Wodca still plates or high reflux?

[Whotan]

 I have a 35l and an 80l boiler!
Both are powered by a large shotgun capacitor!

I plan to make vodka (neutral alcohol)!
My stove has 4500w power!
How high can I build the reflux to get the greatest possible purity (neutrality)?!

And which design would you advise me to use?
I could build a maximum height of 2m!
Since my ceiling is 2.80 high and the big pot already has 80cm!
Would that be enough to distill a super neutral alcohol?

[Yummyrum]

That power and height would suit a Packed 3” reflux still .
Forget plates if you want a clean Neutral . If height is an issue , consider a Thors Hammer ( also called a crossflow) reflux condenser

[Salt Must Flow]

If you want clean neutral then you definitely want a good reflux still with a packed column.

4500W is perfectly adequate for stripping and doing spirit runs. That's enough power for a 2" and a 3" reflux still.

Personally I prefer a VM (Vapor Management) still. Basically you just slightly open a gate valve on the vapor take-off and it allows some vapor to enter the product condenser. The more you open the valve, the faster the take-off rate. Many here use a CCVM (Condenser Controlled Vapor Management) still. You have to manually raise & lower the reflux condenser to vary how much vapor enters the product condenser because it doesn't have a valve. Other than that, both designs function the same. I'd argue that turning a knob on a valve is more convenient and easier to obtain a repeatable take-off rate.

The ideal height of the column depends on the diameter of the column. People estimate a height approx 20x the diameter if I recall correctly. A 2" column would be approx 40" tall and a 3" column would be 5'. My 3" VM has a 6' column. I have segments that can be added or removed. 2" columns are slower than 3" columns. My current take-off rate is 3.2 LPH. I forget what the average take-off rate for 2" column is.

My first goal would be to get that boiler onto the floor rather than on a stove. I would install an electric heating element into the boiler and put together a proper controller. Once you do that, you'll have better control, more repeatable control of the power, more height for a column and much easier to access the still head. I couldn't imagine my boiler being on a stove.

[Whotan]

I have built an agitator that scrapes the floor!
Which is why I can't and don't want to install a heating element inside!
Since I don't strain my mash!
And I built everything modularly!
The output of my boiler is 4 inches!
So I have the possibility to build on smaller sizes!

So 3 or 4 inch pipes would be too big?!
And my ceiling height of 98.42 inches is too low!
Would it be possible to bow down and then 98 inches up again?

[Whotan]

So at 4 inches 80" inches would be big enough!

[greggn]

My stove has 4500w power!

Most likely, your stove is going to cycle the power and you'll have trouble maintaining a stable reflux ratio. Better to build a power controller for whatever you have as residential electric.

[Yummyrum]

Forget 4” .It is too big . You’ll need double the power to run it and it consumes a lot if cooling water . You also need a large boiler .
3” reflux still is far more practical and the takeoff speed is more than reasonable.

I used my 4” reflux still a few times but have gone back to using my 2” even if it takes twice as long to run . I’m making a 3” when I get a chance .

[Saltbush Bill]

I agree with Yummy, four inch is overkill for the average home Distiller.......3 inch is a good size
Four inch is going to be heavy and awkward to set up and move around once it's packed . The hight needed for it to work well will also be a pain in the arse.

[Whotan]

Okay, then I'll stick with 3 inches!
3x20 = 60inch length?!
That would be a perfect fit!
What else I wanted to mention:
I built my stove myself and it is controllable and distributed over 3 plates.
Because with it I can use my mash completely without filtering!

And as far as the design is concerned, I really like a ccvm.
But is it the best system in terms of purity?

Thanks for the quick help!
You guys are really great here in the forum!

[Wildcats]

There are plenty of CCVM builds here for you to look at. You can buy ready made spools and ready made elbows and tees. Then all you need is your reflux condenser and product condenser and some packing and you're off. If you haven't seen Dad300 build in ccvm the that's a great place to start. And plenty more. I did mine with copper pipe and copper ferrules (link in my signature) there a a ton more as well. Just type in ccvm build in the search function at the top right of the page. Enjoy. Good luck.

[Yummyrum]

And as far as the design is concerned, I really like a ccvm.
But is it the best system in terms of purity

It doesn’t matter what still head you choose .
LM ,VM ,CM and CCVM will all give you exactly the same purity when stuck on the same packed column and taking off at the same rate .

If you like CCVM then go for it . It’s a good head .
I’m personally a VM man . Tried LM and CM and went back to VM . CCVM is just a twist on VM IMHO .

Each still head has it’s own quirks . IMO , CM is the most intolerant and is effected by power variations and coolant flow and temp changes .
LM is also effected by power variations and needs constant tweaking though out run as the ethanol depletes
VM is the most forgiving and is least effected by changes in power , coolant and Boiler ABV .

CCVM is similar to VM but subject to coolant variations .

[kennstminet]

I’m personally a VM man

MEE TOOOOO
However a CCVM will do, if you understand its small limitations.

[drmiller100]

Like yummy said 4500 and 3 inch column is about right

I like offset lm and 40 inches of 12 or 13 mm marbles.

I am the one not one who uses marbles anymore. You need 6 to 8 inches from the bottom of the packing and level in the boiler.
Space will be tight which is where angled off set lm helps

[shadylane]

 I have a 35l and an 80l boiler!
Both are powered by a large shotgun capacitor!

I plan to make vodka (neutral alcohol)!
My stove has 4500w power!
How high can I build the reflux to get the greatest possible purity (neutrality)?!

And which design would you advise me to use?
I could build a maximum height of 2m!
Since my ceiling is 2.80 high and the big pot already has 80cm!
Would that be enough to distill a super neutral alcohol?

Ya have 2 options.

The easiest is to do stripping runs, dilute and redistill as needed.

For one run and done.
Knock a hole in the roof and use a false chimney to hide the column sticking up above the shed.
And also do stripping runs, dilute and redistill as needed.

viewtopic.php?t=70202

[Whotan]

How many theoretical floors would I have if I made my reflux 2m high? Or how can I calculate this?! Filled with copper spirals, for example, or marble?@

Thank you very much for the help already a mall

[Oatmeal]

Depending on the type of packing, about 9 centimeters per floor (plate)....

I prefer lava rocks as a packing.

[drmiller100]

How many theoretical floors would I have if I made my reflux 2m high? Or how can I calculate this?! Filled with copper spirals, for example, or marble?@

Thank you very much for the help already a mall

12 mm marbles basically make a plate every 12 mm.

Plenty in 2 meters. I don't know if a downside to too much packing

[shadylane]

12 mm marbles basically make a plate every 12 mm.

12mm per Height Equivalent of Packing (HETP)
How about you start a new thread about that, so we don't highjack this one.

https://homedistiller.org/wiki/htm/calc ... p_calc.htm

[shadylane]

I plan to make vodka (neutral alcohol)!

...And which design would you advise me to use?

Using a 35ltr pot to make neutral spirits.

For DIY made with copper, I'd recommend a 2" or 3" slant plate LM, It's the simplest design of all.
If made out of SS fittings, a VM, CCVM or rotary valve VM would be a good option.
If you like to tinker with controls a CM is fun.
It really doesn't matter what type of still head you use. Their all equal for making vodka or neutral.
What counts is the height of the column vs diameter, packing and most important a clean flavorless wash.

https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... management

[Whotan]

I think I'll build a hybrid anyway. I like to build and have the opportunity to weld and solder, etc

I want to keep everything open and there are already minor differences! What smudges and better separation!

For the pack I have made a new thread on as recommended! Maybe you can make this thread for everyone! Especially for beginners it would be practical to see how many plates you have and which packaging material is good or has advantages and disadvantages!!

[drmiller100]

I think I'll build a hybrid anyway. I like to build and have the opportunity to weld and solder, etc

I want to keep everything open and there are already minor differences! What smudges and better separation!

For the pack I have made a new thread on as recommended! Maybe you can make this thread for everyone! Especially for beginners it would be practical to see how many plates you have and which packaging material is good or has advantages and disadvantages!!

There have been a lot of discussions about which packing is best. No clear conclusions which maybe means lots of things work just fine.

Most old timers seem to agree flooding is bad so watch for that.