Why are vents on condensers

[Tōtōchtin]

When I first saw a vent on a condenser I thought it was a vacuum breaker. I did a search here and only found on thread but that was a thread on removing air. I then ran across this article and was wondering if this was the reason.
https://wcponline.com/2000/02/15/distil ... ling-vocs/
Here was a sample of what they were removing. Not sure it applies to a still.

[Salt Must Flow]

I'm not sure what you mean regarding "vent on condensers". I assume you're asking why reflux condensers are open at the top or at least has a hole. That's so that vapor can exit and not blow up the still if the water that feeds the condenser gets too hot or stops.

[bcook608]

I'm not sure what you mean regarding "vent on condensers". I assume you're asking why reflux condensers are open at the top or at least has a hole. That's so that vapor can exit and not blow up the still if the water that feeds the condenser gets too hot or stops.

I think they're referring to the vent on shotgun condensers that you see in online shops. If that's the case, it IS a vacuum break to prevent an undersized outlet from being clogged with condensate. it allows the condensate to flow freely without creating any resistance should the output spout get filled to capacity. At least that's what I've read in some of the product descriptions.

[shadylane]

When I first saw a vent on a condenser I thought it was a vacuum breaker. I did a search here and only found on thread but that was a thread on removing air.

That's for water purification. It's to vent Co2 or other gasses.
The only time it's needed for distillation is if a parrot is being used.

[shadylane]

When I first saw a vent on a condenser I thought it was a vacuum breaker. I did a search here and only found on thread but that was a thread on removing air.

That's for water purification. It's to vent Co2 or other gasses.

[Stonecutter]

Yeah, I do believe Old Dog documents his adding a vent to the magic flute for the same reasons. Vacuum

[acfixer69]

When hot vapors hits the cold condenser the volume of the gas is is reduced very dramatically and it allows equitation of the column, a vapor break, allowing the refluxed product to return down the column to interact with more of the purer rising vapor. With out it surging and flooding will happen.

[Salt Must Flow]

I'm not sure what you mean regarding "vent on condensers". I assume you're asking why reflux condensers are open at the top or at least has a hole. That's so that vapor can exit and not blow up the still if the water that feeds the condenser gets too hot or stops.

I think they're referring to the vent on shotgun condensers that you see in online shops. If that's the case, it IS a vacuum break to prevent an undersized outlet from being clogged with condensate. it allows the condensate to flow freely without creating any resistance should the output spout get filled to capacity. At least that's what I've read in some of the product descriptions.

Got it, that makes sense (if that's what the OP was referring to). I never vented my shotgun condensers and never had any issue at all. I also use a parrot sometimes, but it is never connected to the shotgun. I just let the product flow into the small funnel/inlet of the parrot.

[LWTCS]

The easiest way to visualize is to imagine a gas can with the small vent cap to the rear with the pour spout in the forward position.

Pour fuel without the vent cap open and the stream will pour out ( glug, glug, glug) very slowly as the discharging liquid attempts to draw air ( if any) out of the can. Open the vent cap and the fuel freely pours.

This concept is the same 5th grade science experiment where you fill a glass nearly full of water, place / hold a playing card over the rim of the glass, turn the glass upside down and the much heavier mass of water will not evacuate because a vacuum is created.

[LWTCS]

A dedicated vent is not always necessary if the outlet is large enough to allow for air to enter while allowing liquid to exit
Couple that with angle of the condenser and flow rate of the distillate and yes, you may not need a vent.

[Tōtōchtin]

I thank you guys for taking the time to help me with this..
Tōtō

[Tōtōchtin]

Well I decided to add a vent and Venturi to my product condenser. If only as a vacuum breaker.Looking at this list of what it removes(I have no clue what most of them are) I can't say they look very tasty.
So if anyone can tell me why I'm wrong about this I want to know as having knowledge is better then guessing.
Tōtō

[jonnys_spirit]

Are you distilling water and do you have a TDS meter to make comparisons?

Cheers,
J

[Tōtōchtin]

Are you distilling water and do you have a TDS meter to make comparisons?

Cheers,
J

I do along with pH meters I use in hydroponics. I will be using RO at 5-10 ppm before I add some salts to make up for the RO. I don't have a background in chemistry but I have a notion if I remove a bunch of these compounds I will help with the flavors. Easy to test by just closing off the vents and use the same mash. It seems to benefit by helping to stabilize the pH. The only downside I see is I might be removing some compound that makes it easier for other compounds to bond or break away for better flavors.
If it doesn't work I'll have lost about 40 min. but gain in more soldering practice.
Tōtō

[drmiller100]

Things can be confusing.

When all done every still needs a vent to atmosphere that is large and protected only by a condenser. If you have no vent to atmosphere if something happens you have a large powerful bomb easily capable of killing you. And your home .

[drmiller100]

Well I decided to add a vent and Venturi to my product condenser. If only as a vacuum breaker.Looking at this list of what it removes(I have no clue what most of them are) I can't say they look very tasty.
So if anyone can tell me why I'm wrong about this I want to know as having knowledge is better then guessing.
Tōtō Screenshot_2023-09-12-09-22-44-38_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12 (1).jpg

This seems like bullshit. What are you really doing and trying to do?

Edit. If you have really nasty, messed up water with benzene and formaldehyde and other really nasty shit and you are using distillation to clean it up.
if you pump atmosphere air into the column below the condenser the air will dilute the CO2 causing the pH level to rise. This will also cause some of the nasty shit to pass through the condenser and leave the water.

The other thing you can do is boil your stuff in the boiler. The CO2 in your wash will vent out the top. If you have benzene and that other crap in your drinking water you have bigger problems..

This article has nothing to do with distilling hooch. Nothing

Nothing.

Imo.

[quadra]

I think you are conflating two types of distilling here... the chemicals on your list are hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, if they were in my drinking, brewing or bathing water I would be getting water from another source as many of them are known carcinogens and mutagens ( caple of causing damage to DNA ) These are not chemicals that evolve in the distillation process and without reading further I am assuming your citation is actually targeted at some area of the petroleum distillation industry, or groundwater remediation.
The problem I see, might be if the condenser was overcooled to the point of huffing, this would affect the performance of the the venturi and the negative pressure that is expected at the vent. The oscillating pressure at the vent could allow uncondensed vapour to escape. Any unregulated port or " leak" on the hot side of the condenser seems like a bad design to me and the need to introduce air to the vapour path is of no benefit at all. Your drawing is not a venturi vacuum and will not create functional suction at the hole. A pitot tube in the expanding side of the venturi would work, but require higher velocity ( pressure ) flow to create the negative pressure in the expansion area of the venturi.

As an aside, while thinking about this I was wondering about the lower operating pressure limit of a steam venturi and did a search that lead to stack exchange and a similar question being posted by Manu De Hanoi a decade ago!

https://physics.stackexchange.com/quest ... w-pressure

[Tōtōchtin]

https://wcponline.com/2000/02/15/distil ... ling-vocs/

Reading articles like this makes me think different from you Mr miller. I ran into a Tequilero who told me the same. That venting gasses produce a smoother flavor. I will run a tube to a sealed chilled glass container and taste what condenses. If it tastes like shit I will assume it is. If it tastes like my distillate I will cap the vent off.
Tōtō

[zach]

Hobby size condensers are usually vented at the outlet, or at the top on a LM reflux condenser.

On industrial sized continuous columns, I've seen vents (with a vent condenser) on the product condenser drain line between the condenser outlet and the receiving tank. One of the purposes it to vent non condensable gas liberated in the column, mainly CO2 dissolved in the feed beer. Accumulation of non condensable gas in a condenser can greatly reduce the performance. The other purpose is a vent line, just like a sewer drain line has a vent that allows the plumbing to be free draining.

[shadylane]

LM or VM usually has a valve between the boiler and the atmosphere.
If the valve is closed a vent is needed to avoid a possible major problem.