packing a 42" tall x 2" column - going for as neutral as possible - was thinking copper mesh every 6"s or so (is more better?) topped by a home-made "bubble plates" consisting of 1/2" copper pipe caps soldered into a "plate" style formation and then stacked slightly offset so as to fill up the width of the column as much as possible.
thinking the mesh would cause reflux and the returning liquid would run off the mesh and fill the copper "cups" - and act similarly to bubble plates or perforated plates - creating some fractioning.
If you're wanting neutral stick to copper mesh packed tight but not so tight that you can't breathe through it. I've gotten 195* proof with 2"x36" copper mesh easily. That last percentage gets a bit harder to reach.
If it's got hide or hair, I can ride it.
Wheels or tracks, I can drive it.
Rotor or fixed wings, I can fly it.
And if it's grain or fruit, i can make a drop outta it!
SchmuBrew wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 9:19 am
Just had a thought,
packing a 42" tall x 2" column - going for as neutral as possible - was thinking copper mesh every 6"s or so (is more better?) topped by a home-made "bubble plates" consisting of 1/2" copper pipe caps soldered into a "plate" style formation and then stacked slightly offset so as to fill up the width of the column as much as possible.
thinking the mesh would cause reflux and the returning liquid would run off the mesh and fill the copper "cups" - and act similarly to bubble plates or perforated plates - creating some fractioning.
crazy? not efficient?
If your going to stack bubble cap plates and packing, use plates that are at least 2X bigger dia. than the packing.
Bubble cap plates vs packing have different power and reflux requirements per diameter.
When mixed together compromises have to be made.
For neutral I wouldn't mix plates and packing.
On a side note.
Attempt to build a workable 2" bubble cap that has more than 3 caps and 1 downcomer.
For a 2 incher I'd use a single large cap with a central downcomer. AKA Procap.
Packing will cause a tiny bit of reflux, until the packing reaches operating temp, then it does nothing measurable unless there is something causing some condensation above it.
