Home Distiller

Bolverk wrote: ↑Sat Feb 03, 2024 6:00 am So, I'll pulling water off my tap, from there it will go to a tee
one leg will feed the float
the other will go over to the product condenser.
As long as I put a valve on the condenser feed it should have enough pressure in the lines to make sure the float will work.

Bolverk wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 8:43 am I ordered that 1/4" nozzle educator... no point in dicking around with the 3/8" if it's not going to work...

tjsc5f wrote: ↑Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:56 pm I have all the parts on order too, I'm assuming we'll get it figured out one way or another LOL.

Bolverk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:28 am 2-1 adapter

https://stilldragon.com/2-x-1-housing.html

Bolverk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 1:31 pm For the cost and complexity, I should have probably just bought one of these

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKbwaCS

tjsc5f wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 1:58 pm
There is a post on here somewhere about that type of thing. From what I recall it was not usable out of the box, it didn't produce a steady stream of steam. I think the guy was tinkering with it to try to get it to work, but not sure if he ever did.

Besides that, yours looks way better than that ugly box

zach wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:36 pm I found this video with a 1/4" eductor with 11 kw of steam input in what looks to be a 55 gallon barrel

tjsc5f wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 1:01 pm

zach wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 12:36 pm I found this video with a 1/4" eductor with 11 kw of steam input in what looks to be a 55 gallon barrel

After seeing that, I'm guessing my 5.5kw of steam will be disappointing through the 1/4 eductor

tjsc5f wrote: ↑Fri Feb 02, 2024 9:28 pm It says it works with 10-150PSI. I don't know how you're planning on feeding it, but most modern home water systems are in the 50-90PSI range.
If you're planning on running a pump from a reservoir, something like this should do just fine
https://a.co/d/6D0PXTZ

Bolverk wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 11:03 am Thanks for the advice on this, I was planned on running a water line to a tee, one side will feed the float, the other over to the condenser, while my house has 80psi pressure I wasn't sure how that would look pressure wise with just a trickle running through. This will keep pressure on the float side and I can make the output to the condenser controllable on a gate valve

NorthWoodsAb wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 5:29 pm On your educator. I have been planning a steam rig as well. Steam wand coming down to a tee with branch off to each side. Using mig wire tips as nozzles. .6mm, .9mm(.035"), 1.2mm (.045") and 1.3mm (.052") are common sizes, available here at any welding supply for about $1.00 ea. All use common 8m thread. So it would be easy and cheap to dial in. If oriface is too small a drill bit could fix that. I figured two or possibly 3 on each branch, 180deg opposite on x axis with a slight upward angle would inject steam up into beer and create a swirl in the liquid.
Just an idea I haven't tried yet to see if it's viable but is affordable.
Cherrs

tjsc5f wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:08 pm Looking good! When are you going to fire it up?

Bolverk wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:52 pm Shortly after the educator gets here, which should be in a few weeks hopefully....

Bolverk wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 6:52 pm Otherwise the missing spools I need for the thumper side should be here tomorrow.

zach wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:02 pm I like it !!!

A heating element in the thumper would help speed up the warm up. You're probably going to need some insulation, with only 4.5 kw.

Bolverk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:26 pm Yeah you're probably right, I suspect I'll have lot of heat loss.
But... the added passive reflux could help with proof so I'll play it by ear and see how she does that first run or two. I'm hoping to hit 60% final spirit with a 8% beer, but that may be optimistic.

tjsc5f wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:49 pm
Have you played with this calculator at all? https://hobbybrennen.ch/Rechner/en/PotstillThumper.html
I know haggy was working on a version with 2 thumpers, but I don't think it ever went live.

If I'm following you correctly, and with the data in the haggy calc image you posted, you're planning on putting 12gal of 8% wash in your mash tun/stripping still, 1 gal of water in your thumper and heating the whole thing with your 4,500w steam generator?
It looks like that would not work very well, if this calculator is correct.

Bolverk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:19 pm What would you recommend?

tjsc5f wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:54 pm

Bolverk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 9:19 pm What would you recommend?

Without any low wines or feints, I'd probably just do a stripping run and bypass the thumper.

I think you said you have an element in your thumper? And it looks like your valves can block off the thumper from the stripper? You could put the low wines from the stripping run in the thumper and just do a double pot still for this round, if that's the case.