Question about keg boiler

[ontario23]

Mod Edit: split topic from viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1795

Aidanmac »
Thanks for the info on aging.
one other question I have is the beer keg pot still. Will I know when the keg is getting low and will this be done by the percentage of product. I'm wooried I could burn out a element if I go to low.

[YHB]

Some people install a sight glass, some a level tube but most appear to work on the principle that they are going to pull off 1/4 to 1/2 of the contents of the still during a run.

So, if the charge is twice the depth required to cover the element everthing should be OK, ie you can take off 1/2 the charge and the elements will still be covered.

[Capt-Cudellez]

I use a keg ontario23, when stilling a surprising amount on what you put in the boiler, is still there when you are done.

If I charge my boiler with 25L @ 30%ABV and using the column pulling azeotrope, I will still have about 18L left in the boiler when I'm done.

When stripping, I can put 45L @11% of cleared wash in, and I'll still have more than 33L in the boiler when I'm done. That's a heavy hot bugger, so figuring out how you drain that is worth considering.

Due to the ridges on my keg I couldn't put the element as low down as I'd have liked takes 10L to cover, so on a spirit run I either need quite a large charge from multiple stripping runs, or you could top up with water.

[Almanac]

Bottom line, burning out an element is not something you need to worry about.

I'm currently reorganising my still layout to provide a means of draining the hot slops safely without having to move the boiler. As Capt C says that's a heavy hot bugger, and I've been scalded once already....don't ask

I'll post pics of my solution to the problem which I'll be tackling this coming week.

AM

[scarecrow]

If you want 100% safety of not burning out your element, add plain water till it is covered, then add your wash.
That way you always have the element covered.
You may need to adjust your recipe to suit, but it does provide a level of safety.
Don't worry about diluting the wash. It will help with your cuts.

scarecrow