Steam Generator

[Bolverk]

I am also interested how a continuous unit will affect esterification and flavors.

The bulk of esters dont typically make it through a continuous system... the higher boiling point acids end up washing out with the stillage/effluent.

[shadylane]

If 110v -120v is all that's available then 1,800w is the max safe limit from the receptacle.
That's not enough to power a steam generator used to drive anything but a tiny continuous column.
If your successful due to heat recycling and insulation, figure on a slow drip at best.
The worst part is you might get half of the available alcohol from the wash, the rest will be lost in the bottoms.

Not to sound mean, but it would be better to forget about continuous distillation and insulate the 8 gal boiler and 2" column.

Not sure i agree Shady...

For example my setup is running 8.71 gph at 6kw thats 688 wg/hr (and its definitely not as efficient as it could be). All things being equal in a 2" column at say 1500w, you could run at approximately 2.18 gph (or 138 mL/min), in say a 6 hour period (time it would take for a long plated hybrid run) thats about 12 gals of beer/wine/wash processed. For perspective thats effectively a 15 gal keg setup on half the power (and you can run on grain with the right pump and plates) with less than 1% lost in the effluent... most folks wouldn't be upset about that.

You are more experienced with continuous distillation than me by far, I read your posts to learn.

I don't think what works for a 6kw still would scale down 4:1 with only 1.5kw.
Not saying it can't be done, but it would be an experiment that a distiller could get thirsty trying.

[Bolverk]

I don't think what works for a 6kw still would scale down 4:1 with only 1.5kw.
Not saying it can't be done, but it would be an experiment that a distiller could get thirsty trying.

We're finding it not exactly linear but pretty close.

Steve Broadys 1500w 2" running was at roughly 300mL/min, I think he beat all of use the the fully rectifing column. It definitely can be done.

Naw at this point, we have enough guys that have successfully done it that we coach just about anyone through it.

[bluc]

That hearts speed @ bolverk ? Yes few that can help with questions now

[Bolverk]

That hearts speed @ bolverk ? Yes few that can help with questions now

No beer feed i think

[bluc]

Cheers