Its pretty simple, its just a case of finding the approptiate bits. I'll describe my system,
Main tank is a 50 litre poly plastic tub. I used the thicker style but a thin hobby one would work.
The radiator is from a 4 cyl Nissan. I used m4 bolts to attach the radiator with some stainless brackets.
There is a 240V ceiling exhaust fan and a simple sheetmetal box used to mount the fan so it "pushes" the air. It was conveinient to mount this "box" to the other side of the radiator as it had its factory mount holes, I picked up on them.
The fan is the style that you get for say, $15 to $20 (Au) and come with a plug usually (here anyway). A circle hole cut in the box and fan installed.
The pump is a "drop leg" style pump from a factory roof "coolboy", with a 3/4 outlet and a head of about 1.5m max. It would only be about 250 watts at a guess. It is held in place with some SS self tappers on the edge of the tank (or kerbside recycling container, as in my case)
The hot water in is plumbed to the bottom tank of the radiator, with a riser hose to keep the radiator full, the outlet at the top is returned back to the tank, ideally in the opposite corner to the pump intake. Without the unit full, there is not enough time for the fluid temp to be exchanged.
This is really the only important thing.
My first trial was with the tank on the floor, the radiator almost horozontal, with the bottom corner outlet propped over the tank and a desk fan wedged in there amongst the bricks to move air. Worked a treat, so I got excited and mounted it on the tank verticly, and it wasnt running full anymore. Didn't work. Added the inlet hose and it was all good again.
Then a plated column entered the frey. Case and tube condensers (shotguns) love flow. My little pump dosn't like the tank on the floor, given my boiler base is 12" off the floor to allow drainage, and a plated column is no shortie, the pump cant cope unless I have the tank on a stand. It dosn't suck much power and is quiet, so I use a stand to reduce the head lift. It moves 12 litres a minute (height dependant), thats enough to run a flute.
Of course, you would have to match your pump to your needs and budget. A smallpot still and a little fountain pump might be enough.
A small radiator gives me about a 20c drop so one from a medium size car would give more I suspect. Cross flow ones work as good, just be a bit mindful of thermo syphon and get the hot going in down low and pump flow not oppsing it (hot rises, cold sinks sort of thing)
Some shelf brackets would be convenient to use to mount the radiator.
I can do continual batch runs. as many as I can in a distilling day. might have to top up 5 or so litres for evaporation in a big weekend running. I use more water washing jars and things.
In summer if it starts looking iffy, I throw in 1/4 cup pool chlorine. I dump it every so often and refresh it, as I don't want it to become corrosive.
I've outgrown stills, outgrown boilers, but this thing that took a week or two to make is still arround. Has paid for itself.
Hope that gives some inspiration.Statistics: Posted by emptyglass — Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:09 pm
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