Cooling water advice please

[StillWaters]

Well, I finally kicked the turbo yeast, AirStill, habit for a while and did a TPW with the new still. The boiler is a T500 unit with the option to run the CM still as either a reflux or pot achieved by changing from reflux tower to pot head, as required, for those who've read my earlier posts. I have the still connected via a SCR power controller with the liquid output into a copper parrot. I did a vinegar wash to clean the still followed by a full rinse down. All worked fine, no leaks or issues. The TPW fermented out to 0.995 at about 10.2%ABV. I set the boiler running in reflux mode, I turned the water on when 70 deg C was reached and, by adjustment of the power in, I got the temp to settle at 80 deg C (thermometer in top of column). A gentle flow of 85% ABV appeared. All fine and, having disposed of 200 ml fore shots into the "shower cleaner" jar, I monitored the continuing output through the parrot.
Now to my questions - I am using a large "wheely" bin (approx 120 ltr) and a small pump to provide the cooling water at about 2ltr per minute due to no running water available close to the "shed" but, at local ambient temperature of 32 deg C on the day, the cooling water rose to a constant 48 deg C. The column temp remained steady at 80 deg C and output was at 1 to 2 drops per second at around 85% ABV (corrected from 32 deg C output). Sadly I only got 1.7 ltr output before detecting slight "off" smells and taste, even though the parrot was showing about 80% ABV. Is the cooling temp too high and will it affect quality? Should I be regulating the water flow rather than power input for best results? What else might be going wrong?

[googe]

Hey mate, if it was knocking down all the vapors it should be ok. Was it puking at all?. I'm guessing it was around aa 25l wash?. I usually get close to double that with that size wash. Are you in the north of aus?, then again it's been bloody hot in Melbourne too lol. I use a plastic 44 and pump and it still gets to hot on long runs.

[chill]

I have heard, but don't know, that running too fast (too much heat into the boiler) can cause tails to appear in the output earlier than they should.

Chuck

[scarecrow]

That's right Chuck. Too fast and you run the risk of pushing tails up the column and smearing the run.
It took me a couple of runs to work out the right amount of power and water flow to get a good result for my CM.
I run a constant heat input and adjust the water flow to get the desired results. Now it's so predictable it's boring.
Running from a fixed volume container will keep you on your toes. The water will heat up as you get into the run, hence a constant adjustment on flow rates. The bigger the cooling water container, the less adjustments you need to make.

scarecrow

[Admiral Toad]

Agree with previous comments I try and keep in low 60s Celsius at cooling water exit probe
Even with mains water and a pressure regulator valve it still varies over the run somewhat
I obtained a cheap but superb digi thermometer with high and low temp alarms so you can keep it in the range without staring at the displays
It's great for mashing etc etc as well

[StillWaters]

Thanks for advice. I think I'll split the water supply to the column and the condenser. I'll run the condenser flat out but regulate the reflux cooling with a simple in-line valve. That will allow more precise water flow where it is needed most (if I've understood well).
Can you give me more details on the digi thermometer you use AT?

[Admiral Toad]

It was a link I got off Mr Cat. Can you remember JG ?

[lll_0_mike_0_lll]

I just started using a T500 reflux. Not sure I count on this, but I run mine @ 72* - 78* max top column & 55* - 65* Water out flow.The total outflow was faster at 65* but never notice in difference in total proof or abv. It will how ever rise then drop during refluxing on it's on. Nice peace of equipment in my opinion. I get 191 proof @ 92% ABV.

[StillWaters]

Ok so I stuffed up my first run with the new still. Didn't read the manual properly and got the column cooling connections reversed!! First run was not good.
Did another TPW of 25 ltrs with 6kg of sugar. Went well, although it took longer than I had expected to ferment out. 10 days at 26 deg C. Racked it into another container and let it settle/clear for another 4 days. I connected the still up correctly this time, split the cooling water supply and added a flow valve into the water flow to the reflux column. (I decided to "detune" the column and leave it in place rather than dismantle it and just use the pot head on its own). Stripping run went well with column cooling closed off, and I ended up with 11 ltrs of 35% ABV after watering it down. Put this back into the boiler and got it up to boiling, then reduced the power to give a gentle boil. Opened the reflux cooling tap and output started at 90% ABV through the parrot, and I threw the first 150ml foreshots in to the cleaning fluid jar for the missus to do the shower glass :0)
I then collected 200ml of heads, followed by 2 ltrs of hearts @ 90% before the ABV started to fall. I got another litre of hearts at 80% ABV. Carried on collecting down to 70% ABV, got 500ml, at which point I got a hint of tails creeping in @ 60%. I continued collecting in small jars and got 400ml of tails before the "wet cardboard" smell became quite strong. At that point I shut down the still. Overall this took almost 7 hours.
Airing the heads, hearts and tails overnight improved things and the last 100ml of heads became quite good to taste as did the first 100ml of tails. I'll toss the rest into the next run.
As a newbie I'd appreciate any comments on how good, bad or indifferent my results are? I found the fiddling with the cooling water to the reflux column to be a pain, but overall not too dissatisfied with the results.
I am considering moving to a LM still at a later date as I'm led to believe they are easier to run and will give me purer neutral and, when detuned, will give me a chance to make a half-decent peated grain malt Scotch. Again any comments from anyone on this please? Cheers, SW

[lll_0_mike_0_lll]

When the top tower reaches 72* C. Will start producing. I run mine to never get over 78* C. The output water runs around anywhere 55* - 65* C at all times. Should give you best results at 190 proof - 95% pure. Normally getting up-to 4 - 6 quarts depending on the wash abv before running it. Also takes 1 hour to warm up & another 4 - 5 hours to finish.

[John51]

Just a suggestion for increasing temperature stability..

Make a 'wort chiller' type radiator from 15mm pipe. Mount it external to the wheely bin(s). Use a beefy 2nd pump on it plus a powerful fan on the radiator.

There must be a pump/fan/rad ratio that keeps your temps constant.

[lll_0_mike_0_lll]

Just a suggestion for increasing temperature stability..

Make a 'wort chiller' type radiator from 15mm pipe. Mount it external to the wheely bin(s). Use a beefy 2nd pump on it plus a powerful fan on the radiator.

There must be a pump/fan/rad ratio that keeps your temps constant.

I have seen those setups before. I just don't think it would be safe as the condensation inside the reflux tower. Leaching out into the alcohol. Could be poison but not in the good way. Use the tap on your sink drain. Best way to go & easy to regulate.