Dephlegmator Comparision

[shadylane]

That looks nicer than my ugly dephleg experiments.

[30xs]

That looks nicer than my ugly dephleg experiments.

Bullshit!! It was your experiments that led me to try what I have now.

[The Baker]

That looks great.

You could measure the copper tube by filling it with water then measuring the water
and converting that to the water in a measured length of tube.
Either by doing that yourself or I think on google you can find the content of water in a given length of tube.

Probably not worth bothering, but...

Geoff

[Yummyrum]

Not a bad idea Geoff .But I wonder how much a slight flattening of the pipe during bending would throw the measurement ?

BTW , that coil looks amazing 30xs

[shadylane]

That looks nicer than my ugly dephleg experiments.

Bullshit!! It was your experiments that led me to try what I have now.

Let us know how much water is needed.
Setting on top of a flute, I'm guessing just a trickle will get the job done.
It doesn't take much to keep the plates loaded.

If you size the dephleg just right.
The waste water will be hot enough for mashing with.

[Hebden]

Can I please ask, is that hole up top required to stop you over pressurising the system?
And looking at the size of it, there is no point putting a safety release valve on the keg then?

[OtisT]

Hebden
That condenser can be used as a Dephlegmator or as a Reflux condenser. The hole in the top is a short section of copper pipe with a copper ferrule on top. Ferrules are used for clamping parts together with a tri-clamp.

As a Dephleg in a CM style column, a section of pipe (maybe an elbow or two) is clamped to the top and a Product condenser is clamped to the end of that for condensing/collecting product. During operation the water flow in the coil is turned down to a low flow so that some vapor is allowed to pass by to make its way to your product condenser for collection.

As a Reflux condenser, there is no need to connect anything to the top of that. Just leave an opening. This opening is necessary for many VM and LM columns so pressure does not build up in the system. As a reflux condenser, you want the cooling flow to be sufficient so vapor never passes the coils.

If you are just making a reflux coil, you don’t need the copper plate or ferrule on top. You could use just a copper tubing coil and two compression attached hose connectors (and maybe a compression fitting needle valve too) for water in/out. Just hang you coil inside with your copper tubing leads bent to hold the coil in place and bob’s your uncle.

Otis

[30xs]

Otis is correct. The piece is a reflux condenser for a CM column. It sets on top of a 4” spool and the hole at the top gets a couple elbows and goes to the product condenser. Preliminary tests were promising but I wound up cracking the one of the pipes and need to build a new coil. I’ll be running the same size coil, I was happy with it just as it is shown.

[fzbwfk9r]

I also have a shotgun dephlagmater but with 3/4” tubing and my water and the dephlagmater slide in from the top of the column.

image.png (135.88 KiB) Viewed 3280 times

You could use that style in a CCVM unit with little modification

[LWTCS]

I also have a shotgun dephlagmater but with 3/4” tubing and my water and the dephlagmater slide in from the top of the column.
image.png

You could use that style in a CCVM unit with little modification

He's already moved along from VM. Years ago.

[fzbwfk9r]

Sure, but for new builders, it is something to consider.... Just to be different

[OtisT]

I also have a shotgun dephlagmater but with 3/4” tubing and my water and the dephlagmater slide in from the top of the column.
image.png

You could use that style in a CCVM unit with little modification

I don’t think this would work in a CCVM. The side walls would block off the vapor path to your PC.

[LWTCS]

I also have a shotgun dephlagmater but with 3/4” tubing and my water and the dephlagmater slide in from the top of the column.
image.png

You could use that style in a CCVM unit with little modification

I don’t think this would work in a CCVM. The side walls would block off the vapor path to your PC.

Yeah good point. Would just be VM that needs a typical valve.

I still find myself somewhat confused with the CCVM preference over a basic VM ( with valve).
Was fun to connect the dots when the design first came out. But beyond that I really dont see why unless a valve (of any kind) were simply not available.
No matter.

[OtisT]

.
I still find myself somewhat confused with the CCVM preference over a basic VM ( with valve).
Was fun to connect the dots when the design first came out. But beyond that I really dont see why unless a valve (of any kind were simply not available.

Amen!

[Bushman]

After building my CM I can get up to 92% with 100% reflux and run it slow. My VM took forever to run and I could draw 95-96%. I have not run my VM since building the CM much more versatile and with a 4” diameter column takes me 1/3 the time to run.

[MereCashmere]

I still find myself somewhat confused with the CCVM preference over a basic VM ( with valve).
Was fun to connect the dots when the design first came out. But beyond that I really dont see why unless a valve (of any kind) were simply not available.
No matter.

What exactly about the preference confuses you? Maybe I can help clear it up for one, you save a buttload of money on a valve, especially for your larger columns.

[LWTCS]

Butt load is how much?
Hobby product draw is how big?

[MereCashmere]

Butt load is how much?
i think that’s subjective; your buttload is probably different from mine.
Hobby product draw is how big?
Not sure what this sentence means, mind elaborating?

Also, valves encourage pooling of product, enhancing smearing. Something I think we all want to avoid!

[LWTCS]

Butt load is how much?
i think that’s subjective; your buttload is probably different from mine.
Hobby product draw is how big?
Not sure what this sentence means, mind elaborating?
SS /1/2" valve can be had for 15 bux

Also, valves encourage pooling of product, enhancing smearing. Something I think we all want to avoid!
full port ball valves do not. Can also install the valve on an angle

[MereCashmere]

Butt load is how much?
i think that’s subjective; your buttload is probably different from mine.
Hobby product draw is how big?
Not sure what this sentence means, mind elaborating?
SS /1/2" valve can be had for 15 bux

Also, valves encourage pooling of product, enhancing smearing. Something I think we all want to avoid!
full port ball valves do not. Can also install the valve on an angle

I’m not sure who’s running a 1/2” column; but I’d like to have a chat with him and I think I mentioned the valve being expensive more so as column size goes up. I’m sure I could find a 1/4” valve for even cheaper than your $15 1/2” one but there’s not many who would need or want a 1/4” inch valve.

As for your full port valves I’d love to see some documentation or proof they don’t pool; as I haven’t seen any evidence to state they don’t. And as for installing the valve on an angle, that means…. More parts! And that means more $$$.

Cheapest full port ball valve for my still that I’ve found that I’d trust to buy is over $200. Guess what I spent that money on instead? More mash! Hope that cleared it up for you!

[shadylane]

As for your full port valves I’d love to see some documentation or proof they don’t pool; as I haven’t seen any evidence to state they don’t.

Sounds like you need to start a new tread about valves on a VM causing smearing.
And supply the documentation.

[MereCashmere]

As for your full port valves I’d love to see some documentation or proof they don’t pool; as I haven’t seen any evidence to state they don’t.

Sounds like you need to start a new tread about valves on a VM causing smearing.
And supply the documentation.

Haha I knew this comment would come just didn’t know how fast! The reason I tried to help LW understand the CCVM preference is because he and I both commented on a
Thread where the owner of the valved VM had a serious pooling issue. If you’re curious you can check my post history, it’s fairly recent.

[fzbwfk9r]

where I live, SS valves are VERY expensive

copper is costly enough, trying to save a buck where I can

with the internal Deflag, one could mod it with a screw drive to raise/lower it, and it'd block the vapour outlet just like a coil.
That was my only point. Some folks find soldering a bit easier than coiling copper.

as for CM/VM comparison, a lot of what I have read is the VM is much easier to control. Output is the same.

As for pooling, I think although it may happen, I am not sure I could taste it.

[fzbwfk9r]

....
I don’t think this would work in a CCVM. The side walls would block off the vapor path to your PC.

in a CCVM that is exactly what you want. The sliding shotgun would act as a valve, just like a sliding coil
lower it over the outlet for 100% reflux, raise it slowly to initiate takeoff

[Saltbush Bill]

Ive never run a CCVM , but gut feeling is that doing it that way might be way fiddlier when it comes to fine adjustment , than using a much longer coil type condenser.

[shadylane]

Ive never run a CCVM , but gut feeling is that doing it that way might be way fiddlier when it comes to fine adjustment , than using a much longer coil type condenser.

I've played around with CCVM, and I'm still running a CM.
I like the ability to control the reflux with a needle valve.
My column is too tall for a CCVM to be practical.
I'd have to get on top the roof and take the top of the false chimney to adjust the coil.

[Saltbush Bill]

Lot of people say CM reflux is fiddly, even though I run a boka for neutral I often think about building a CM packed column for neutral runs......for some reason I have a soft spot for them......maybe cause I first learned on a T500.

[shadylane]

A CM is adjustable, not fiddly.

[Bushman]

A CM is adjustable, not fiddly.

+1, Just make small adjustments and wait before making another adjustment. Love my CM.

[LWTCS]

Butt load is how much?
i think that’s subjective; your buttload is probably different from mine.
Hobby product draw is how big?
Not sure what this sentence means, mind elaborating?
SS /1/2" valve can be had for 15 bux

Also, valves encourage pooling of product, enhancing smearing. Something I think we all want to avoid!
full port ball valves do not. Can also install the valve on an angle

I’m not sure who’s running a 1/2” column; but I’d like to have a chat with him and I think I mentioned the valve being expensive more so as column size goes up. I’m sure I could find a 1/4” valve for even cheaper than your $15 1/2” one but there’s not many who would need or want a 1/4” inch valve.

As for your full port valves I’d love to see some documentation or proof they don’t pool; as I haven’t seen any evidence to state they don’t. And as for installing the valve on an angle, that means…. More parts! And that means more $$$.

Cheapest full port ball valve for my still that I’ve found that I’d trust to buy is over $200. Guess what I spent that money on instead? More mash! Hope that cleared it up for you!

I never said anything about a 1/2" column.
How big is your column that you feel you need a what? 2" vlave at the hobby scale?
Puh, a two inch valve can handle vapor coming off of a 12" diameter with a " buttload" more heat input than a hobby still could ever provide.

Im staring at a full port ball valve right now. The entire opening all the way through the valve is very smooth and relatively uninterrupted.
Mate, there ain't no pooling happening on this valve here.