I want to build my own!

[Spudnik1954]

Pot still that is. I have looked at this thread and there are so many designs and such. Does anyone have an easy to understand plan for a pot still?

[Almanac]

You could start here...



...or this one (same, same but better explanation...I think!)



I'll root around and see if I have anything else

AM

Note: The angle of the Liebig Condenser in these drawings is representative only and you should set the angle to suit your output requirements.

[Almanac]

Here's some more. (Click on any pic to see large version)

This one shows the main components in using a 50lt stainless steel keg...



... and these show the parts of the Pot Head assembled





...and this is how the Pot Riser is connected to the keg using a Tri-Clamp and Gasket



...and finally you'll be needing a Liebig Condenser (easiest to build but very effective)


Simples

AM

[Myles]

Just remember that for a pot still you should really start with the condenser. That needs to match your power input and from there you just work backwards to make it fit.

[Spudnik1954]

Thanks for the replys I think I'm starting to understand a little bit.

[Myles]

Each time you reduce the diameter of the vapour path it increases the vapour speed. This puts more of a load onto the product condenser which means you either need a bigger condenser or you run at lower power to compensate.

The old onion stills used a tapered vapour path because they were so big that they lost a significant amount of heat. The reduction in size was to compensate to maintain a constant vapour speed.

Now our small stills don't have this issue, so you can keep the vapour path as big as you like - it is more about cosmetic appeal and cost than anything else.

There is some evidence that gradual tapers are better than sudden changes but both work to some degree. I would say to look at the total cross sectional area of the vapour path inside the condenser (if using a multi tube condenser) and use that as the smallest diameter in the vapour path. Then just work backwards to gradually increase to the diameter of the boiler output.