Home Distiller

I had a hell of a time limiting the water flow on mine today to keep a temp gradient and the distillate coming out close to 60F. The water supply was just too cold.

Deplorable wrote: ↑Sun Apr 10, 2022 3:18 pm I had a hell of a time limiting the water flow on mine today to keep a temp gradient and the distillate coming out close to 60F. The water supply was just too cold.

Man, tell me about it. I almost cannot run a small enough flow to this thing. With my old liebig I like to keep condenser worm/hot about 1/3-2/3 of the way down.

But with this thing, the tiniest adjustments to flow rate leave the entire condenser shell hot, or cold. I mean... its a really nice problem to have. While running low and slow, my cooling water coming out is a stream almost the same size as my distillate stream.

I did a 13 hour spirit run yesterday and I bet I didn't use more than 5 or 6 gallons of cooling water.

I dont know how everyone else does it, but what works for me is I built a water manifold to feed both of my condensers independently. Mains water is regulated down to 20 psi entering the manifold. the manifold is 3/4 inch controlled by a 3/4' gate valve. Each cooling line is 1/4ID, and fed from a 1/2 inch gate valve. I use knock off John Guest push connect fittings on both ends.
On a normal spirit run, when the tap water is around 50F, the gate valve to the shotty is open about a quarter turn to get a temperature gradient and the distillate between 58 and 62F. Discharge water is too hot to keep your hand in, and comes out of the condenser in a stream not much wider than my spirit stream. slow the water any more, and the hose spigot starts to get a weird harmonic vibration. (12" long anti-frost)
Today, the weather was a little bi-polar and we had snow, sleet, hail, rain and some sun breaks. The water was so cold my spirit temps were 54 to 58F for the whole run and most of the time I only had about 4 inches of warm water jacket. It wasnt until I started stripping the last of the tails that I was able to find a sweet spot.

Yeah, I think I will just need a better valve that allows me more fine tuned adjustment of my flow rate.

For now I have a 1/2" hose that hooks directly to the water spigot.

Hillbilly Popstar wrote: ↑Sun Apr 10, 2022 3:38 pm
But with this thing, the tiniest adjustments to flow rate leave the entire condenser shell hot, or cold. I mean... its a really nice problem to have. While running low and slow, my cooling water coming out is a stream almost the same size as my distillate stream.

I did a 13 hour spirit run yesterday and I bet I didn't use more than 5 or 6 gallons of cooling water.

HBP - I’m a newb so take this idea with a grain of salt, but you might try a mixing valve from your pc output back to your pc input. This would allow you to temper your input water temp. Mixing valves could be expensive, but a couple back flow preventers and a small needle valve can accomplish the same thing.

On edit - forgot to mention that was an excellent video. Was gonna just get the parts from TB, but seriously considering letting him build it for me. Like you I could do it, but good lord he does good work.

Man that is a beauty. Nice workmanship on the finished product. Think you made an excellent choice here.
I communicated with TB a couple months back about a PC and a couple of other upgrades for my Rig to increase efficiency, He is very knowledgeable on the subject. I'll be going this route when I make those changes.
I agree with you that I could buy the parts and build it but it would not look nearly as professional.
NW

Not to turn this into a commercial for TB, but have to give a "+1" on his workmanship. I got one of his shotguns recently and echo what everyone else is saying... Everything is top notch, right down to the box he ships it in. Good price too, to get into a COPPER condenser with proper BAFFLES (which you'll note most commercial manufacturers don't even mention.)

Here is mine clobbering all of 5500w on a stripping run:
Wish we could attach bigger images though...

TwoSheds

What a thing of beauty. Perfection at its finest.

Very nice work TristedBrick!!!

.
Thank you gentlemen, and thanks again to Hillbilly Popstar for the time and effort in putting together such a great video. I'm enjoying building these and it is truly gratifying to see pics from the members who have added this shotty to their rigs.

Hillbilly Popstar wrote: ↑Sun Apr 10, 2022 2:43 pm

How long is this condenser?

PuckJunkie76 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 11:17 am How long is this condenser?

Watch the video. cheat sheet 3:15. Your best guess would be close enough.

Cob, I watched that darn video twice before posting and missed that both times!! Thanks for the cheat sheet!!

Watch the video. cheat sheet 3:15. Your best guess would be close enough.
[/quote]

PuckJunkie76 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 12:37 pm I watched that darn video twice before posting and missed that both times!! Thanks for the cheat sheet!!

Are sure you watched.. just maybe one has to have the sound card working, but it's sure is stated..

Mars

Yes, I watched it..yes the sound was up...I missed it..was an honest mistake...and I thanked him for pointing it out to me...I caught it after he did, so not sure why the snarky response....

StillerBoy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 1:05 pm

PuckJunkie76 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 12:37 pm I watched that darn video twice before posting and missed that both times!! Thanks for the cheat sheet!!

Are sure you watched.. just maybe one has to have the sound card working, but it's sure is stated..

Mars

StillerBoy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 1:05 pm Are sure you watched.. just maybe one has to have the sound card working, but it's sure is stated

PuckJunkie76 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:13 pm so not sure why the snarky response....

Your coming across as an A-hole again Stillerboy.......choose your words more carefully when replying....or dont reply.

PuckJunkie76 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 12:37 pm Cob, I watched that darn video twice before posting and missed that both times!! Thanks for the cheat sheet!!

Watch the video. cheat sheet 3:15. Your best guess would be close enough.

[/quote]

Not sure why you're asking, but I know Twisted makes these by hand. if you have specific needs I'm sure he can accommodate.

I think mine is just shy of 20 (can't remember honestly) and it's crazy good at knocking down 5,500w with minimal flow. Nice product!

PuckJunkie76 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:13 pm Yes, I watched it..yes the sound was up...I missed it..was an honest mistake...

HPS actually slightly misquoted the dimensions of his condenser. The one in the video is 21".

TwoSheds wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 3:50 pm
Not sure why you're asking, but I know Twisted makes these by hand. if you have specific needs I'm sure he can accommodate.

This would be correct. I have made a number of different sized condensers for members on request. A 24" shotty looks hella long compared to a 21", but in most cases, I feel the extra 3" is not needed.

Twisted Brick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 9:51 am but in most cases, I feel the extra 3" is not needed.

I support that statement, having experimented with different length and size of tubing..

I presently use for stripping a shotty that's 7" overall length having 5 - 7/16" tubes, and can easily knockdown 4500w with a little less than a litre per min of water flow..

I'm an advocate of slower stripping speed, which is at 3500w and at that speed, I use less than 1/2 l/m of water flow..

Efficiency of any PC is directly related to the water flow and temp used..

The baffle design and placement are what makes a shotty either efficient or not, along with the water temp used..

Mars

Twisted Brick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 9:51 am

PuckJunkie76 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:13 pm Yes, I watched it..yes the sound was up...I missed it..was an honest mistake...

HPS actually slightly misquoted the dimensions of his condenser. The one in the video is 21".

TwoSheds wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 3:50 pm
Not sure why you're asking, but I know Twisted makes these by hand. if you have specific needs I'm sure he can accommodate.

This would be correct. I have made a number of different sized condensers for members on request. A 24" shotty looks hella long compared to a 21", but in most cases, I feel the extra 3" is not needed.

God damn, that's some beautiful guts!
I'm quite happy with the 24" I have and I can say without a doubt it'll handle anything I throw at it! Going to be putting it through it's paces with a 9kw element in the next couple weeks and I can't wait!

StillerBoy wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:43 am

Twisted Brick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 9:51 am but in most cases, I feel the extra 3" is not needed.

I support that statement, having experimented with different length and size of tubing..

I presently use for stripping a shotty that's 7" overall length having 5 - 7/16" tubes, and can easily knockdown 4500w with a little less than a litre per min of water flow..

I'm an advocate of slower stripping speed, which is at 3500w and at that speed, I use less than 1/2 l/m of water flow..

Efficiency of any PC is directly related to the water flow and temp used..

The baffle design and placement are what makes a shotty either efficient or not, along with the water temp used..

Mars

that head is a beauty! Nice and clean!

bcook608 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:33 pm that head is a beauty! Nice and clean!

Thank you..

If I'm going to spend the time babysitting her, she needs to be good lookin.. not just being efficient..

Mars

Is that a pink Ralph Lauren polo tank top? Where do I get one?

Man… I want one of these. Very nice craftsmanship!

I have a stainless shotty at the moment. Gets the job done, but leaves the distillate pretty warm with all 5500W on stripping runs. Also, no copper on the exit side. I have to supplement my all stainless setup with lots of copper mesh in the vapor path on my strips and a bunch of wads in the boiler.

BrewinBrian44 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 10:08 am I have to supplement my all stainless setup with lots of copper mesh in the vapor path on my strips and a bunch of wads in the boiler.

That's the issue with stainless column/riser and what amount of copper is required .. which is not talked about much other than copper is needed.. and not discounting the extra cost and maintenance..

Mars

StillerBoy wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 11:07 am

BrewinBrian44 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 10:08 am I have to supplement my all stainless setup with lots of copper mesh in the vapor path on my strips and a bunch of wads in the boiler.

That's the issue with stainless column/riser and what amount of copper is required .. which is not talked about much other than copper is needed.. and not discounting the extra cost and maintenance..

Mars

Yeah I agree that there’s not much info about “how much” copper. I feel like I grossly overcompensate with how much I pack in the riser because, in the past, I had one whiskey ferment that kicked lots of sulfur. It was a fluke though, no idea why it happened. These days, I put A LOT of mesh in the riser for stripping runs and also a lot in the boiler. Keeps everything sweet and clean.

Interesting anecdote. I just bought a steam condensing lid for my brewing kettle so I can make beer indoors and collect the steam in a bucket. The smell of the concentrated DMS was exactly what I remembered smelling in the sulfury distillate. Cooked vegetable and a weird meaty-ness.

BrewinBrian44 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:59 pm I feel like I grossly overcompensate with how much I pack in the riser because, in the past, I had one whiskey ferment that kicked lots of sulfur. It was a fluke though, no idea why it happened. These days, I put A LOT of mesh in the riser for stripping runs and also a lot in the boiler. Keeps everything sweet and clean.

Since you never fully understood what exactly happen, or why, calling it a fluke will not put the experience to rest, as it will always be on your mind until it's re-visited or re-in acted..

Mars

Chauncey wrote: ↑Sat Jan 14, 2023 9:45 am Is that a pink Ralph Lauren polo tank top? Where do I get one?

It's custom. I make them at home.

Hillbilly Popstar wrote: ↑Mon Jan 30, 2023 8:16 am

Chauncey wrote: ↑Sat Jan 14, 2023 9:45 am Is that a pink Ralph Lauren polo tank top? Where do I get one?

It's custom. I make them at home.

Lol I figured.