Haggy's Plate Reflux Column Calculator

This calculator estimates operating characteristics for plated reflux columns, including reflux ratio, initial and tails distillate ABV
flooding and weeping tendencies, downcomer behavior, dephlegmator performance, and a simple time-step run progression.
This is a direct port of Haggy’s original Plate Reflux Column Operating Characteristics calculator.

Column Inputs

Run Name

Plate Type SieveBubble Cap

Diameter in

Plate Count plates

Plate Spacing in

Sieve Hole Dia in

Sieve Hole Count (0 = auto)

Entrainment NoYes

Target ABV  %

Time Step min

Eff Gain

Heat Loss  %

Pot Still Inputs

Charge LUS gal

Wash ABV  %

Temp °F°C

Heat-up W

Run Power W

Takeoff pints/hrL/hr

Reflux Condenser / Dephlegmator Inputs

Mode CMVM / CCVM

Type ShotgunCoil

Tubes

Tube Dia in

Tube Length in

Shell in

Water Temp C

Flow L/hr

Material CopperStainless Steel

Search SearchUse Entered Flow

       Calculate

Results

Heat-up Time (+20 min plate loading)

Pot Temp /

Top Plate Temp /

Reflux Ratio

Takeoff /

Initial ABV (Sieve)

Initial ABV (Bubble)

Tails Start

Total Power-On Time

Tails ABV (Sieve)

Tails ABV (Bubble)

Heads /

Hearts /

Hearts ABV (Sieve)

Hearts ABV (Bubble)

Flooding / Downcomer / Entrainment / Weeping

Flood Velocity

Column Velocity

% Flood

Flooding Status

Residence Time (Sieve)

Backup Flooding? (Sieve)

Residence Time (Bubble)

Backup Flooding? (Bubble)

Sieve Hole Velocity

Sieve Flooding Likely?

Bubble Cap Hole Velocity

Bubble Flooding Likely?

Entrainment (Sieve)

Entrainment (Bubble)

Plate Efficiency (Sieve)

Plate Efficiency (Bubble)

Minimum Hole Velocity

Sieve Plate Count Used

Sieve Hole Diameter Used

Sieve Open Area %

Sieve Hole Velocity

Sieve Weeping Likely?

Bubble Cap Count

Bubble Open Area %

Bubble Slot Velocity

Dephlegmator / Reflux Condenser Results

Vapor Condensed

Estimated RR

Heat Transfer Required

Heat Transfer Area

ΔT /

U Overall

Condenser Heat Transfer

Water Out /

Cooling Water Flow /

Time Step Table

Step	Time (min)	Boiler Volume (L)	Boiling Point (°C)	Boiler ABV (%)	Vapor Temp (°C)	Distillate Rate (mL/min)	Distillate ABV (%)	Collected Volume (mL)	Cumulative ABV (%)
1
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20

For detailed assumptions, limitations, and usage notes, see the companion reference page.

Original calculator logic and formulas created and field-tested by Haggy.

Return to the Calculators Page