Just added Haggy's plate reflux column calculator to the calcultor page, so check it out and give him feedback.
Thanks as always, Haggy. Your contributions to this hobby are much appreciated.
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/Calculators
Haggy's plate reflux column calculator
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Uncle Jesse
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Haggy's plate reflux column calculator
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haggy
- Swill Maker
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- Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Haggy's plate reflux column calculator
Thanks, Uncle Jesse for this and all of your work on the website.
After several revisions, I have now verified the calcs in this plate reflux column calculator and have added it to the HD Calculator Section. Many posted plate column runs have been evaluated and have agreed well with the data.
Included in the calculator is a rigorous ( McCabe - Thiele method ) calculation for the distillate abv, so those results should be close enough to real data. I have added a table with results vs run time of several key process variables. The user can make changes to several input data values and see what that does to the distillate abv and flow rate.
Other plate column characteristics ( ie flooding, weeping, entrainment, heat up time, time to tails, estimate of hearts made, etc ) were also updated and appear in the results section. This calculator can be a useful tool to plan runs with or to help diagnose run problems.
Higgins has used this calculator for his run planning for over a year now and has given several posted testimonials for its usefulness. In fact, he sent me run data for eight very well documented plate column whiskey runs, and that data was used to help develop this calculator.
Also, a new addition is the automatic solution of the reflux condenser ( deflagmater ) cooling water flow rate required to condense the reflux flow. A good estimate is now made of the total vapor out the column. The user specifies a desired distillate flow rate and from those two values, the reflux flow and the heat removal required is calculated.
Background for this calculator can be found in this thread:
viewtopic.php?p=7793056#p7793056
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Then I also upgraded the existing Packed Reflux Column Characteristics calculator with that same McCabe - Thiele distillate abv calc method. It is more accurate now and also includes a table with the results vs time for key process variables. The reflux condenser calcs now also automatically calculate the required cooling water flow rate.
So, please try out this calculator. I think it can help you better understand your plate still process.
Haggy ( aka haggy )
After several revisions, I have now verified the calcs in this plate reflux column calculator and have added it to the HD Calculator Section. Many posted plate column runs have been evaluated and have agreed well with the data.
Included in the calculator is a rigorous ( McCabe - Thiele method ) calculation for the distillate abv, so those results should be close enough to real data. I have added a table with results vs run time of several key process variables. The user can make changes to several input data values and see what that does to the distillate abv and flow rate.
Other plate column characteristics ( ie flooding, weeping, entrainment, heat up time, time to tails, estimate of hearts made, etc ) were also updated and appear in the results section. This calculator can be a useful tool to plan runs with or to help diagnose run problems.
Higgins has used this calculator for his run planning for over a year now and has given several posted testimonials for its usefulness. In fact, he sent me run data for eight very well documented plate column whiskey runs, and that data was used to help develop this calculator.
Also, a new addition is the automatic solution of the reflux condenser ( deflagmater ) cooling water flow rate required to condense the reflux flow. A good estimate is now made of the total vapor out the column. The user specifies a desired distillate flow rate and from those two values, the reflux flow and the heat removal required is calculated.
Background for this calculator can be found in this thread:
viewtopic.php?p=7793056#p7793056
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then I also upgraded the existing Packed Reflux Column Characteristics calculator with that same McCabe - Thiele distillate abv calc method. It is more accurate now and also includes a table with the results vs time for key process variables. The reflux condenser calcs now also automatically calculate the required cooling water flow rate.
So, please try out this calculator. I think it can help you better understand your plate still process.
Haggy ( aka haggy )