Flute Height

[Aunti-mater]

If I wanted to build a 4" diameter plated reflux column, how high should each flute be? It seems 6" high flutes are common. Is there any advantage to making each flute 7" tall? I have enough 4" copper pipe to make 6 plated sections, each 7" tall.

[Sporacle]

I used 120mm as my section height, for my four inch plater.
I think you only need enough room to load the plate and have enough space for your cups on your comers.
Taller sections to me would just require more input and take the still longer to react to input changes
Here's my build thread
viewtopic.php?p=7734755#p7734755

[Setsumi]

I think 7" per section is over kill. I agree with Sporacle 120mm is just fine. I will not go above 150mm but even that is much.

Are you going for perfs or caps?

[Saltbush Bill]

The whole still is known as a flute in some circles, each section is a module, that is if you choose to build modular.
1 meter of copper pipe is enough to build the entire still.
If you look through old dogs original flute thread, and other plated column build threads you will get a good idea of the average distance folk have used between plates.
There is nothing wrong with the sizes that Sporacle has suggested.
Reading as many plated column built threads as possible will give you plenty of tips and tricks to make the job easier.
Here is one of mine, not 4 inch bit six, methods of doing things apply just the same to 4 inch as does distances between holes and marking out plates.
viewtopic.php?t=76349
Not sure if this post will open for you but it's an old school 4 incher that I built back in 2011, some of the methods used still apply to this day.
https://australianhomedistiller.com.au/ ... cad1b679a1

[Sporacle]

Reading as many plated column built threads as possible will give you plenty of tips and tricks to make the job easier

There is so much info out there and everybody contributes their own little bit that then goes on to help others.

Fingers crossed we get another build thread

[Aunti-mater]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it.
I've read a bunch of threads on column builds over the past year or so, and today I spent a few hours reading more.
I now have mixed feelings about going with bubble plates, but I've already bought some of the parts.
I have 3" copper pipe, but I plan on using a 77" (1.9m) long piece of 4" I have laying around. I'm glad I didn't cut it before I asked.
I bought a few of the parts I didn't want to take the time to make; 6 plates/caps, 6 sight glasses, and a dephlegmator. The boiler will be a 1/2 keg with two heating elements. I have most of the parts needed for the controller, I'm going to build that first. I'll be sure to take pictures and post them.

Any suggestions on how to best use what I have? Height shouldn't be an issue, the garage has a 10' (3m) ceiling. I want to learn how to make whisky, bourbon and vodka, and I also want to experiment with different fruits to make brandy.

[Saltbush Bill]

The boiler will be a 1/2 keg with two heating elements

What is the capacity of what you refere to as a " half keg"
For a 4 inch 4 plate still I'd recommend using a boiler with a usable capacity of at least 40L

[Aunti-mater]

The 1/2 keg capacity is 15.5 gallons (58L), but for head room, I plan to fill it with no more than ~13 gallons (50L).

Your build using perfed plates (and info on other threads), made me second guess myself about cap plates.
I can make perf plates over time, so the upside of staying with the caps at first just means I'll have a more versatile setup as I learn more. At least that's how I'm justifing the purchase.

[Aunti-mater]

The reason I asked if 178mm high sections would be ok is because of a post I read some time ago (which I can't find). The jest of it was the OP made a column with the plates too close together. The replies recommended the minimum distance needed between plates, and I thought also suggested further apart would be okay or better. It seems I'm mistaken about that.

[shadylane]

If I wanted to build a 4" diameter plated reflux column, how high should each flute be? It seems 6" high flutes are common. Is there any advantage to making each flute 7" tall? I have enough 4" copper pipe to make 6 plated sections, each 7" tall.

Distance is needed between the plates to limit entrainment.
Entrainment is droplets of reflux being blown upwards into the plate above. It causes the plate to smear and isn't good.
At the same time, too much spacing makes the column height excessive.
In your case I think 7" would work just fine.

[Saltbush Bill]

I don't see any advantage in making a plated column taller than necessary, it fact too tall can be a pain in the arse.
More hight means longer hoses to reach the defleg.
More head hight for a water pump if using one.
Harder to see what's happening on those top plates.
Not good for those with limited ceiling heights.
Extra material and work to get product output down to a usable hight from floor.
I'm sure I can think of more.
From my experience 5 inches between perforated plates is more than enough.
IMO , if droplets are spashing that high way to much power is being applied to the boiler charge.

[30xs]

If I recall correctly the thread he read had a spacing of only about 4” between plates. I vaguely remember that thread when I was gathering info before building mine. I think I ended up just a shade over 6” between plates. Worked fine for me.