Output from a TPW

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Output from a TPW

Postby StillWaters » Fri Dec 02, 2016 3:49 pm

Hi, I have just changed over to a TPW from HBS products and would like some advice please. This is what I did on my first attempt:
1. Made up a 25 litre TPW
2. Used my pot head to strip, once fermented out (25 litre boiler with electronic controller on 1500 watt element - home made pot head with 1000mm liebig)
3. Got around 12 litres at approx 45% ABV from the strip run
4. Made this up to 20 litres with cold water and put back in the boiler with some bi-carb added
5. Fitted my 2" boka head to the boiler (insulated 1100mm copper to take-off point with 250mm copper condenser portion above this - coiled copper condenser)
6. Brought reflux still up to temp and ran at 100% reflux for 90 minutes where it stabilised at 78.5 deg C (high quality electronic thermometer +/- 0.01 degree)
7. Backed boiler off to 750 watts and stabilised temperature for 10 minutes, opened needle valve and took off 150 mils at 2 drops/second
8. Closed valve for 10 mins with temp steady at 78.6 deg C
9. Took off 250 mils heads at 2 drops/second - temp moved to 78.7 deg C
10. Started taking off hearts at 2 drops/second at 78.7 deg C with parrot reading 96% ABV @ 30 degrees C (approx 94 % true) Temp stayed constant.
This is where I appeared to run into issues. I got 2 litres at 95-96% ABV @ 32 degrees C before what I took to be a light "tails" smell appearing. I would have expected (rightly or wrongly) to get nearer to 3 litres of hearts by running this way. (recommended by Compleat Distiller)
Can someone comment on whether:
a) I was expecting too much
b) This is not unusual with TPW

Cheers, StillWaters
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Re: Output from a TPW

Postby Zak Griffin » Fri Dec 02, 2016 4:01 pm

If your wash was 10% ABV to begin with you've got 2.5L of pure alcohol. Not sure how you were expecting to pull 3L of hearts out of it?

Your run sounds pretty spot on to me.
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Re: Output from a TPW

Postby prawnz » Fri Dec 02, 2016 5:22 pm

The most I have ever got out of a TPW done as per the recipe here is 2.5lt then make your cuts . I usually end up with about 1.6 to 1.8lt of what I call hearts at about %90 from a 25 lt ferment.
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Re: Output from a TPW

Postby EziTasting » Fri Dec 02, 2016 5:32 pm

Ah ... I seem to oversimplify my things and work off percentages... I expect around 10% of the boiler charge to be collected.
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Re: Output from a TPW

Postby Teddysad » Fri Dec 02, 2016 6:42 pm

I am missing something here
TPW wash 25 l at (say) 10%

Means perfection 2.5l of ETOH

After stripping would mean perfection 5l at 50%

and you got 12l @ 45% ??


Something does not add up
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Re: Output from a TPW

Postby Kenster » Sun Dec 04, 2016 6:01 pm

good pick up teddy...impossible
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Re: Output from a TPW

Postby StillWaters » Sat Dec 10, 2016 5:35 pm

Thanks Guys for your input. I guess I am being a bit greedy expecting 3 litres. It's certainly good stuff :oops:
StillWaters
 
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:41 pm
Location: NSW Central Coast
equipment: 25 Litre boiler, 2" double reduction Boka still, 2" copper pot still and a Parrot


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