StillSmart

Hi Guys

I'm looking to fit a Dephlegmator to my column, just under my VM takeoff, above my VM takeoff there will still be my boka cooling coil.

So in the vapour path from the boiler it will go Torpedo Bubble section, packed column, dephlegmator, VM takeoff then my boka cooling coil, bear with me, here's the master plan.

Ethanol boils at 78.37°c

If I have my cooling water passing first through my boka coil, then through my Dephlegmator and adjust the cooling flow to set a temp 78°c or a tiny bit less at the VM takeoff, in theory only compounds with a lower boiling point than ethanol will pass the Deflagemator (fores and heads) to the product collection.

If this was maintained, the output would eventually slow and maybe even stop, separating them off,

My question is : Do you think this will actually work in real life?

I could collect this using the boka LM output, it's just above the VM takeoff, also as most of my reflux return will be coming from the Dephlegmator I might be able to take it off quite fast without upsetting the balance of the column!

I think you will be disappointed. Difference between hearts and deep tails on my still is about 0.2oC. Also the temp that hearts comes off at varies, probably due to differences in air pressure.
Considering most meters will claim to be 1% accurate (+/- 0.78oC at the number you quoted) Its going to be tricky dialing in a temp using a meter. You would have to know when you are into hearts then set that temp (which could be slightly different each time) to do some sort of automation.

Knowing how much power you are putting in (by knowing again, doesn't need to be a number as long as its consistent between runs), and timing the take off rate using a stopwatch and measured beaker is a much easier way of manually controlling a cm or vm still.

Dont let me put you off a project, if you are interested in automation I can recommend this book for some ideas.

http://www.amphora-society.com/Designing-and-Building-Automatic-Stills-2nd-Edition--by-Riku_p_3.html

Cheers for the link Capt C, that looks like a good read, shame it's not free, I'm just trying to find a still configuration that's ideal for compressing and removing heads.

I get the hole 0.2°c difference between hearts and tails, my VM gives the same result, but that's under equilibrium conditions during a spirit run, I'm taking about force cooling to give a specific temp at the VM output, that is maybe 1-2°c lower than that of the hearts, on my setup 81.8°c is what I get for the hearts collection, so if I can force it a little lower, I can hold back the hearts and only collect heads, at least that's my theory, I'll be experimenting next weekend with a bit of luck.

I've just put down a 40lt wash with 9kgs of sugar and Alcotec 48 to get some juice to play with.