Building a 2” stripper pole

[Steve Broady]

IMG_6155.jpeg

This is the beginning of a 2” continuous stripping still. All the copper is the effluent side, with a 16” long 3/4” over 1/2” heat exchanger. I’ve got drains for both the heat exchanger and the effluent, and a fitting to add a thermometer right beside the column to monitor the temperature of the effluent. The union serves a dual role, both making it possible to break it down into relatively linear components, and to rotate the outlet in order to adjust the water level over the heating element.

Speaking of the element, it’s a 5.5kW 1.5” triclamp unit. That makes it a handy backup for my keg boiler, but more importantly it means that when run on 110V it’s just under 1500W. The plan is to be able to run this more or less anywhere that has electricity. No need for special electrical service. Also no need for cooling water, since the incoming wash is going to be doing the job of condensing the vapor.

Not shown, I’ve got a peristaltic pump to feed the cleared wash into the system, and about 4’ of 2” TC spools and marbles to fill them. My plan is to run about 3’ of marbles and 1’ empty above the wash inlet for foaming control.

Still to purchase, aside from various fittings, tubes, and other miscellaneous items, is a product condenser. My hope is to have it all together in a couple months. If this thing works as planned, it will make stripping wash a LOT more convenient. I’ll still use the pot still for the spirit runs, but I’ll be able to run this in the garage where I do my fermentation.