26 plate stack (equalivitent)

[Ol 1794]

First setup and cleaning run on some new and older cleaned gear. I started over 20 years ago with the old first series PS II high capacity setup and started day one with changing the hoses, valves and packing to make an independent valved copper packed dephlegmator on the upper stage. Moving on to welding on a tri clamp plate to the top of the deph for a thermometer hookup, then gin baskets, a 50l boiler, bits and bobs and most recently 6 independent bubble plates

PXL_20230508_171814813.jpg

full set-up here with the deph and condenser is over 4m tall about to do seal testing and a cleaning run in preparation to do a vodka run then a gin run


There is my way and there is your way
There is NO one true way

[Chauncey]

The packed section represents the other 20 plates I assume?

[Saltbush Bill]

Everything I've ever seen or been told says the packed section works better on top of the plates.

[shadylane]

The problem with plates and a packed column together is that they require different power and reflux.
One or the other isn't going to be happy.

[Yummyrum]

The problem with plates and a packed column together is that they require different power and reflux.
One or the other isn't going to be happy.

Yes sir Shady .
That has been my take on it too .

You run a 4” plated still , it’s happy around 2-3kw

You run a 4”packed still , its happy around 7-8 kw .

Seems like a lot of compromise when you mix them together

For my trying , I found if I wanted a Nuetral , just use an all packed column and run low wines in boiler .
Packed over plates on a single run just didn’t do it for me ….. but many are happy .

EDIT: A 2” packed section would actually be better matched to a 4” plated column . I’m guessing that is the section shown in the OPs pic under the plates . But I agree with Salty that most have had better success with plates under packing .

Then again , the OP claims his setup is over 4m tall . So maybe the section at the bottom is a hollow section and there are indeed 25 plate modules .

A pic of the whole still ….. all 4 metres of it, would be nice and stop a lot if guessing

[drmiller100]

I've never thought about the different power requirements of plate vs packing.
I was sitting here trying to think of a reason to mix the two.
Lwcts alluded to the idea a thumper or plate at.the bottom running about 50 percent etoh could trap all the
Fusils and not let them up the column.

[bluefish_dist]

If you have the right plates they can run as fast as packing. Still dragon pro caps or sieve will both run pretty fast.

[Stonecutter]

Would be cool to see one more sight glass below your bottom plate so you could check the to see how flooded your packing is getting.

[googe]

True that bluefish. I see no benefit to the long piece on the base, will just add weight. With a lynarm and pc and rc full of water you'll be surprised how much weight there is, especially with the narrow boiler. I've ran packed under, over,inside and.out, on top is best. Good luck.