Minimum Valve Size for 4" VM Column?

[texanmason]

Currently running a modular 4" cooling management column (and not particularly satisfied). Can run one to six plates (or none) and have an inline dephlegmator. Column tapers to 2" at top and comes down as a 2" product line.

I am thinking of getting a 4" by 4" by 2" tee, putting the dephlegmator on the top of the column, and building the rest out to cover it into a vapor management column.

I want to be able to make neutrals on this AND have the capability to run the valve fully open and do one-and-done whiskeys/rums/etc.

What is the minimum valve size I can employ to achieve this? I have been looking at 2" gate valves, but they are pretty pricey. Would love to get away with 1" or even smaller, if possible.

[Novice]

Look on AliExpress for a ss gate valve. I would think about doing a one and done whiskey run in vm,with or without reflux.

I just found this on AliExpress:
304 Stainless Steel Gate Valve – Full Bore Female Thread Shut Off Valve, PN16, for Water/Oil/Air Lines – Sizes DN8 to DN50 (BSPP
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrF56P1

[Salt Must Flow]

I would get a 1-1/2" gate valve. That's what I use for my 4" VM and it works perfectly for me. I can turn the take-off rate down as low as I want with fine control. During hearts I have the valve open 4 complete turns and get 5.55 LPH.

With gate valves you need to learn 'by feel' when the gate begins to open as you turn it. For instance when you turn the valve to begin opening it, the knob will turn, but you'll feel when the gate actually begins to open. From that moment I begin keeping track of how many turns the valve is opened. The results are accurate and repeatable from run to run.

[Yummyrum]

I have a 1.25” on mine . It was fine for Rum .

I did find that my deflag was not good enough to use as a reflux condenser . Could get away with it just for Rum where the boiler power was around 2.5-3kw , but for neutral where I had it up around 6kw , it was useless .

[tommysb]

I am running a 1", but it's for heads cut on a continuous column. It's typically about 5-10% open, I would estimate

[Yummyrum]

I have a 1.25” on mine . It was fine for Rum .

I did find that my deflag was not good enough to use as a reflux condenser . Could get away with it just for Rum where the boiler power was around 2.5-3kw , but for neutral where I had it up around 6kw , it was useless .

Just found the topic I did on it . I seem to have miss quoted the valve as being 1.5” in that topic .

Note that as I mentioned above , my Deflagmator was not reliable as an RC so I flipped the PC upside down ( pointing up) and connected the two cooling circuits in series . That then gave me enough Reflux without it all shooting out the top .

The PC and the Valve it is hanging off are from my 2” LM/VM

viewtopic.php?p=7552229#p7552229

[texanmason]

Thanks for sharing your rig. What are the two valves on the side of your 4" flute condenser? I'm wondering if I'm going to have the same issue.

[Yummyrum]

Thanks for sharing your rig. What are the two valves on the side of your 4" flute condenser? I'm wondering if I'm going to have the same issue.

The one closest to the condenser is a Three way . I could switch it between full coolant flow , No coolant flow or flow via the Needle valve next to it . It was the best coolant flow control I ever had on my Flute when in CM setup but it still was a PITA outside on gas , hence the switch to VM .

[texanmason]

I am running a 1", but it's for heads cut on a continuous column. It's typically about 5-10% open, I would estimate

Would it be possible to fractionate on a plated column in this way? gate valve on the top above the dephlegmator (heads), gate valve on the side below the dephlegmator (hearts), and liquid management takeoff on the bottom of the column (tails)?

[tommysb]

Are you talking continuous or batch? You basically have a material balance of product going in and product coming out. Drawing at different points in a fractionating column will draw different product streams. You could have as many draws as you like, the net in just needs to equal the net out.

[shadylane]

Would it be possible to fractionate on a plated column in this way? gate valve on the top above the dephlegmator (heads), gate valve on the side below the dephlegmator (hearts), and liquid management takeoff on the bottom of the column (tails)?

That's an option when running continuous distillation, so some form of cuts can be done.
But, there will need to be packing or plates between the hearts and heads takeoff, otherwise it isn't going to work.
Because a dephleg can't selectively let alcohol pass based on its quality. It can only be adjusted to return a quantity of reflux.

If running batch distillation there's no substitute for letting the still do its thing and making cuts after the run is completed.
Sometimes simplicity can outperform complexity.

[texanmason]

Sometimes simplicity can outperform complexity.

Amen to that. Yeah, I was thinking in the context of batch, but I suppose fractionating will have to wait until I've got a continuous setup!