I feel like I have to be missing something or maybe I'm misunderstanding. I keep searching and reading everything I can find. I keep finding statements like, "LM has very good heads compression (probably the best of the three main design types)". People keep saying, "LM is great for heads compression", " LM is exceptional at compressing heads", but I haven't found a single explanation as to how/why.
I understand that LM collects what condensates directly from the reflux condenser. I understand that the take-off rate is variable. I understand that any excess reflux overflows the collector and falls onto the packing. So exactly what about this makes it better at compressing heads?
Just for clarity, I know what compression is. For instance with my still, tails is held back very very well. Suddenly I'll see the vapor temp rise and tails comes right away. So if we are to define our terms, that's an example what I believe "compression" is. I just can't fathom how LM "compresses heads". It just doesn't make any sense to me at all.
The only explanation I can think of is that people are taking off 100% of the reflux which is specifically something other still designs cannot do. Other still designs can do a similar thing by allowing 100% of the rising vapor to leave the still (after stabilizing), condense it and collect it. So in this case there's really no difference. What am I missing? Is this just a myth, old outdated info?
How Does LM Compress Heads Better?
Moderator: Site Moderator
- Salt Must Flow
- Master of Distillation
- Posts: 2959
- Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2022 2:06 pm
- Location: Wuhan China (Novel Coronavirus Laboratory)