Stripping Pot still design help

[Inspector Gadget]

This gives an idea of how fast the Vinto potstill strips at...

http://www.hedaux.co.uk/media/user-medi ... ingrun.mp4

[myles]

My gear has been in storage - busy working in the garden.
I used the same product condenser on two rigs. A 108 mm plated column and a 54 mm pot still. On the same boiler.

From what I remember the product speed from the plated column was much faster than the pot still at the same power levels. It does make sense, greater throughput from the wider plated column.

Max I achieved was about double my input power. By that I mean 10 litres per hour on a 5.5 kW power level.

I need to do further testing but it seems to me that there could be a big advantage on a strip still of maximising the vapour path area. Not fired up my big steam injection strip still yet but that has a vapour path of 19 x 22 mm tubes (equivalent area to a 95 mm dia tube but a lot more surface area).

Provided your product condenser can cope, you can generate a lot more vapour throughput, with a bigger vapour path.

On a traditional onion pot still the vapour path (at its widest point) can be as much as 1/3 of the diameter of the boiler.
Woodford Reserve, strip still in the background.

Woodford Reserve.png

[Boozoid]

I conducted my first stripping run thru it today, some 25L @ 12% ish needed processing.

No dramas, nothing leaked.. no hoses popped off.

Interested to note that the actual product came off the still twice as fast as the vinegar did, I was collecting 76ml per min. Or around 4.6L / hour from the 2kw source.


collected around 7.5L down to a measured 20% and stopped.

Overall ... fired up and turned off in 3 hours, I can cope with that kind of timescale.

[Mash]

No bad at all. What's the plan for the spirit run - same way?

[Boozoid]

The plan is currently to strip another batch next week and then do a spirit run on my LM still.

On my last attempts a few years back, I failed to make a neutral I was happy with that boka still.
Despite everything coming out at 95%, I got a burning sensation on my nose sniffin the product.
I carbon filtered and it still had a harshness I didn't agree with.
Dunno if It was the 20% Turbo yeast washes or I was smearing across everything
Hence this time I'm using a low % Birdwatchers tom paste wash to eliminate that side of things and I bought some copper mesh packing to see if that helps.

[EchoSevenNine]

I've never tried the turbo, but from what i've read about it, i'd put my money on that.

Try the Vodkastar. That's what i use for neutral through a 6ft Boka and it seems pretty acceptable to me.

[Mash]

I am not a fan of turbos. I never found a good neutral either.

I have found running an aquarium air stone for 1/2 hour is very good at rounding of the harsh edges.

[Easydrinker]

IMHO, unless you go for a wilder/more cupboard supply wash, then VS should probabdly be your yeast of choice.
You can do better, and spend less.
But you have to find your own way to what works for you.

Robert.

[Boozoid]

Found an old thread of mine in the archive forum/archive/viewtopiccbd5-2.html?f=1&t=3085

I was using Vodka Star back then .... when I was moaning about my product quality.

Something which supposedly gives a clean wash at 14%.

Well I'll just have to wait and see if I can make something neutral or more floor cleaner with Birdwatchers wash and copper mesh

[Mash]

Copper? Mesh?

[Easydrinker]

Found an old thread of mine in the archive forum/archive/viewtopiccbd5-2.html?f=1&t=3085

I was using Vodka Star back then .... when I was moaning about my product quality.

Something which supposedly gives a clean wash at 14%.

Well I'll just have to wait and see if I can make something neutral or more floor cleaner with Birdwatchers wash and copper mesh

Just my opinion, of course, but if you had cut back on the amount of sugar back then, you may have had a cleaner tasting product.
These days I use a lentil wash for neutral, and am happy to strip washes at around 10%.
I don't think that anyone shares tastes and taste buds, so, many of these discussions are tangential.
But, hey, that is life

Robert.

[Mash]

I think the copper mesh will help - I would also add some copper off cuts to the boiler.

It singlehandedly made a vast difference for me.

[phantom]

Meh! I'm happy using vodka star and it doesn't matter whether I use my smart still or T500, I routinely double distill and carbon filter (at least once, often twice).

With cane table sugar, that gives me a nice clean neutral.

I'll have some idea of how good this works when I run the palm sugar batch I've got ready......

[Easydrinker]

One of the beauties of this hobby is that virtually everyone can be correct.
My tastes are not yours,etc.
Trying to replicate trade brands is a lot harder, and a different can of snakes, or bag of worms.
It is a harder route to travel, most easily done with a first class neutral and a really good essence.
Which re-opens the first class neutral debate.
What is a first class neutral?
IMHO?
One that the maker is happy with.
End of.
Simples.
I have found mine, you may have found yours, if not, try some more recipes/yeasts.
Double distilling, Carbon filtering, and airstone bubbling, all have their uses, leading us to the product that WE want.
Play with them all. Draw your own conclussions.
Ask for advice, there are no rules.
Other than don't drink Methanol.
Unlikely for almost all, but you have to be aware of this possibity.
Oh, and drink responsibly

Robert.