Hello to all. This is my first post, but I have been reading lots of info on this board for a couple of days now. Infact, I have become addicted to reading this forum since I found it. Very impressive resource.
I made a still about 5 years ago, but I modified the design with ideas of my own, which made it very hard to operate. It did produce some nice output but was a pain to use.
It's been about 4 years now since I distilled anything, but the bug has bitten again. So here I am.
I'm in the process of building a new still, and this time I want to do it right. I'm basing my design closely on the mini-still design, and also the PDA-1 design.
The new still:
-The column will be 50mm diamater.
-I intend to make the head separate to the column
-Height of column (packing) undetermined at this time. Probably 2-3 feet
-The pot will be the same pot pictured above: 15 litre (though I'm going to have to work out how to enlarge the hole for the new column)
-The heat source will also be the one pictured above 1600w Ronson.I have hard-wired this so the hotplate is always on however it is controlled via the Triac I built (pictured bellow).
Please refer to the following diagram in reference to my questions.
A: I'm keen to have a jacketed condenser here rather than a coil.
-does a coil condenser restrict water flow a lot? I imagine it does. Limiting how much potential exists for cooling when required.
-what dimensions should I make a jacketed condenser? I was thinking 3/4' outer dia and 1/2' inside x 12' long
B: Is there really any requirement to have any sort of collector here, as seen in the plans for the mini-still? My logic tells me: when valve C is opened, the vapours at B have a new path of escape available and will take it. Right or wrong?
B: How much room should there be here bellow the condenser and above the packing?
B: I want to use copper mesh in this new still. So if any Aussies out there have been able to source this from somewhere other that the distillation sites on the web, please post info here. I don't want pot scrubbers. I know where to get them.
D: I have already fabricated the outlet condenser. It is 1/2' internal dia and 3/4' outside dia.
Any advice on this design would be greatly appreciated. If you see anything wrong or can add something please tell me.
I will post photos of the construction as it progresses.
The Triac Controller:
Allows very good control of my heat source, but it does require a dummy load. Hence the second power outlet. So there is a normally a deep fryer full of water sitting along side my still when it's operating.
Thanks for looking, and I look forward to some constructive advice.