I'm thinking of a 35gal boiler in anticipation of running ~25gal wash runs. Is it better to have a taller boiler than a shorter boiler? I've seen some info that would seem to indicate that additional space above the wash before the collector might benefit the product quality, but I can envision a scenario that would make me think that a larger surface area might increase the vapor output. Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.
Does a 3" column offer a reasonable capacity for a boiler of this size? Do I need a 4" column or is it just a case of how much patience I have and the 3" or even a 2" would work fine? My confusion on column diameter comes from my attempts at using the reflux calc on the parent site. It tends to suggest something around 2" for a 100ltr pot until I put in what seems like wildly unrealistic power numbers. Could I really hit this thing with 250KBtu's and not blow it up? The pot will be at rolling boil with a lot less than that going to it. But the calculator says I can run it wide open with about a 7' column and get 95% @ ~2.5ltr/hr.
I also plan to build a more traditional "short column" to be used for stripping runs and for when I want to run the whole contraption as a pot still. Should I just stick with 3" or go larger to speed the stripping process, say 4" or even 6". Is it worth the effort? I haven't found much if any info on 4"/6" columns to give me an idea of output.
Assuming I will want to try different types of wash, I'm planning to make sure I have access to the inside of the boiler. How bad is the residue left by grain wash? Do I need to plan for an access port or a completely removable panel so I can really get into the boiler?
Lastly, I've checked my usual sources for fancy hardware and can't find an all metal SS gate valve. I've seen some really nice one's in photos on this site, so if anyone can point me to a suitable source I'd appreciate it.
And for the record, NO!, I'm not made of money, but I do have access to a large amount of scrap copper pipes in various sizes that I can get for less that metal salvage cost, hence the questions about 4"/6" copper.
Thanks for your help.