Element requirements

[Stillernz]

Hi there, does anyone have a calculation or formula to calculate the heating element requirements for a reflux still? My still reflux is 3inch wide by about 100cm high. It's a old modified euro 60 boiler with a custom tower and will hold a 50l wash. Please help

[Cardinalbags]

I would recommend the Camco 5500 W element with 220v service and a proper heat controller.

The trick will be to get the heating element inserted horizontally with your boiler having those angles to the sides.

Also try and get the Liebig pointing down somewhat to take advantage of gravity, the vacuum it pulls and to avoid pooling condensate. If condensate pools it will eventually huff and blow out a bunch of condensate at once.

Edit: The water should be in at the end of the liebig and not at the top as you currently have configured. You certainly do want to have separate flow control for the cm condenser and the liebig, which your splitter allows for, just rearrange the ends of the liebig for the connections

[Stillernz]

Thanks for that I will rearrange the Liebig cooling and look into the element an controller. Funny enough the old elements sat in there well and horizontally. I have been thinking about getting a heat controller, just unsure of the best design and wiring diagram.

[Stillernz]

What sort of heat controller do you use? I see there is much discussion on PIDs

[Cardinalbags]

PID's are not good for boiler control as they are an on/off device that cycles to maintain temperature. Maintaining temperature is not the name of the game for boilers, it is maintaining whatever rate of heat input you want to get the desired output from the still.

For a boiler controller, either a phase angle controller (PAC) , solids state relay (SSR) or a triac based controller is required. They provide a constant power to the element so that you can dial the heat input up or down.

I personally use a 25 amp Phase angle controller with a 250k-ohm rheostat pot, for whom I owe the credit of the design to MuleKicker. Jimbo did a nice explanation of his electric conversion which covered everything from the panel to the boiler. You can find these threads in the design folders of the site. I have a link to mine in my signature line. You don't have to do the flow controller shutdown, that's me taking an extra step in being safe.

[Stillernz]

Thanks for all the advice, I'm looking at your control and it's real nice, Mulekickers looks good too. I am looking at building one like Mulekickers but really difficult to find the plans on how to? Looking forward to this project!

[Stillernz]

Does the element have to sit perfectly horizontal? I've got the controller built, element here too just working out if I can simply use it on an angle or have to mode the boiler

[rad14701]

Does the element have to sit perfectly horizontal? I've got the controller built, element here too just working out if I can simply use it on an angle or have to mode the boiler

Orientation makes zero difference... What does matter is that the element must always be completely submersed... An electric element self-destructing in high proof alcohol vapor could be catastrophic, yet when submersed in wash it is relatively harmless...

[NZChris]

To keep my jug element low, I bent it about 45 degrees with no problems.