The alembic anomaly

[Snapperhead]

Thought I should start a build thread, hopefully one that ends well, with me getting well plastered.

The project started with a laundry "copper", a header tank from the 1907 villa I had, a pot plant holder, toilet vent cap, and the ends from my hot water cylinder that finally got replaced
Loosely thrown and bashed together to make something, that after I had got all my "lost in space" robot impressions out of the way, looked slightly alembic.
I have wanted to build a still for a few years now, and the time seemed right (middle of major renovations to my new home, bike project, heavy work load, starting new business, etc, but single, so I had money, energy and time)
I plan on having this one, and my attempt at a reflux column as the centre piece of the new lounge as I thought I could reclaim the heat after day runs during winter, and the new workshop cant accommodate them.
My intro thread has more history on this

This is where it is now

progress3.jpg

And the roughly shaped lyne arm

My little friend2.jpg

This is the basis of the lintel/lentil (I still dont know which it is)

inside lentil 2.jpg

From what I understand, the lentil is a reflux "device", given both by the vapour expanding and contact with the exterior surface of the saucer. I have seen old drawings of them being cooled by pouring water into a channel that encircled the rim. I will be weaving a number of thin tubes into a belt and embedding them into the external centre ring on my one, which I want to control each individually for fine tuning of any reflux (if it works). Vapour is just trying to get out, so I had to do something to encourage them to "visit" the outer rim before they continued their journey out, which is why I have added the choke. Vapour also flows better when its spinning, so the vanes are there to start a rotational movement as they go along. On top of the octurbulator, will be the "crown" of vanes I am working on, to enhance and continue the spin as it enters the lyne arm section. The lyne arm section is that shape because I wanted a smooth as possible journey for the spinning vapour, with smooth transitions in both shape and direction (the expansion chamber/head is for some last chance reflux) before the product condenser (and its size was governed by the pieces of copper I had)
I have put a fair bit of effort into making the entire rig, as smooth and gentle as possible on the vapour stream to find its way out. Sharp edges and steep transitions can make it harder for the vapours path onward (can cause negative pressure waves), and spinning vapours move easier through restrictions than an eratic or disrupted flows.
I will have a few viewports around the rig, just to see if my crackpot theory on gas flow does anything. I have no idea if vapour speeds inside this still, will be fast and voluminous enough to make any of this work, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

one of my main design requirements is "W.W.V.W.T.D" "what would vapour want to do". Every step I take is thinking about the vapours point of view, and what is best for it. Kind of like having a happy and stress free cow before it becomes a bunch of steaks and sausages. Im hoping for some smooth and gentle brandy, start to finish.
This thing isnt going to build itself like Stephen Kings "Christene" so I better go make some noise
Peace out