CCVM still

[dcpac]

This is the first real still that I have built. Is it a little to tall? The main column is 36" with a shorter 12" section below the tee. Your thoughts/sugestion are appreciated. I am going to do cleaning runs tomorrow.

Thanks

[zapata]

48" packed section is not too tall for a 2" neutral still. Maybe it's just the perspective, but it actually looks taller.

[kimbodious]

looks great! If you haven't done so already, you will want to have insulation for your boiler and your column.

[Bushman]

48" packed section is not too tall for a 2" neutral still. Maybe it's just the perspective, but it actually looks taller.

+1, the ladder looks at least 6'-8'.

[dcpac]

Yea thats a 6' ladder. It is not in the picture, but the keg is sitting on a propane burner so that adds another 12'' I reckon.

[Twisted Brick]

Nice rig, dcpac. I really like modular stills. Whatcha packin'?

[dcpac]

Thanks, I think I am going to use copper scrubs. I am mainly into whiskey so don't know when and how often I will use it in reflux, but I wanted to have the option. I have a 30 gallons of HBB mash in my living room plan on starting to run that tomorrow, fermentation started a little weird so I hope it turns out alright.

[zapata]

1 and done with reflux is a great way to play with a variety of recipes without a huge time or volume commitment. You've got the rig, it's worth playing around with.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

Don't use the ccvm on your hbb. Run your 30 gallons of bourbon twice through the pot still. Then do a piggie back sugar head on the grains, and run THAT through your ccvm. You'll get a gallon of bourbon and then a gallon of vodka from the same grains . And you won't ruin bourbon fixings in a neutral machine.

You want one and done bourbon, build a flute. The best job for drinking white dog.

[zapata]

I do agree that with 30 gallons of a proven all grain bourbon mash that a double pot still is the best approach, but a flavorful wash through 36" of packing at a 1:1 reflux ratio is not going to be anything close to vodka much less a neutral. (at least assuming it isn't SPP inside) Bet it even comes off at a lower proof than from a 4 plate flute. Just don't want anybody scared of trying to make flavored drinks in the rig they have, lots of people have made lots of flavor in lots of ways with packed reflux stills.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

A properly run, 36" ccvm packed with lava rock puts out 96.5% from heads to tails.

[Skipper1953]

A properly run, 36" ccvm packed with lava rock puts out 96.5% from heads to tails.

And a properly run CCVM packed with marbles will do the same thing.

[zapata]

Lol, and if you want a flavored product <90% and get a neutral 96.5% then it ain't "properly run", now is it?

A reflux ratio of 1:1 won't hold azeo beyond the first equalized drops with a 36" column. Lots of flavor will come through. Presumably a CCVM should do 1:1 with the coil all the way up, right?

Come on guys, I love pot stills, in fact by volume I've made far more pot still spirits than reflux, especially once I got a handle on recipes and stuff I wanted to do at scale. But making flavored stuff with reflux is a perfectly valid approach is all I'm saying, even for someone who likes pot still spirits. It ain't THAT different from flute spirits, except in the speed department but that's pipe size more than anything else.

[kimbodious]

First photo by OP shows his modular still in pot still configuration

[greggn]

> Is it a little to tall? The main column is 36" with a shorter 12" section below the tee.
> but the keg is sitting on a propane burner so that adds another 12'' I reckon.


Have you tested that you can supply coolant water to that head height ?

[dcpac]

greggn, I have not tested, but I plan on using house pressure and throttle it down as needed with a ball valve.

Thanks

[dcpac]

I did a vinegar run and a sacrificial alcohol run yesterday and was really impressed. I can't wait to do my first real run with this set up!

[zapata]

How did that ball valve work for throttling coolant flow? I've got a 1/4 turn ball valve that works fine for turning it down a bit, but really sucks for fine tuning. Trying to go from a coolant out temp of 100*F to 120*F for example is an exercise in frustration of the tiniest movements I can make on the handle, followed by overshooting one way or the other.

[dcpac]

How did that ball valve work for throttling coolant flow? I've got a 1/4 turn ball valve that works fine for turning it down a bit, but really sucks for fine tuning. Trying to go from a coolant out temp of 100*F to 120*F for example is an exercise in frustration of the tiniest movements I can make on the handle, followed by overshooting one way or the other.

I can't tell you because I did not use reflux condenser because did not have the hoses. I just capped the top of the tee. Good point about the ball valve, maybe a globe or needle valve would be better?

[kimbodious]

Try the ball valve first. I control my CCVM by moving the RC coil up and down. I just set and forget the coolant flow.

Top of my CCVM is about 3 metres. I have to use a stepladder to be able to adjust the RC position. Some people use a long pole for adjusting the RC. With experience you'll learn the positions you'll use for the RC i.e. total reflux, removing foreshots, regular extraction and possibly a seperate slightly lower position for extracting heads. I only adjust the position of my RC three times in a run.

Enjoy the CCVM, they are so easy to operate!

[Twisted Brick]

I only adjust the position of my RC three times in a run.

Hey Kim,

Gonna be embarking on my maiden CCVM run in a little while, but I'm unclear on your RC positioning for removing fores vs heads. Can you elaborate on how it works for you?

Thanks.

[kimbodious]

How exciting the first run!

Position 1 total, reflux position, lower the RC coil until no product is coming out (very low heat at this stage!)
Position 2, removing foreshots, raise RC coil slightly until you are getting 1-2 drips of product per second
Position 3, heads and hearts, raise the RC coil until you are just starting to get a steady stream

Sorry I can't give you absolute heights for your still. The change in position on my still between 1 and 3 would be no more than 6 inches.

Remember, total reflux requires very little power

[Twisted Brick]

Perfectly clear now, thanks. It sounds too simple!

Gotta get through this HBB batch then on to my first vodka...

[Copperhead road]

You need a working at heights ticket to run the thing

[kimbodious]

You need a working at heights ticket to run the thing

Yeah, mine is a similar height. The thing is you don't need to adjust the RC coil all that often.

Correction on my earlier post, there is no more than 4" difference in RC coil position between total reflux and hearts collection. Yes TB, it is that easy

[Chuck6]

I'm looking to build one too! do you moniter temperature at all and if so where? and if I use a 3" column could i make it shorter?

[kimbodious]

No I don't monitor temperature. I do have a sight glass to check for flooding caused by too much vapour flow. A 3" column would not need to be as tall as a 2" diameter column

[Benredbeard]

This is the first real still that I have built. Is it a little to tall? The main column is 36" with a shorter 12" section below the tee. Your thoughts/sugestion are appreciated. I am going to do cleaning runs tomorrow.

Thanks

Dpac can you tell me about your product condenser? It looks like there's a larger can on the end of the typical Liebig?

[stelladrool]

Building 4" on 55g for a buddy. 14" for burner, barrel, and 4' stack tipped by Tee and spacer for the ccvm adjustment. I think its something like nine and a half or 10 ft off the ground.

[Saltbush Bill]

Come on guys, I love pot stills, in fact by volume I've made far more pot still spirits than reflux, especially once I got a handle on recipes and stuff I wanted to do at scale. But making flavored stuff with reflux is a perfectly valid approach is all I'm saying, even for someone who likes pot still spirits. It ain't THAT different from flute spirits, except in the speed department but that's pipe size more than anything else.

I gotta agree to some extent there Zapata, there are a whole heap of threads spread around from long ago about making flavoured spirits using detuned reflux columns.
Even with a column full of packing it still should be possible.......you just need to use the right approach and the right method depending on the type of still your using.
Having the advantage of packing and reflux to compress and then slowly milk off fores and heads and then running pot still style can and will make a good flavored spirit in my opinion.
Ive never personally tried it using my 3 inch Boka but have used a similar method when making Scotch style Whiskies with my plated column.
Being able to compress and get rid of fores and heads easily and quickly is always a bonus in my books.
Not only that , but if toward the end of the hearts a small amount of reflux is applied it can hold the tails back allowing you to get a bit more good spirit before the run ends.