good or bad design???

[flashtec]

I had a stainless steel pot still with a liebig condenser given to me. It has a strange lid design. The lid has a slanted water cooled plate welded in, which slants toward the liebig fitting on the side of the lid. It has a smaller plate under the liebig fitting to help catch the condensate and direct it into the liebig. I’ve attached pics. My question is: is this a good or bad design and is water cooling the lid a good or bad idea? I would really appreciated some advice.

Thanks Flashtec

[olddog]

Its basically just a potstill with a Bokabob style plate to catch condensing liquid, but how efficient it would be is debatable.


OD

[blanikdog]

Interesting rig. Did the giver give the givee any instructions? My first thought was sorta like a wok still, but I think that OD has hit it. Be good to see your results.

Good luck with it.

blanik

[rubber duck]

I don't see anything dangerous at first glance, that's always a good start. Free is a good price so It looks like a good design to me.

[LWTCS]

Interestingly simple. I bet a smart fella could come up with some basic mods on that concept and have a really handy unit.

I like it.

[flashtec]

Thanks for the replies, it came through a few people before i got it ( no instructions) . I did a run with it, and can really put the heat to it with no vapor loss, and a steady stream coming out. it took 3 runs to get up to 66%. I know now I was rushing it. My theory is water cool the lid for a fast stripping run, then no lid cooling for a slower finishing runs. I kinda thought that if the cooling plate slanted away from the liebig, it would act more like a reflux plate and drop out the less desireables and if slanted toward liebig condense everything quicker. Sound right???

Flashtec

[olddog]

I wouldn't bother about changing the plate around. I looks like someone has tried to give a potstill a dephlagmater with the water cooling to the top of it.