Of course power produces heat, but that doesn't neceserily increases temperature.Brew bama wrote: ↑Sun Aug 02, 2020 10:49 am???? [emoji1021] I give up.jedneck wrote:Adding power is not adding heat
Running power thru a heating element produces heat. A heating element converts electrical energy into heat through the process of resistive (otherwise known as Joule heating). The electric current passing through the element encounters resistance, which produces heat.
Look at it this way:
If you boil water it turns to steam, but the water stays at 100C.
You can throw more power at it, turn up the gas, throw another log on the fire, whatever. All it does is increase the rate steam is produced. The liquid still holds 100C.
In distilling you don't manage temps, you manage vapor production.
In a pot still the rate of vapor produced dictates how much smearing happens.
In a reflux column it contributes to reflux ratio.
Add to that that yes, pure ethanol boils at whatever science books dictate but if you add other compounds to the mix all sorts of crazy bonds happen.