Multiple Distillation Columns
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:48 am
Hello guys,
I have been planning my new still construction for a couple months now. I was planning on using the traditional 2" column with an inline head. I basically have everything I need to construct except the 2" pipe required for the column. I have found a shop which will sell me the 2" pipe but they will only sell me a stick 20' long. It would end up costing me ~$170. Now I was thinking I would buy the stick break it up and resell it but now I am thinking of going another direction.
Instead of one 2" columns, I could use multiple 1" columns which is much easier to purchase. I have been searching for past questions about this subject and I did not see anything stating that it has been done successfully. For each column would have its own condenser and the cooling would be run parallel, not in series.
I know the volume of a 36" X 2" column is 113.1 and a total surface area of 232.48.
I know the volume of a 36" X 1" column is 28.274 and a total surface area of 114.67.
SO the volume of 3 X 1" columns would be 84.822 and a total suface area of 344.01.
So if my thinking is correct the quality of the product would be better or equal to a 2" column but the speed would probably be slower because of the smaller volume. I also would think the multiple columns would be less efficient.
I might even have enough to make four 1" columns which would be about the same volume.
My goal of this is not efficiency or speed. I already have some 1" I can use and the fittings are much easier to find.
So after all of this is there anything I am missing that would make this setup not work?
Thanks
I already read through these posts
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... ht=columns
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... ght=reflux
I have been planning my new still construction for a couple months now. I was planning on using the traditional 2" column with an inline head. I basically have everything I need to construct except the 2" pipe required for the column. I have found a shop which will sell me the 2" pipe but they will only sell me a stick 20' long. It would end up costing me ~$170. Now I was thinking I would buy the stick break it up and resell it but now I am thinking of going another direction.
Instead of one 2" columns, I could use multiple 1" columns which is much easier to purchase. I have been searching for past questions about this subject and I did not see anything stating that it has been done successfully. For each column would have its own condenser and the cooling would be run parallel, not in series.
I know the volume of a 36" X 2" column is 113.1 and a total surface area of 232.48.
I know the volume of a 36" X 1" column is 28.274 and a total surface area of 114.67.
SO the volume of 3 X 1" columns would be 84.822 and a total suface area of 344.01.
So if my thinking is correct the quality of the product would be better or equal to a 2" column but the speed would probably be slower because of the smaller volume. I also would think the multiple columns would be less efficient.
I might even have enough to make four 1" columns which would be about the same volume.
My goal of this is not efficiency or speed. I already have some 1" I can use and the fittings are much easier to find.
So after all of this is there anything I am missing that would make this setup not work?
Thanks
I already read through these posts
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... ht=columns
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... ght=reflux