StillSmart

Hi Guys

I've just added a couple bits to my setup so I can add a VM takeoff its a 4" column with 4 x 4" Bubbleplates plus a packed section with 300mm of SPP for packing, I then have a 4x4x2 tee section to which the VM output is taken.

For the main reflux condenser I have an SD 4" dephlagmator V2, above this is a reducer to my original 2" BOKA head that I made years ago when I first joined this site, its a standard double wound 6mm coil inside a 2" column section, below the reflux coil are two slant plates to catch the liquid and collect it trough a small tube.

The theory of operation is, with the VM valve closed, I can adjust the water flow through the dephlagmator above it to allow vapour to pass up to the BOKA section, the more volatile chemicals like fores and heads will ten be condensed and collected from the LM output on the slant plates

As most of the reflux in the column is being produced by the big 4" deflag, I should be able to take off the heads at a decent rate without destabilising the main column.

Here's some pics

For the main VM output I've put together a few 22mm copper parts, I've used a short piece of pipe that fits nicely into the ball valve adaptor, I've used an elbow and a 22mm-28mm reducer to increase the size of the intake to the valve.





Here's what the VM take off looks like inside the column, it points down into the packing to gather as much vapour as possible.





Heres a view of the take off looking up at the deflag





Here's the assembled head with the 2" BOKA section on top



I tried to build the still with the output as shown coming straight out the side but I didn't have enough height for the product condenser, so I had to change it a little and mount the valve vertically to give me the correct height.







After heads collection, which will hopefully stop by its self if the temperature is adjusted correctly with the main deflag, I can then close the LM valve and open up the VM valve for hearts collection, its a 1" takeoff in a 4" column so the minimum relux ratio is about 16-1, I should be able to open up the VM valve almost fully without affecting the stability of the column, time will tell if I'm right, the proof will be in the test drive to come soon.

Wowee mate!
What can I say other than what a way to spend time away from the bairns.
It looks really interesting and thought out.
I hope it gives something like the aimed for result.
ATB.

Robert.

Porn!
That is all

@Anavrin It is nice and I don't wish to sound critical but there may be a few issues.

1. Unless you set the dephlegmator temperature just right it will condense some of the heads before they reach the boka. This will be counter productive and in fact slow down your run.

2. I think you might have problems with that VM configuration. VM is designed to work with vapour density. Getting it to flow uphill might be an issue.

Just as a suggestion you might consider doing something like this. If you went to an offset version then the VM side can run in full reflux whilst you are taking off the heads via your Boka.

Then as the boka is already in full reflux, just leave it running and take off the product via the VM that is now a bit higher, and might be high enough to get your PC in vertically.



Can you achieve full reflux with the dephlegmator - it was not actually intended to do that and might need a bit of help. Although it will only be dealing with half of the vapour stream so will probably be just fine.

This is a compromise sort of configuration so it will probably be a bit slower than a purpose designed VM / LM head. There are other configurations you can play with also as you are modular.

Hi Myles

I’ve run the big deflag in full reflux with it setup in a CM configuration, there was some heat in the pipes above the deflag but not enough to produce any product, it was for this reason I wanted a second condenser above the deflag as backup, I have a 3” version without slant plates which I was going to use as the backup, but decided to use the 2” BOKA as it offered the option of a separate heads takeoff.

I do worry that with the valve being mounted vertically the VM output will be much slower than I hope,

You can see from my first pictures the plan was to have it horizontal,