PC question

[Twisted Brick]

Possum,

There are a number of variables involved in the efficiency of a shell and tube condenser. Surface area, baffles and coolant flow rate all matter and when balanced provide a highly-efficient PC in a small package.

A 4" PC is not needed for 11k watts. Nor is a 3". Members with oversize pots running TB condensers have borne this out.

Also, a condenser will provide a higher heat transfer rate with an increased coolant flow. A good example of this is from Deplorable, who tried to defeat his 2 x 20" shotgun using my 4 x 1/2" plates by pumping 100K btu's through it. With a sufficient increase in coolant flow rate his shotty didn't blink.

I've made many, many strips with 11k watts (40kbtu's) with a small 170gph pump and after 8 years my shotty performs as strongly as it always has, even in summer with elevated coolant temps.

Here are a few pics of what goes into an all-copper shotty build. PM me if you have any questions.

Twisted

[NormandieStill]

My feed to the house is currently 6kW (I can upgrade by changing subscription without changing the cables). We scrape through despite having an electric car and despite my distilling. Anything about 12kW here is considered to be for a large house with all-electric heating. Much above that and the grid company strongly suggests rewiring to 3-phase!

Where are you located? California?
With 200 Amp 240V load center I can pull 48kw at a time from the power company if my math is right. I was a licensed electrician in TN but never bothered to get licensed when I moved down here. That was 25 years ago so my math might not be mathing anymore.

Normandy, France! Despite a more than reasonable number of nuclear reactors, most people don't have access to anything above 36kW in residential. Our transformer is on a pole down the road, and feeds about 20 houses at most. I don't know what it's rated at. Given the voltage drop I can measure when I fire up my 4.5kW element, I dread to think what would happen if I turned on a 17kW one!

[Pure Old Possum Piss]

My feed to the house is currently 6kW (I can upgrade by changing subscription without changing the cables). We scrape through despite having an electric car and despite my distilling. Anything about 12kW here is considered to be for a large house with all-electric heating. Much above that and the grid company strongly suggests rewiring to 3-phase!

Where are you located? California?
With 200 Amp 240V load center I can pull 48kw at a time from the power company if my math is right. I was a licensed electrician in TN but never bothered to get licensed when I moved down here. That was 25 years ago so my math might not be mathing anymore.

Normandy, France! Despite a more than reasonable number of nuclear reactors, most people don't have access to anything above 36kW in residential. Our transformer is on a pole down the road, and feeds about 20 houses at most. I don't know what it's rated at. Given the voltage drop I can measure when I fire up my 4.5kW element, I dread to think what would happen if I turned on a 17kW one!

Holy cow!
Guess I'm lucky. I can have the AC and the clothes dryer running in the house, then go to the shed and turn on both elements and the lights never even flicker from the draw.
Always wanted to go see France after my grandpa told what it was like when he was there.