Pot still head

[Gadget89]

I tried using the search feature first but couldn't find what I was looking for, if there is a link someone knows about I'll happily click it and delete my post.

Making a 3" copper tc fitted top going into a 2 inch shotgun condenser.
My question is, is it better to run two 3" copper elbows with TC fittings then add the 2 inch reducer at the end or is it better to do one 3" copper elbow followed by a 2 inch reducer to a 2 inch copper elbow to connect to the condenser.

I'll take suggestions, heckles, and links to what others have done or picture inspiration.

[still_stirrin]

Heat input? How much power?

3” will move a lot of vapor if you have the power to push it. Reducing from 3” to 2” will increase the vapor velocity, but unless you’re throwing a lot of power at it, it shouldn’t be a problem to reduce. I do like the idea of keeping the rise 3” at least through the first 90* elbow though because it will minimize pressure loss in the turn (at the top of the riser).

Otherwise, it’s all about the cost of the fittings.
ss

[Gadget89]

I'm using a 240v 5500w element to heat it so in theory I should have enough power, just wasn't sure with pressure and ease of build what people have found to work best

[Salt Must Flow]

You can pretty much do it any way you want. Appearance won't have any affect on how it operates. You can make it really basic or as nice as you want it.

This is just how I wanted mine to look so I just made it that way. There's function there too. Each joint pivots so I can set the lyne arm at virtual any angle and any height within the articulation range of the lyne arm too.

[Twisted Brick]

Making a 3" copper tc fitted top going into a 2 inch shotgun condenser.
My question is, is it better to run two 3" copper elbows with TC fittings then add the 2 inch reducer at the end or is it better to do one 3" copper elbow followed by a 2 inch reducer to a 2 inch copper elbow to connect to the condenser.

Awhile back I had the same question so I tested both, using the same boiler and shotgun condenser. The difference between the two was barely noticeable.

Over the course of a run, the amount of passive reflux (regular drips and occasional thin ‘sheet’ of reflux) visible in my sightglass was about the same on either still head, but this reflux was caused more by the copper riser than anything else IMO.

My test to see if an additional length of ‘upward vapor path’ might induce an increase in passive reflux didn’t result in any visible increase, much like Myle’s similar test a few years back.

[Twisted Brick]

Forgot to add that after the still head tests were completed I decided to leave the sightglass on so I can watch the reflux activity throughout the run.

[Wildcats]

Always love seeing your set up TB.

[Twisted Brick]

Thanks Wildcats. I dig building stuff out of copper.