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Thank you!

That downcomer is way too small, the area of a downcomer should be the same or greater than the area of the rising vapor tubes or flooding will occur, remember what goes up must be able to come down.

OD

The incoming tubes are 1/2 inch with 3/4 caps and I have a 1/2 downcomer it's not solder in. If it's floods I'll simply replace it w/ 3/4 pipe. First I will drill a hole at the bottom of the downcomer tube where it meets the plate that way it will drain completely after use which will also help to keep it from flooding.

I'm with OD. I would have gone 3/4" for the downcomer.

And why would you need to remove the caps for cleaning?

I like the ring deal. But from seeing the violent bubbling on my fu man plate. It makes me wonder how well they will stay in place. And how even the bubbling will be. If and when it does move?

+3 on the downcomer. I like the ring idea, but would agree with pp on the cleaning, moving around. I reckon you'll need a way to keep the ring cap thing from moving side ways too?. Not sure you should put a drain hole, that would be like putting a hole in the plate, vapor takes the least resistant path. With caps you need a good bath for them to work properly. It's amazing how tinny of a hole, gap can affect it cause the vapor will favour that path. Good luck mate.

I wouldn't put a hole in the plate! I would put it in the downcomer tube where it would be vapor locked and the ring caps fit nicely over the incoming tubes. Worst case scenario I add weight to them. Again I have 15 incoming tubes vs. the normal 5-6. The pressure per each cap will be very minimal. I would have to run it pretty hard to get the same pressure build up. What's easier, breathing through 5 tubes or 15? Again I have no experience as I'm learning as I go. The downcomer will be a simple fix. I'd just like to see how this works before I make changes

On another subject I ordered my 7/16 Stainless steel ball bearings and 1/2"x3/8" flush bushing. 25 of each. The bushings were ¢.44 cents a piece $12 to ship and ball bearing were 19 bucks shipped.

We have a EDM Hole Popper are work. We made these lids for heat treating. We can go as small as .010" hole (30 gauge)

Started on my ball trap plate. The flush bushings I ordered were a little bigger on the ID so I had compress the end close so the ball bearing will stay in the bushing.

Here's a video of one of the traps holding water. Ball bearing trap test: http://youtu.be/P1f-SdjdVGM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Great work! Love the documentation and the details. I try to do it, find a balance between too much, too little, think I sometimes do too much. But I sure enjoy seeing how other guys do it.

Too often IMO someone builds something really nice, and all we get is one dark cell phone pic - "here it is."

Details! Details! We love them...

Are you in paradise? It sounds like a a bunch of birds are singing in that video.

Super slick job BTW. I'm very impressed with your workmanship.

bearriver wrote:Are you in paradise? It sounds like a bunch of birds are singing in that video.

Super slick job BTW. I'm very impressed with your workmanship.

Haha gotta love wind chimes and singing birds. Thanks you! I really appreciate the positive feedback guys.

Almost have one of the ball trap plates done. To keep the balls from coming out I will use a SS set screw of some type. I'll drill a pilot hole near the top and let the screw make it own threads in the copper tube. That way I'll be able to remove the ball bearins if needed. I was going to solder a copper wire over the top be then it permanent and I didn't like that. So far I like it a lot andmmuch easier than making bubble caps. I still need the downcomer which will be a 3/4 or 1" pipe with a cap.

Given the surface area those holes take up, one inch will work better.

OD

Looks way cool. I'm dying to see it run.

Wow that is real cool !

skow69 wrote:Looks way cool. I'm dying to see it run.

Me too. It's great seeing something unknown, experimental, come to life.

I hope the balls aren't so heavy that they create too much back pressure. An interesting experiment would be to apply a couple of PSI of compressed air beneath the plate, with the plate pre-loaded with water, and see what sort of pressure it takes to overcome the balls.

The balls aren't heavy at all. I bet a J bend plate builds more pressure than this type

Video of me moving the plate around still need a downcomer Ball trap plate with locks in: http://youtu.be/HAcBfvPtapM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Looks like you got balls Moon whiskey

Cant wait to see how it goes

I tested the ball trap plate and wasn't happy with the results. Out of the 21 ball bearings only two would release the vapors. I guess it's the same theory as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. So if I were to remake it, it will only have three ball bearing traps. I will post some videos of me playing with it

I might give these a try.

Here's some videos of the plates in action.
Ball trap plate: http://youtu.be/ECyFKTmAKAg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Ball trap plate test run: http://youtu.be/s7BqwcR4Dnk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
I believe just one or two ball traps would work beautifully with a good amount of liquid bed.
I had to use weights on the plate or it would just bubble around the edges

Are you going to test the teflon balls? What do they weigh? Compared to the ss?

I have seen talk of fine mesh before because liquid doesnt pass easily. I know its not a new idea what actually if you mixed two plates together. Say a normal sieve tray with a fine mesh over it. So vapour can rise but it retains liquid bed easier and makes it more forgiving to playing with power levels.Does that in theory work? Would it allow for bigger and less holes drilled per plate. Would the mesh effect the vapour dispersant at all?

I'll bet the lighter PTFE balls will work better... it'd be worth a shot, but I'm guessing those PTFE balls ain't cheap...

Nice videos and good experiment. Thank you...

Nice video. I think the issue is, once one of the balls moves - the rest of them don't need to. Once the pressure manages to get a ball out of it's "seat", it's going to ride the column of vapor, letting so much of it through that there's no pressure on the rest of the balls. Teflon balls might help, but I still don't think you're going to get the action you want.

Good on you for sticking with it though.