40ltr keg, cm still, 2 2000w elements.

[Ogradygin]

Hi all!
I've been stilling with my 40ltr kegg element boiler
for over a year know,
Still have alot to learn! Loving the art!
I have a question about how to run my still on a neutral sugarwash spirit run.
I have 2 2000w elements one hooked upto a controller,
A 75cm long 2.5inch copper column packed with scrubbies and glass marbles.
Then a 3 inch dephlegmator
Then a 2.5 inch bend
Then my 2.5inch copper shotgun condenser

I'm wanting to know how much power I should be pushing through it when taking off product.
I think I am being abit cautious with how much power I'm running and tend to turn the water flow down on the dephleg more.
I'm still getting 95% the whole way through
I just finding it to be not quite as clean as I expect
And find it difficult to determine between heads hearts and tails.
I take cuts in small 200-400ml jars
And that is with around 35ltrs of 40% low wines in boiler
Should I put a thermometer above my dephlag?/what temperature should I be aiming for? 78°c?

Any help/advice would be much appreciated

[MooseMan]

I'm at work so I've only skim read this but at 750mm packed length I think you're going to struggle to get it neutral.

I run a 2.5" reflux column and my packed length is 50" whatever that is in mm?

[howie]

i wondered about only 75cm as well, maybe you need at least 1- 1.2m

sounds like it's all smeared if you can't tell heads/hearts/tails, it's quite distinctive if done correctly.
is your column insulated for starters?
do you hold the still in full reflux to stack the fractions, then slowly let the vapors through?
i use a thermometer before the deflag to monitor the temp during the full reflux *, when it drops a couple of degrees, i know the column is stacked.

* = a digital probe thermometer, inserted between column and insulation.

i use a thermometer after the deflag, as well, to do 2 things
1) check that nothing is getting past the deflag during full reflux
2) watch the rise in temp as i reduce the water to deflag to let the top fractions (heads) through, after stacking the column.

[drmiller100]

I never got a column under about 33 inches to run efficiently.
2.5 inch column. I know 2 inch is about 2000 watts. 3 iinch is about 4000 watts.

On a good reflux column on startup it will be just under boiling temp of etoh. That depends on altitude, precision if probe etc. When you pull the heads it may drop a degree or two as the make the mix boil slightly lower.

[Saltbush Bill]

Posting a photo of your still will help get better answers.

[bunny]

Hi all!
I've been stilling with my 40ltr kegg element boiler
for over a year know,
Still have alot to learn! Loving the art!
I have a question about how to run my still on a neutral sugarwash spirit run.
I have 2 2000w elements one hooked upto a controller,
A 75cm long 2.5inch copper column packed with scrubbies and glass marbles.
Then a 3 inch dephlegmator
Then a 2.5 inch bend
Then my 2.5inch copper shotgun condenser

I'm wanting to know how much power I should be pushing through it when taking off product.
I think I am being abit cautious with how much power I'm running and tend to turn the water flow down on the dephleg more.
I'm still getting 95% the whole way through
I just finding it to be not quite as clean as I expect
And find it difficult to determine between heads hearts and tails.
I take cuts in small 200-400ml jars
And that is with around 35ltrs of 40% low wines in boiler
Should I put a thermometer above my dephlag?/what temperature should I be aiming for? 78°c?

Any help/advice would be much appreciated

After a year of fighting it you seem to have figured out just how hard a CM setup can be to get what you want. You could keep after it until you are successful (some have ), or, you could cut your losses and switch to LM, or VM.
I have no doubt you are collecting too fast.

Since you are not happy with the cleanliness of 95% you might keep reading til you find the thread on 97.2% ABV being azeo.

You could start your rebuild by adding a second 75cm x 2.5" column on top of your current column. Fill the 150cm x 2.5" column with scoria or similar appropriate sized lava or Eheim Substrat Pro Pearls made from sintered glass.

Now, if you have enough ceiling clearance, stick a Boka on top and collect some serious neutral.
There are other LM heads with varying amounts of overhead clearance required and a few VM to consider. Overall a change of process will make a huge difference.

[Ogradygin]

Thanks for the input! Yeah I most likely am collecting to fast . Maybe I shouldnt fill my still up so much as the run can drag on for over 12 hours and still be pumping out 95%
I will post up a photo of my set up when I get home tonight but yes a few upgrades might be on the cards