Glass 4" Plated Column

[Corsaire]

Shady, I'm following this build with interest. I was planning to get 2 lengths of glass tube, 1 to use as a packed column. I'd order the other one in 4 sections, so I could choose from 1 to 4 plates.

I'll test the design first on a 2" column I got for free, a friend of mine just made ptfe seals.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=78158#p7602035

[shadylane]

My continuous downcomers reach down to ~3/8" above the next plate so the downcoming liquid flows into the next puddle (plates are 3/4" deep). No caps, no perf in the area where the downcomer feeds. So far so good, not a ton of testing yet on that build though.

I like the cranky mushroom dome, it does preclude a central rod to string up multiple plates but you could do two rods.

A central rod could still be used.
Mount the mushroom dome on the rod above the downcomer inlet.

[pope]

Now you're gettin' real fancy.

[shadylane]

I've seen several perf plate builds where the downcomer didn't have a cup.
The downcomer tube came close to the plate below it
And the liquid on the plate made the seal to keep vapor from blowing up the downcomer.

[shadylane]

Here's some info

[shadylane]

Here's some info about Weeping

[LWTCS]

We're just talking counting holes and calculating open area as a %, then going up a hole size or two (say from 1/16 to 3/16) and going for the same open area %? yes sir

I feel like running solids should be a hobby level endeavor. Sure. With the right set up seems to me doing grain in stuff would make production so much more user friendly. After all it's why so many pros do it.Maybe not what I built but steam injection for sure.. but that's in the body not the column anyway.

[Swedish Pride]

I had a similar approach and reasoning for the hole size and count for my build, I settled on 2.5mm because that's the size i had, I think i ended up with 2-3% hole ratio or sum such.
Works good.

In saying that, I'm in the process of doing an other plater closer to the norm with 1.5mm holes every 4mm or was it 5mm?
Damn bits keeps breaking alright, got 2 and a bit plates driller and 6 drill bits down already.

[shadylane]

I learned the hard way.
The trick to drilling small holes in .080" thick copper.
Is lubricant to keep the bit from grabbing and breaking.

[pope]

My drilling tips are drill press, clamped material, scrap hardwood backer, I lubricate large holes but should probably do the small ones too, shady.

[Windswept]

My drilling tips are drill press, clamped material, scrap hardwood backer, I lubricate large holes but should probably do the small ones too, shady.

I feel like there's a joke there...

[pope]

I make that mistake all the time

[Saltbush Bill]

I learned the hard way.
The trick to drilling small holes in .080" thick copper.
Is lubricant to keep the bit from grabbing and breaking.

Thought you already knew that or would have mentioned it.
Centre punching also helps as does clamping the plate hard to a block of hardwood.

[shadylane]

The 4" x 48" glass tube came in and the ends will need some grinding

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2 hours latter and I'm getting closer

[RC Al]

Gosh...

So there's a good pointer to prospective glass builders, enquire as to the finish of the ends before purchase....

[shadylane]

Ain't that a fact
Also the inner diameter of the tube is out of round a little.
No big thing, I'll figure something out

[shadylane]

Thought you already knew that or would have mentioned it.

Already knew about that
Just needed to "test" the breaking strength of cheap drill bits
The last one or two bit's were much better and lasted longer

[Saltbush Bill]

I guess I also forgot to mention that if you anneal the copper to soften it before trying to drill a few gazillion tiny holes that life becomes a hell of a lot easier too.
To late now but might help next time.

[Halfbaked]

That don’t look like 4’x4”
download/file.php?id=65681&mode=view[attachment=0]image.jpeg[/attachment

[Yummyrum]

That don’t look like 4’x4”
download/file.php?id=65681&mode=view[attachment=0]image.jpeg[/attachment

That was my initial thought too halfbaked , but if you look closer .... to my eyes anyway.... it looks like Shady just slipped the zip-tie up a bit and it happens to be where he framed the photo. ... the glass continues further .

BTW , Shady , how are you grinding the glass ?

I made my sight glasses on a bench grinder for my Flute build . One stone destroyed them ... as in severely chipped and shattered , whilst the other one smoothly ground them to perfection .

I since learned that you should use water while grinding to act as a lubricant , a coolant and to reduce glass dust exposure .


You mentioned that the glass internal was out of round . Cranky mentioned that as high possibility and it seems you have this .

How out of round is it? ..... and how will it effect your build ?

[cranky]

The 4" x 48" glass tube came in and the ends will need some grinding

Is that how they sent it or did it break in shipping?

[shadylane]

That's how they cut it.
Trust me, it's 48" long and weighs 16 pounds
IT feels like more, after a couple hours of holding it to my homemade belt sander.

[Beerswimmer]

Also the inner diameter of the tube is out of round a little.
No big thing, I'll figure something out

Maybe take a little radius off of the plates and wrap the edges with PTFE tape?

[Corsaire]

The out of roundness is partly what prompted my clamped plate design. That's what I'm hoping to test with the 2". They're up to 2mm out of round. Grind the ends flat, hoping that they seal well enough on the ends. If not, wrap with ptfe tape.

The out of roundness didn't surprise me on my chinese column, but I'm surprised more expensive stuff isn't better. Shocked at those ends as well.

[LWTCS]

The out of roundness is partly what prompted my clamped plate design. That's what I'm hoping to test with the 2". They're up to 2mm out of round. Grind the ends flat, hoping that they seal well enough on the ends. If not, wrap with ptfe tape.

The out of roundness didn't surprise me on my chinese column, but I'm surprised more expensive stuff isn't better. Shocked at those ends as well.

It's not uncommon for a bunch of Owens Corning lengths to ship China solely for the sake of cut lengths.

[shadylane]

I finished all the grinding and was so proud of it
Then I dropped the damn thing

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[Saltbush Bill]

OH SHIT!

[shadylane]

Shit happens
Lets see if I can cut it and have a 3' piece when I'm done

[MichiganCornhusker]

I finished all the grinding and was so proud of it
Then I dropped the damn thing

I bet any grand kids within earshot learnt a few new words about then.
Looks to me like that's how they break 'em to size at the factory, you should be fine.

[RC Al]

Well crap, that's 2 plates less...

Sorry shady, hopefully that wont happen again, on the plus side, its a few pounds lighter now