Is a dephlegmator a anti foam tool

[Tammuz]

I was reading another thread on striping speed vs puking. It made me think of a small 6" dephlegmator I made for other reasons. I started to think cooling the section right above the boiler might allow you to push higher temps. Anyone try this?

[Salt Must Flow]

I was reading another thread on striping speed vs puking. It made me think of a small 6" dephlegmator I made for other reasons. I started to think cooling the section right above the boiler might allow you to push higher temps. Anyone try this?

"Higher temps" has nothing to do with it. Temperature is irrelevant.

If the power input is too high for what you are cooking, it can foam. If you let it keep foaming, it can eventually puke. You can reduce power, use an anti-foamer, but I don't think a dephlegmator is going to stop foaming or the subsequent puking.

[Tammuz]

Bad choice of words there. But would not the cooling right above allow you to push more energy increasing the vapor speed.

[Tammuz]

Ai just told me that partial condensed vapor falling back into the boiler would help increase foaming. I was hoping the pressure change there would act as a mild barrier for the foam.
Curiosity killed the cat again.

[Salt Must Flow]

Bad choice of words there. But would not the cooling right above allow you to push more energy increasing the vapor speed.

If you increase power input, that would increase the vapor speed, but once the vapor contacts the dephlegmator, it will cause reflux. The water flow rate through the dephlegmator will determine just how much reflux (or even full reflux). Above the dephlegmator will have slower vapor speed (or zero at full reflux).

Still, I don't see what a dephlegmator could do for foaming. Foaming is completely separate thing. Think of it as a boiling pot of spaghetti noodles. All you want is the more steam, but if your power is too high it can cause the pot to foam. You can add oil or butter to the pot, which will reduce foaming and you can increase power to get more steam. Foaming is not affected by a dephlegmator though.

[SW_Shiner]

You can see in a flute that a deflag doesn't help mitigate puking. I've had pukes that completely fill the column and go right through deflegmator and out to my collection vessel. Over powering the deflag in the process and making everything come out hot.

[Saltbush Bill]

A defleglamator won't stop puking, I can tell you that from experience.

[Yummyrum]

Another way of looking at it is that if a defleg could reduce foaming ( which it can’t) , what is the point of using more power when the result is that defleg is going to return most of the extra vapour it as reflux . The net result being , what passed the defleg is perhaps only as much as if you had simply turned down the power to prevent foaming in the first place .
Driving with the handbrake on as it were.

As far as AI goes, I fully agree with Salty . I have found several things in the last fortnight I googled ( nit just distilling related) were the AI instant results are total bullshit .

[shadylane]

Ai just told me that partial condensed vapor falling back into the boiler would help increase foaming. I was hoping the pressure change there would act as a mild barrier for the foam.
Curiosity killed the cat again.

I'm thinking power causes puking.
If a dephleg is being used, then more power is needed for the same amount of takeoff.
Therefor more likely to puke.

[squigglefunk]

try it out and lets find out!

[Tammuz]

Another way of looking at it is that if a defleg could reduce foaming ( which it can’t) , what is the point of using more power when the result is that defleg is going to return most of the extra vapour it as reflux . The net result being , what passed the defleg is perhaps only as much as if you had simply turned down the power to prevent foaming in the first place .
Driving with the handbrake on as it were.

As far as AI goes, I fully agree with Salty . I have found several things in the last fortnight I googled ( nit just distilling related) were the AI instant results are total bullshit .

Al actually said my premise was faulty, then offered options around my idea.

[Saltbush Bill]

I wouldn't believe to much of what AI says right or wrong
I saw it tell someone just the other day that distilling is legal in Australia, it then went on to give dates and times of laws being changed.
All of that information is complete BS.