1. Will a 3” to 2” reducer to key be ok?Fivey wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 4:19 am Ok, the CCVM design can be found described here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41579&hilit=controlled
But as a quick summary, you have a packed column with a tee on top oriented so the T is on it’s side; and a condenser coil feeding down from the open top far enough down that it passes the mouth of the side-port of the T. From the side port you have an elbow and a product condenser. You push the Top condenser coil down past the mouth of the side take-off to put the column into full reflux; you pull it up a bit to allow vapours to exit the column and escape to the product condenser.
Making it out of simple 2” tubing, you can keep the costs low by buying the bits direct from Ali express, and avoid the $ associated with a ‘distilling kit’. It is also easier to buy a bit at a time as you can afford it rather than have to swallow it all in one payment.
Use 3/8” x 72” CSST to make a quick and easy coil, low effort.
Here is an example shopping list; you can probably do better by looking for each item a bit harder than I just did:
2x 2” 500mm spool https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3282219 ... b201603_53
Copper mesh 5m https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3282513 ... 1310dTWoKZ
72” 3/8” CSST https://www.homedepot.com/p/HOME-FLEX-3 ... /204626688
You might want to get one with a gas valve to give you extra control over water flow
1x 2” tee https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3281946 ... 1af0Htg4EM
1x 2” condenser https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3282913 ... 3862BP92Wn
90 degree elbow 2” https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3283791 ... 5a0aklc1Yd
6x 2” triclamps https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3281933 ... 6f28sqrmQB
6x 2” PTFE gaskets https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3281947 ... 7256tKf7ei
You’ll also need some hosetail barb adaptors and hose clamps and some hose.
That is almost all of it... except you need an additional length of 2” spool pipe, and the exact length you want depends on your bending of the CSST. Get one of the 500mm 2” sections, bend the CSST into a coil such that it fits inside the pipe snuggly, and then measure the length of the coil as it would be within the 2” pipe, with the connectors sticking out the top. Take off that number the height of the top of the Tee down to the lower mouth of the side port. Then get a length of spool to suit, with the intent that when the CSST coil is pressed right down from the top of the Tee, you should see the coil all the way through the mouth of the side port.
Eg 1x 100mm 2” spool https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3284333 ... b201603_53
That is the simplest... for a little more $ you can see what is going on better by replacing the Tee with a cross + a viewport (and an extra pair of gasket/clamp)
1x 2” cross https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3288353 ... 1af008vYOz
1x 2” viewport https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3283883 ... 1433AQZ169
Don’t forget the extra gasket and clamp.
You should be able to get an idea of how that all goes together from the pics etc in that thread above, but let me know if you need pics and I’ll take some of mine which is like this except 3”
2. Could I use a cross in place of the tee so I can install a view window to see where the condenser placement is situated?
3. How long a pipe coming off the top of the tee/cross? I can get any size.
4. Coming off the tee, side, with a 90 degree elbow or should I add a short pipe to extend past the key width?
5. Second Reducer coming off 90 degree, 3” to 2”, connecting to Dimroth, does the SS pipe, keg spear, have to be 1” or is bigger better? It’s nice to use the spear but it only costs about $6.00 so I can go bigger.
6. Best length for product spear, Dimroth, over all reducer plus pipe?
Enough for now
