Home Distiller

Alright fellas, had some downtime offshore which has let my mind do some wandering. Thinking about adding on a section of 3" packed column downstream of the 2" bubble cap still. The reason for doing so would be to increase output and still maintain 95%. Right now with the bubble cap still I can get around 1/2L per hour. This can make for some long runs. At around 1L per hour the purity drops off to the upper 80's%.

Here's what I'm thinking:


The bubble cap column is 2" copper. Would probably look at doing the 3" section in stainless. I'm also thinking that this setup would give me two opportunities to pull off heads, once when they leave the 2" column and hopefully condense in the 1-1/4" as the column is initially heating up, then again in the 3" once equilibrium is reached. Is my thinking on that flawed? Would the 3" add-on be a worthwhile endeavor? I do have a tig welder. Assembly would be a piece of cake.

I think we are both riding the same horse, but a different color, both trying to get the best from a fractional still. I am currently getting 82ABV at 1lt per 20 minutes, I have just added a wind of 1/2" tubing to the head of the second column to try and achieve a bit of dephlagmetor action to the still to see If I can get just that bit more. I am currently waiting for fermentations to finish to try. I will post the results, good or bad.


OD

olddog wrote:I am currently getting 82ABV at 1lt per 20 minutes

Thats pretty darn good OD.

Kinda wish you were using lectric so I new how much comparable heat you are dumping in to your boiler.

olddog wrote:I think we are both riding the same horse, but a different color, both trying to get the best from a fractional still. I am currently getting 82ABV at 1lt per 20 minutes, I have just added a wind of 1/2" tubing to the head of the second column to try and achieve a bit of dephlagmetor action to the still to see If I can get just that bit more. I am currently waiting for fermentations to finish to try. I will post the results, good or bad.
OD

Yes, I think we both have gotten some influence from larger, commercial setups.

I'm looking for the cleanest neutral spirits possible. It appears that you are looking to end up with some flavor. I like what you have done and think you are definitely on the right track. Look forward to seeing the results of the next run.