I finally bought a control valve for my water hose to control the flow to my condenser. I looked up where to put it and it seems most agree with the input. Does it matter where along that hose I put it? I was thinking kind of in the middle, above my cooling water bucket and not too close to the condenser. Does that sound about right?
I'm not quite sure how/when to control the flow. I'm assuming I want it slow at first and as the whole condenser heats up, increase the flow so my condenser stays cool at the bottom and warm at the top? Is that right?
Mains pressure is high in my street and I've lost water to the condenser several times due to blown connections. I fixed the problems by using an adjustable pressure reducer and by controlling flow before any hose connections.
sadie33 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 4:00 pm
I'm not quite sure how/when to control the flow. I'm assuming I want it slow at first and as the whole condenser heats up, increase the flow so my condenser stays cool at the bottom and warm at the top? Is that right?
Sounds good to me, assuming the liebig is sized correctly to the boiler power.
Usually, I start with too much cooling water and decrease the flow until the temp gradient is in the middle or the condenser.
The flow valve can be located anywhere, so put the valve where it's convenient.
I prefer it on the inlet of the condenser because it's uncomfortable touching a hot valve.
Salt Must Flow wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 4:31 pm
Yes, on the input. You can put the valve wherever it is convenient to operate. Its location will not make any difference.
Exactly what kind of condenser are you asking about? Like are we talking about a product condenser, a reflux condenser, a dephlegmator?
I keep calling it the wrong name, so I'll just post a picture.
NZChris wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 7:49 pm
It doesn’t take much pressure and heat to pop hoses off those hose tails.
I use a little zip tie on each hose at the condenser. It was dripping and the zip tie stopped the drip so now I just zip tie each hose to the condenser every time. Hopefully this will help with that as well.
I put mine right at the end of the condenser where the product comes out, so that it's in the most convenient place to tweak it.
I stick a finger under the stream and if it's colder than blood temp I turn the water down a tiny bit until it feels the same as my skin or just a bit warmer.
Not a great picture sorry, but you should be able to make out the stainless valve with a yellow handle (It's almost fully closed for just a trickle of water) coming off at a right angle, under the end of my condenser here.
I wish I had a needle valve though, as this ball valve is not good for fine adjustment.
Mine is roughly in the middle but far enough away that all the hoses don’t get in the way of the collection jars and like Moose said , close enough that I can feel the product temp ( and temp gradient along length) but still easily adjust .
I used a gate valve and although the critical operating area is between 1/2 and 1/4 turn from closed , it still have ease of operation .
Agree with Salty that a ball valve is still quite usable but it is definitely a bit more finicky . ( I’ve got one on my VM PC)
You’ll also notice I have mine on the output line . I’m probably one of a few that do . I am using a sump pump so the pressure has never been an issue for me . If I ever did connect it to mains water , I might consider switching it to the input line .
Nice little still sadie. Yeah like others said, its a continuous feed line so valve can go where its best access. In regards to your hose conection, these might work ok and reusable https://www.irrigationexpress.co.nz/pro ... gIZsfD_BwE
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Saltbush Bill wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2024 10:54 am
A ball valve is accurate enough for adjusting water flow to a product condencer.
99% of the time that's correct, here is an example of when a needle valve might be needed.
When using an oversized condenser and reclaiming energy for preheating or mashing.
The valve is adjusted for the wastewater temp needed instead of keeping the transition point in the middle of the liebig.
Saltbush Bill wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2024 10:54 am
A ball valve is accurate enough for adjusting water flow to a product condencer.
99% of the time that's correct, here is an example of when a needle valve might be needed.
When using an oversized condenser and reclaiming energy for preheating or mashing.
The valve is adjusted for the wastewater temp needed instead of keeping the transition point in the middle of the liebig.
I'm not going to tell you that that configuration won't be helpful, but it's not a preheater design that I've seen used commercially, probably for good reasons.
The Charentais design is very simple and very effective for saving cooling water, energy and time. Cooling water demand is very changeable for a Charentais setup, which is fine if you have an infinite supply of cheap water. I pay for my water now, so I've automated the output temperature of the product.
Saltbush Bill wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2024 10:54 am
A ball valve is accurate enough for adjusting water flow to a product condencer.
99% of the time that's correct, here is an example of when a needle valve might be needed.
When using an oversized condenser and reclaiming energy for preheating or mashing.
The valve is adjusted for the wastewater temp needed instead of keeping the transition point in the middle of the liebig.
This is precisely why I want finer control shady.
I do one or both of these things on almost every strip run and a needle/diaphragm valve or even a gate valve would provide better control of water.
I ended up putting it about a foot from the condenser. It's easy to get to and I can't believe how much it improves my run!! I can maintain that cool/warm gradient during the whole run, something I had not been able to do before. I used a lot less water for cooling as well. Wish I had done it last year!!
I like those clamps Googe. They gave me some twist clamps (I don't know what they're actually called), but as I tight as I twist it, the water still drips, just a little.
Does that sound about right?
