HOBBY continuous still!

[ChairLawyer]

What if you had a 5 gallon hybrid type still? A small 5 gallon, multi function still, that could do a "continuous" strip on, let's say, 25 gallons of wash. When the strip is done, drain the boiler, flip the hybrid still into 'pot still mode' and do your spirit run, cutting your fores out, tasting and feeling for heads, hearts and tails. Is that what you're shooting for?

[JaCh]

What if you had a 5 gallon hybrid type still?

I'm aiming to fit this whole thing in less space than just the boiler of a 5 gal still would take up.
The is no chemical requirement for a really high column, I think with the correct design it is possible to setup sufficient thermal gradient with less height.
Weather this is possible or not has yet to be seen.
I have not seen any failed attempts, if something close to what i am suggesting has been tried and failure has resulted then I will be proven wrong.

[Max_Vino]

This design seems to cover most of your criteria for a stripping still. I found on another distillation website. If you need it smaller then scale the column down. Heat exchange then becomes the limitation to throughput.

Max
http://www.artisan-distiller.net/phpBB3 ... 52&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[rad14701]

There are two main types of continuous distillation columns, those which utilize steam and those which don't... The continuous column I ran years ago did not use steam... Very touchy as far as heat input and metered wash input based on product and waste exiting the still...

[JaCh]

This design actually uses the same concept as mine but I have included the steam boiler in the diagram.

Heat exchange then becomes the limitation to throughput.

Which aspect of heat exchange? (column temp gradient/wash input temp/other?)

[JaCh]

Very touchy as far as heat input and metered wash input

I had an idea yesterday to remedy this:
-saw a 900W dirty water pump (particles up to 3mm) on sale for £30
-figured I could use this in conjunction with a float valve to keep a wash reservoir topped up with wash
-the height of the wash would control the speed of the wash input (gravity fed)

[Max_Vino]

This design actually uses the same concept as mine but I have included the steam boiler in the diagram.

Heat exchange then becomes the limitation to throughput.

Which aspect of heat exchange? (column temp gradient/wash input temp/other?)

Specification:
Essential-
-Must function well as a stripper
-Must remove majority of water content
-Must not scorch the wash
-Must be simple to make
-Must be simple to run
Desirable/Non Essential-
-Must remove majority of tails
-Must be regulated by an arduino uno
-Must remove heads
-Must produce neutral potable spirits without need for further process
-Must be able to be passed off as an essential oil extractor

The design I posted is not like yours. It's a continuous stripping still only. (I assume your referring to your column design #2.) Your design will act as a hybrid stripping/reflux still probably giving you more tails than you want entrainment being what it is and by placing the wash at the top of the column.. Also, with your steam generator your design does not remove the majority of water, nor will it make a heads cut...and it won't produce "neutral". so I wonder if this is really what you want. Do you understand the theory behind stripping ? This is not trivial. It evolved over the last 100 years, through a trail of blood and tears, with many intelligent men devoting their lives to understanding it's nurance.

This is why Rad mentioned that your going to need a spirit still or more of a fractionating type continuous still...both of which require room, that is, if your seeking reasonable throughput. Micro distillation systems can be very small but then so is the throughput. Why is that ? Heat exchange. The heat exchange problems are driven by what you expect in the way of output. When considering evaporative heat exchange you are primarily working with the vapor speed, temperature differential and surface area among other things. A smaller column decreases surface area...for a target throughput then the other parameters then have to be increased ..but what ? superheated steam ? a smaller column will flood...As Rad has already pointed out...difficult to balance and limited.

Max