VM/LM/Pot Combo

[Capt-Cudellez]

Sounds like this might work a treat, I'll be very interested in how controllable the VM section turns out to be in this config.

The main difference I see with your design compared to a standard VM is the path to the reflux condenser is choked as you open up the VM.
With the VM I am currently running, I make 1/4 or 1/2 turns on a big gate valve to make adjustments, as the path to the reflux condenser is not changed, these big moments result in very fine control.

I think you might find yours to be more sensitive to adjust than a standard config as you are giving the vapour more encouragement to divert to the product condenser.
This might be good, or might make it fiddly - Cant wait to see how it pans out in practice. Lovely work as always Brian.

I really like the LM\VM combo - been running this one for a while now and I like keeping all the heads away from the product condenser, I'm sure it makes for a cleaner cut over to the hearts.

[YHB]

Trouble is once I start something I do not know when to stop.

When I was trying out the valve/ diverter the push/pull rod got a bit hot and it was difficult to make small adjustments. The stuffing gland grabbed the rod and it took a big push to move it, once it started to move it moved a long way.

To overcome this and get some real control I decided to put a handwheel on a threaded rod into the equation.



It seems to do the job nicely and the M8 Thread is fine enough to give a very precise location.

1 meter of threaded rod from Toolstation = £1.60 no P&P this time, other than that the rest came out of my box of really useful bits.

Re-thinking it now - perhaps if I had worn some gloves I would not have needed this. But there again I love "Steam Punk"

[YHB]

.


It's Awesome!!!!.

Well I think it is, but there again I would, wouldn't I?

I got all of the plumbing sorted and the temperature probes fitted, filled it up with water and switched on.

It does what I hoped it would do. With the diverter parked in the cross tube you get 100% reflux that can be drawn off through the needle valve. Winding the hand wheel until the diverter is blocking the column makes the still a Pot still, with 100% output from the Lieberg. It easily knocks down the vapour from the 2.5Kw boiler.

These two modes seem fairly predictable, but it is what happens when I turn the hand wheel. The transition from LM output to VM output is so smooth. I can see the LM needle valve slowly drying up and the VM Lieberg slowly starting to produce.


As I said this is just water that I am playing with at the moment. I will strip it down and give it a good clean , then the vinegar / sacrificial runs etc, then I will try it with the proper stuff and take some readings, but it is looking very promising.

Toodlepip

Brian

[chill]

That DOES look awesome Brian! Looking forward to more pictures.

[Almanac]

Brian, you are a true Pioneer of still design. Out there, going where no distiller, or still designer, has gone before and giving it loads

I am so delighted that your trials are going well. Can't wait for the live results.

I still say you should look at the commercial potential of your design....three stills in one how cool is that and who wouldn't want one?

AM

[YHB]

I spent a long time yesterday with water / vinegar / water runs cleaning up the build.

Today I put some junkahol through it to see what it does.

I loaded it up with 15 Litres of 15% ABV, and wound the selector out as far as it would go. This actively blocks off the vapour to the reflux coil and creates a pot still.

2.5kw took 30 minutes to produce the first product, and three 0.5litre cuts at 10minutes each.

First 0.5 litre 68%
Second 0.5 litre 62%
Third 0.5 litre 56%

I put the cuts back in the boiler and wound the selector in as far as it would go, cutting off the lieberg and diverting 100% of the vapour to the reflux coil, making it a Bokakob.

I cut the power to 1.0 kW, opened the needle valve and dumped the first 20ml or so. after that collected three x 0.25 litre cuts. I do not have a narrow band spirit meter but with the cheap one I have and correcting for temperature they were all over 95%.

Once again I put the cuts back in the boiler, closed the needle valve and wound the selector out until condensate started to appear from the Lieberg ie a VM still. Once the product was flowing I adjusted the selector until the flow rate was around 1.0 litres an hour. Making the adjustment with the selector was very easy and positive. Again three 0.25 litre samples this time 94 to 95% ABV, this was my first effort with a VM so a little learning to do here .

It was at this point the selector valve jammed solid, don’t know why but I will find out. I left it all to cool down before I investigate.

All in all I am so happy my socks are jumping up and down. It is a lot better than I ever expected.

I am going to have a large Rum and Coke - I deserve it.

Toodlepip

Brian

[Almanac]

Sounds like a triumphant maiden run to me so I'll second the Large Rum & Coke and I'll have a Large Bourbon & Soda to keep you company.

the minor hiccup will turn out to be something simple which I know you'll have no problem sorting.

Congratulations...job well done

AM

[YHB]

Life just gets better, yesterday I had a run that was totally clean and completely tails free, am I happy or what?

I diluted the strips from 3 TPW’ I ended up with 22 litres of 31% in the boiler

Closed the VM take-off and let the column stabilise for an hour at 0.6 kw.

Opened the LM needle valve and took off 150ml fores at one drip a second.

Then opened the valve to 2 drips a second and took off a further 750ml as heads.

Closed the LM valve, increased the power to 0.9 kw.and let it stabilise for another 30 minutes

From switch on to this point it took 5.1/4 hours, it was boring.

Now for the good bit. I opened the VM valve to around 1 liter an hour and collected 4.95 litres at 95%. This made it all worthwhile, the temperature never moved and I did not need to make any adjustments throughout the run. No smearing, very clean tasting. The temperature spiked at the end, the output more or less dried up without any sign of tails. All in all it is a big improvement on the Bokakob hearts extraction

I will let the angels have their pick for a couple of days, but it is so clean tasting the cuts have more or less made themselves, I will reserve judgment on the first cut from the VM but the others are all keepers.

9.1/2 hours for 17 bottles of neutral at 40%. Tired but very happy indeed.

[Capt-Cudellez]

Congrats on the run Brian, looks like the new head is working a treat. That was a very long run, but I think you may be able to shorten it slightly.
Equalisation: I now think that anything longer than about 25mins is not really gaining you anything in compressing the heads.

Heads: That drip, drip, drip, will remove the heads in the smallest possible portion. If you are only running once in a blue moon this might be worth while to maximise the hearts portion. But if you are running more frequently you might find a trade-off between spending less time on this part of the run, and contaminating slightly more product with heads, to be re-run later on.
I usually just work out what volume my 10% of the product available is, and shoot to remove that volume in 90mins. Start off with the drip a second but speed it up as you progress. Or if you have time on your hands, do this part the evening before and the main part of the run the next day.
Power: This one might not let you run faster, but “might” yield a better product. For the main part of the run you can put more power in, 1500-1600w is good on my 2” gear. If you don’t change your take off speed, this is increasing the reflux ratio by 50%. I’d be interested if you try this, what you find works better on your gear.

[YHB]

Thanks for the hints capt'n, keep them coming I still have a lot to learn.

I had intended only to remove the heads and finish the run today, but once I had started and it was going so well I did not want to stop in case I screwed things up.

One of the goals that I am hoping to achieve with the new head is a single run system so that I can produce a few bottles of a variety of types. I have put the cornflakes wash on deliberately to try it out, and some of the experiments yesterday were to see what the head would do. I am hoping to be able to compress the heads and get rid of the smallest amount of wash. Then change to Pot / VM mode set for about 70/80%ABV and take off the hearts with a quality that will not need another spirit run and keeping most of the flavour. Is it doable? or just a dream?

I have been out to the shed already today and it is a very neutral neutral, I have had isolated successes before with one small cut being exceptional but this is the first time that I have been pleased with the whole neutral run.

Now were was that link for schnapps?

[Capt-Cudellez]

I've heard of some distillers doing just that, taking off heads with a column, then switching to a pot head and running as a pot using power control.

As your VM is really a proportional splitter (closes off the reflux path as you open the valve) you should be able to dial in whatever ABV you like. I guess you have some playing to do:)

I'm planning a splitter of a different design for later this year (or maybe next year, no rush)

[ant]

I looked at the price of stainless 2" cross fittings; about £33
Bit pricy perhaps. Does take care of one of the tricky bits though.

[YHB]

No fun there!

I could knock a copper one up in a few hours, it would take me 7 weeks to save up my pocket money.