if i need to.

Very useful info howie, thanks for that! I was especially worried about the rum and gin runs.

i can strip 2 x 30l FFV ferments and have them loaded back in the fermenting fridge with everything cleaned up in 4 hours.
i hope you realise how long a reflux run can take on a 2"

Ok so the stripping runs are quite quick. Good to know.

How long do spirit runs take on your rig? I prepared myself for 8-10 hours…

[howie]

How long do spirit runs take on your rig? I prepared myself for 8-10 hours…
[/quote]
you are well prepared
BTW i usually strip 2 x 30l washes and get 12L (2 x 6L) of 40% low wines.
the next 2 x 30L washes are stripped for another 12L of low wines, and the low wines are added together for a 24L reflux run.
personally, i can't be bothered refluxing much less than a 24L charge.

[RC Al]

However I do not want so much alcohol for drinking, so I plan to use some as fuel in my car.

Just so your aware, to make ethanol for an engine even halfway cost effective, you need to add a zero or three to your boiler and fermenter sizes (and grow grain for a living). Buy petrol with the $$ you save making nice stuff to drink.

Imho

[Stilljoy McFlavour]

Indeed, both defleg and PC are stainless. Same lenght also; 20 and 40 cm. The deflag effortless maintains full reflux at 3.5 kW at water temp ~13 deg C. I would think your calculation is good enough for the purpose.

Aah, thanks for confirming. What sort of water flow rates are you pushing through the condensers?

In the new ISO standard for flow rate measurements, I use one bathtub/distillation run. This equals about 30-50 liter / hour with a spirit run, perhaps 80-120 l/h when stripping (more power, shorter run, therefor more cooling/hour).

[Salt Must Flow]

I don't use elbows pointed straight down on my still. I have them pointing straight out like you do. I have velcro straps that secure the insulation to my column. I secure the hoses to the column so the hoses are more manageable.

Yeah I was thinking of the exact same setup for mine. What size (OD/ID) is your tubing?

I'm using 3/8" OD x 1/4" ID Polypropylene tubing for 11000W stripping runs for a shotgun condenser. If I strip with 5500W then I can use 1/4" OD tubing. I use 1/4" OD tubing for spirit runs 2750W feeding both the shotgun and the reflux condenser. I use well water and send the water right down the drain. I have to use 3/8" lines when stripping with 11000W because 1/4" tubing cannot supply enough flow.

Tubing size needed depends on how you will be feeding the condensers with water. If someone were going to recycle water using a relatively small pump, they will likely need larger diameter tubing than if they are using well water or city water (higher pressure). The smaller the diameter of tubing the higher the more back-pressure you'll have. Longer the tubing also has higher back-pressure. Higher water pressure increases the flow rate with smaller tubing.

[rockymars]

How long do spirit runs take on your rig? I prepared myself for 8-10 hours…

you are well prepared
BTW i usually strip 2 x 30l washes and get 12L (2 x 6L) of 40% low wines.
the next 2 x 30L washes are stripped for another 12L of low wines, and the low wines are added together for a 24L reflux run.
personally, i can't be bothered refluxing much less than a 24L charge.
[/quote]
Yeah from the reading I did last night that sounds like a plan. I’ll heed this lesson.

[rockymars]

Just so your aware, to make ethanol for an engine even halfway cost effective, you need to add a zero or three to your boiler and fermenter sizes (and grow grain for a living). Buy petrol with the $$ you save making nice stuff to drink.

Imho

Bugger!
Years ago I made biodiesel to run an old Land Rover. That was so much fun, and my feedstock was free…

[rockymars]

In the new ISO standard for flow rate measurements, I use one bathtub/distillation run. This equals about 30-50 liter / hour with a spirit run, perhaps 80-120 l/h when stripping (more power, shorter run, therefor more cooling/hour).

That’s reassuring. The pump I am about to buy delivers 2250L/h at a head of 2.5m. Way enough pumping power. I might even consider a smaller pump.

[rockymars]

I'm using 3/8" OD x 1/4" ID Polypropylene tubing for 11000W stripping runs for a shotgun condenser. If I strip with 5500W then I can use 1/4" OD tubing. I use 1/4" OD tubing for spirit runs 2750W feeding both the shotgun and the reflux condenser. I use well water and send the water right down the drain. I have to use 3/8" lines when stripping with 11000W because 1/4" tubing cannot supply enough flow.

Tubing size needed depends on how you will be feeding the condensers with water. If someone were going to recycle water using a relatively small pump, they will likely need larger diameter tubing than if they are using well water or city water (higher pressure). The smaller the diameter of tubing the higher the more back-pressure you'll have. Longer the tubing also has higher back-pressure. Higher water pressure increases the flow rate with smaller tubing.

My kit came with 1/4” ID tubing, so that’s ok. The tubing supplied is quite short, so I’ll have a think about tubing size for extending to my pump.

As mentioned to Stilljoy McFlavour above, the pump I’m about to buy delivers 2250L/h @ 2.5m. My rig is about 2m high, so I’ll do some research today on how much back pressure the 1/4” ID tubing will add. When I was doing irrigation design I kept flow rates between 1-2m/s, that is a common rule of thumb to keep back pressure under control. My gut tells me the tubing will be ok to get the required cooling.

[rockymars]

dont' worry too much, do a FFV or TPW and have a play with some low wines.

Aha! I think I’ve finally solve this riddle. Is…
FFV = Ted’s fast fermenting vodka
TPW = tomato paste wash???

[bcook608]

dont' worry too much, do a FFV or TPW and have a play with some low wines.

Aha! I think I’ve finally solve this riddle. Is…
FFV = Ted’s fast fermenting vodka
TPW = tomato paste wash???

And that's how we know you've done your reading

[rockymars]

And that's how we know you've done your reading

Getting there