reflux - continuous operation still
Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 4:28 pm
Hi all,
So I have read some fundamentals, and looked at several designs.
What my goal really is, is to make a continuous run reflux type system.
That is, heating the wash, using an upper secondary part to partially cool and condense contaminates, and a final condenser.
My first thoughts are using a 1.25" copper pipe with band heaters, and the bottom is drained off slowly.
On top as a reflux condenser, I was thinking about a coil of pipe inside a bucket with the water being temperature controlled.
Maybe 50 feet of tubing. Would open tubing work fine like this because of the large surface area? Or still require packing?
I obviously know most reflux stills are larger diameter, I would think that height can overcome that limitation but not sure how much.
I would think any similar design would work theoretically but quality and speed affect the design.
It does make sense to me from other projects that a long tube immersed in temperature controlled water will function well as a condenser.
I suppose the part I'm most curious about is a skinny 1.25" heater column; if the ethanol can boil out or if it will stay mixed and not boil off
before ending up in the trash.
So I have read some fundamentals, and looked at several designs.
What my goal really is, is to make a continuous run reflux type system.
That is, heating the wash, using an upper secondary part to partially cool and condense contaminates, and a final condenser.
My first thoughts are using a 1.25" copper pipe with band heaters, and the bottom is drained off slowly.
On top as a reflux condenser, I was thinking about a coil of pipe inside a bucket with the water being temperature controlled.
Maybe 50 feet of tubing. Would open tubing work fine like this because of the large surface area? Or still require packing?
I obviously know most reflux stills are larger diameter, I would think that height can overcome that limitation but not sure how much.
I would think any similar design would work theoretically but quality and speed affect the design.
It does make sense to me from other projects that a long tube immersed in temperature controlled water will function well as a condenser.
I suppose the part I'm most curious about is a skinny 1.25" heater column; if the ethanol can boil out or if it will stay mixed and not boil off
before ending up in the trash.