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Pikluk I am guesing that you are in the US right? Essex flanges are all in BSP thread (1/2" to 3") so are not compatible with US elements. UK elements are normally 2.25" BSP, Industrial ones are typically 2" BSP.

I wouldn't try this with a reducing bush because its not what they are designed for. Reducing bushes are supported by what you screw them INTO, so if unsuported will probably not be strong enough.

If you want to adapt something so that you can fit it from the outside of the keg, then your best bet would be to adapt a bulkhead coupling / tank connector. However, there is a lot of metal in the essex flanges, far more than in a conventional bulkhead connector.

I am sure they would ship overseas if you really wanted one. Website: http://www.essexflanges.com/flanges.html#
UK suppliers would probably do so also: BES who I use will do so: http://www.bes.co.uk/

It would probably be a better option to have a simmilar flange built to suit the elements you have available locally.

The thumper is in build. In the end I decided to cut the copper dome off my old glycol boiler and have just fitted it to a copper cylinder just over a foot tall. Hadn't intended it to but it looks a bit like a big copper phalus

Thinking about my dephlegmator and looking back over previous run notes, it won't be enough to give me 100% reflux. Am thinking of boosting it with an internal cooler but do not wish to impeed the vapour path too much.

First thought was an archimedes screw on a coldfinger (to fill the gap between the cold finger and the condenser wall) to increase the residence time in the condenser and boost the cold surface area.

Decoy did the image for me as it is beyond my skill level. Thanks.



Now once I could 'see' it I realised it would be a sod to actually build. Winding 2 coils in the same plane to make a semi solid screw might be an easier option.

Just curious if any of you have tried to create a spiral vapour path before, and how it worked out for you.

myles wrote:Just curious if any of you have tried to create a spiral vapour path before, and how it worked out for you.

My initial feeling is that a spiral will create unwanted turbulance.
And in my mind that means smearing heads well into your hearts.

The thumper is sitting in a bin full of dilute vinegar to clean up. I ended up cutting the copper dome off this earlier boiler - the stock pot had cracked next to a run of solder after several months of use. Different thermal expansion coefficients or possibly overheated when I soldered it with hard solder. When did you last check your boiler for flaws?



It is now all copper and is in this configuration with 1.4" in and 2" out. The copper for the body was recycled and well worn, so it might take some time to clean up.

Myles that spiral wound cold finger you show in your above post is how I built my condenser.
I used a 1 1/4 pipe with two spiral wraps of 3/8 tubing, had to flatten it a bit.
Then I "screwed" it into a 2" cover it was a bit tight.
Now any vapor trying to leave the condenser has to wind its way around the cold finger.
I run my cooling water at a trickle and never have a cooling issue.

Yes still crazy, and there are also some refferences to using a spiral wound coil as a reflux column in its own right, with the vapour path inside the spiral coil.

In this case I am using it as a partial condenser, and wish the vapour to be able to pass through it easily when I don't want a lot of reflux. At other times (heads) I do want a lot of reflux, but will be using a combination of Power Management and Coolant Management to fine tune its performance.