Release the vacuum

[MementoMori]

Good afternoon shiners! I'm about to run a spirit run. My sac run through my thumper caused a vacuum at power off. I run electrical for my rig fyi.

My thumper has a ball valve at the bottom. At power off can I open the ball valve to drain the distillate? It will be hot obviously but there is no open flame. If I'm careful I don't see an obvious concern.

The other option is my boiler has a 1.5" tri clover fill port. I could had a ball valve at the top to open. Could this work to release the vacuum?

I realize a vacuum pressure relief valve is best but I don't have $100 at the moment.

Any advice is helpful thank you.

[Salt Must Flow]

You could install a valve on top of the thumper boiler. Later you could replace that valve with a vacuum/pressure relief.

[MementoMori]

Thanks I appreciate that.

My boiler is 20 gallons max but I fill to 15 gallons.

What pressure of vacuum do you think I'm getting? Stout tanks has a valve rated at 5psi. There are so many different PRV/vacuum relief valves it's difficult to know which to buy.

[shadylane]

The other option is my boiler has a 1.5" tri clover fill port. I could had a ball valve at the top to open. Could this work to release the vacuum?

One of these and a ball valve or a radiator drain plug.

[OtisT]

You can also just break the seal between your boiler and thumper as soon as you power off. Put on an oven mitt and remove a tri-clamp or loosen a union joint on the arm connecting the two or remove the cap from your boiler’s fill port. That’s a pretty low cost solution.

[shadylane]

You can also just break the seal between your boiler and thumper as soon as you power off. Put on an oven mitt and remove a tri-clamp or loosen a union joint on the arm connecting the two or remove the cap from your boiler’s fill port. That’s a pretty low cost solution.

Simplicity is usually the best solution to a problem.

[zach]

I have the manual ball valve on my boiler that I open on shut down.

I also have a vacuum breaker that opens at 1/2 psi vacuum.

I would not rely on breaking a flange as you could loose power and have a vacuum prior to noticing.

[shadylane]

I'm thinking.
Having the boiler sucking liquid out of the thumper when the heat is turned off isn't dangerous if the boiler is stiff enough, like with a SS boiler but with a copper pot driving a thumper, collapse could be a real problem.
Another possible failure mode is having a vacuum suck mash back into the boiler to thumper tubing.
The mash could thicken and plug up the tubing. If the boiler is fired back up, there's an over pressure.

[NZChris]

A normally open solenoid could be used, powered on in parallel with the element. The only time a simple circuit wouldn't work is if the element failed, but that is pretty rare.

[Tammuz]

https://www.sabersales.shop/products/ea ... lief-valve
16 bucks delivered.

[Windy City]

I use these on my systems.
They are a little pricey but are designed for high temp and are very reliable.
I build boiler packages for a living and use these regularly.
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Bell-Gosset ... POc8SU1F5M

[LWTCS]

I use these on my systems.
They are a little pricey but are designed for high temp and are very reliable.
I build boiler packages for a living and use these regularly.
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Bell-Gosset ... POc8SU1F5M

That looks exactly like the ones on this Vendome kettle.

[Yummyrum]

These fancy vacuum valves look great .

But I got a feeling they are not going to protect a Home distiller copper kettle ……. Nor a skanky Stainless Version .

Might be OK on a Beer keg but

[Tammuz]

These fancy vacuum valves look great .

But I got a feeling they are not going to protect a Home distiller copper kettle ……. Nor a skanky Stainless Version .

Might be OK on a Beer keg but

Mine are installed in beer kegs and one in a steam pipe. Would like to know why it won't work on what you are referring to.

Windy's is damn expensive,but that's a huge boiler and one not attended to much I'll bet. I would get a normal price 5psi pvr,
A vacuum breaker on boiler and thumper, and a ball valve on the thumper to vent and charge with. All for the price of that fine vacuum breaker.

[Windy City]

These fancy vacuum valves look great .

But I got a feeling they are not going to protect a Home distiller copper kettle ……. Nor a skanky Stainless Version .

Might be OK on a Beer keg but

They are actually adjustable and can be made to open fairly easy without chance of leaking during pressure phase.
Its bottom range is 1/4" of mercury or 0.122 psi

[Yummyrum]

My mistake Windy .
Yeah if they can be set that low , no worries .

[MementoMori]

I appreciate all the advice here. I will be documenting my next run when parts come in. Kindest regards