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Pump attached to still during run
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 1:01 pm
by Distilaholic
So last year I put a pump on my still so that I can distill on the grains (Barley not Corn) Which honestly seems to work quite well so far as long as I remove the buildup once in a while.
Now I showed my buddy my setup today and he said he thinks the pump is too dangerous but couldn't explain why exactly. One of his examples was that when the pump plugs, vapor might get into the pipes and get ignited through the pump because it is not a special explosion free pump.
I feel like the pump is just as dangerous as my heating element or at least less dangerous than someone using an open flame.
But now I am getting second thoughts because I don't want to blow up myself
. Would like to hear your opinions.
This is the pump I am talking about:
https://product-selection.grundfos.com/ ... =465623441" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Re: Pump attached to still during run
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 7:18 pm
by DAD300
Well, that's a nice pump.
The pump is only a danger if you spill fresh distillate on it!
Mash is flammable.
Re: Pump attached to still during run
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2018 10:58 pm
by NZChris
DAD300 wrote:Mash is flammable.
I would like to have some of your yeast, please.
Re: Pump attached to still during run
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 1:01 am
by shadylane
Distilaholic wrote:So last year I put a pump on my still so that I can distill on the grains
What is the pump used for, cooling water, mash or distillate
Re: Pump attached to still during run
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 1:05 am
by NZChris
Distilaholic wrote:...he thinks the pump is too dangerous but couldn't explain why exactly.
I wouldn't take too much notice of someone who doesn't know what he is talking about.
Re: Pump attached to still during run
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 3:54 am
by Yummyrum
NZChris wrote:DAD300 wrote:Mash is flammable.
I would like to have some of your yeast, please.
NZChris ... I think DAD did a typo .... he’s thinking same as you .... Mash doesn’t burn .
Re: Pump attached to still during run
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 4:29 am
by Distilaholic
DAD300 wrote:Well, that's a nice pump.
The pump is only a danger if you spill fresh distillate on it!
Mash is flammable.
It sure is, bought it cheapish too, it was used for drinking water. Guessing you meant mash isnt flammable ofc.
shadylane wrote:Distilaholic wrote:So last year I put a pump on my still so that I can distill on the grains
What is the pump used for, cooling water, mash or distillate
Pumping the mash so that the grains are in suspense and not burning on the element. Working fine so far, I guess because I am only using grains like barley and wheat and not corn (the corn variety sucks in my country)
I got a smaller still without a pump I use for the spirit run. So no distillate is getting pumped around.
NZChris wrote:Distilaholic wrote:...he thinks the pump is too dangerous but couldn't explain why exactly.
I wouldn't take too much notice of someone who doesn't know what he is talking about.
I can only hope so
Re: Pump attached to still during run
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 4:36 am
by MtRainier
Seems to me the biggest risk will be getting plugged by solids and bad things happening to the pump or wash, not explosion.
If you got distillate on it while it was running that might catch fire, I guess, but like you said that applies to any electrical components you have near your still.
Most likely mishap I could predict is that the solids just block it from pumping and your heating element (which I assume is immersed in the wash) burns the solids in the wash which makes it taste terrible. Maybe the pump motor burns out too if the impeller jams.