30 ABV run - fluctuating temp t500

[vqstatesman]

I'm currently using a t500 and typically only do one run at the usual ABV from fermenter - approx 15%

In an effort to produce a cleaner neutral I decided to collect all my distillate and do a rerun. I diluted the distillate to approx 30ABV and ran the wash - it's actually running as I type :)

My t500 is running in a very odd manner! the water flow into the condenser is consistent however the temp is swinging wildly. Without any adjustment from my coolant input the temp is swinging from 50 - 67C in a kind of cycle. Starts rising up to 65 ish then slowly back down to 50 then back up again.

Ohh and one other point. The output distillate is around 80 ABV instead of the usual 90+ %. The distillate output volume is also fluctuating massively e.g. no output for 20 seconds then a huge stream faster than I have ever seen

WTF is going on? I seriously need some suggestions???

Thanks in advance :)

[BackyardBrewer]

Are there any leaks? Are you losing vapour anywhere?

Any blockages in the column?

That surging is a worry. Id shut down and check for blocks and leaks.

[satchy]

Definitely not normal turn of give it a clean then check your flow rate 550mls per 1 min

Good luck :)

[Dominator]

Also is your water flow even? Are you running off town water or a water pump? Doesnt sound real good mate.

[vqstatesman]

Update...

Still is still running and I have now recovered around 70% of the alcohol...

Temp has levelled out and operating normally. Rather odd I just tested the ABV output and its now up to around 90%.

PS I'm running of Adelaide town water. I have been monitoring the water flow which has been very constant around the usual 500ml / minute.
Also pretty sure there are no blockages as I cleaned and tested the still prior to starting my run. I commonly do this.

is it possible the t500 reflux just isn't happy with high ABV runs?

[SBB]

Ive run stripped wash through a T500, and Im sure many others here have as well, The ABV should make no difference to how it runs. You have some other problem. How full was your boiler??

[drunkmore]

Sounds to me like your colum is flooding. I'm not familiar with the T500... What type of paking do they use? Is the paking to tight? This will cause the reflux to flood the colum, effectively blocking it for a second until its heavy enough to pour through. This in turn sets up a surge. Which then creates a repeating pattern. It would also end up working slightly detuned, which would account for your lower ABV.
How are your cuts? I suspect they would have been very dificult to make.
I suggest check your packing and rerun the lot again

[vqstatesman]

Boiler was filled up to the recommended capacity. Column is packed with ceramic noodles. I don’t believe it's over packed as they still move a little when shaken.
Would a slight leak cause the column to flood? This is all I can think to blame. If the top of the column has a slight leak surely there would be a lack of vacuum and this may cause the flooding??
I have noticed when I rinse the column out water dribbles out from the top. Manufacture told me this is normal when cool, apparently when in operation the top of the column seals closed from creating a vacuum.

[Sam.]

It may have been surge boiling. Do you use any sort of boiler chips? ie a couple of little off cuts of copper.

[Yummyrum]

That is LM still so it must have a vent in the top.Otherwise it would explode if you had the takeoff valve closed

[NotBenStiller]

Boiler was filled up to the recommended capacity. Column is packed with ceramic noodles. I don’t believe it's over packed as they still move a little when shaken.

Nah - you can't over pack with the ceramic saddles - they just don't have very much surface area and they can't compact down.

Another note is that the T500 can't handle low wines very well - you'll get vapour from the product output coz the condenser/cooler is very small and inefficient (unless you have a massive powerful pump and and run crap loads of water thru it) - and especially if you have it set up as recommended by still spirits
It's a bit better if you run two separate cooling lines/pumps.
So if there's vapour/huffing then i guess it might make the temp swings happen

[bac206]

What wash are you running?
I've never ran a t500 so not sure on set up but maybe its puking. I strip my TPW no dramas but it easily pukes when doing spirit runs. I make sure to keep low wines level in boiler way down (from maximum) and use distillers conditioner on spirit runs/re runs. Some say you can use olive oil instead of distillers conditioner but I don't know volumes sorry.
Hope this helps :pray:

[Dominator]

What wash are you running?
I've never ran a t500 so not sure on set up but maybe its puking. I strip my TPW no dramas but it easily pukes when doing spirit runs. I make sure to keep low wines level in boiler way down (from maximum) and use distillers conditioner on spirit runs/re runs. Some say you can use olive oil instead of distillers conditioner but I don't know volumes sorry.
Hope this helps :pray:

A tablespoon of olive/canola/vegetable oil or butter works great to stop puking.

[Fatherjack]

Another note is that the T500 can't handle low wines very well

:text-+1:

Running low wines on mine always results in product temps bouncing around with the odd vapour chuff

[MacStill]

That's weird :think:

Stig always runs low wines through his T500

[drunkmore]

What wash are you running?
I've never ran a t500 so not sure on set up but maybe its puking. I strip my TPW no dramas but it easily pukes when doing spirit runs. I make sure to keep low wines level in boiler way down (from maximum) and use distillers conditioner on spirit runs/re runs. Some say you can use olive oil instead of distillers conditioner but I don't know volumes sorry.
Hope this helps :pray:

A tablespoon of olive/canola/vegetable oil or butter works great to stop puking.

Interesting ... Besides :puke-huge: what is "puking" ?


I have this from still spirits t500 FAQ page.


Why is my still providing a poor quality alcohol?
The reason why your alcohol quality is not the best is because your condenser is running too hot. If the alcohol is coming out hot, then this is a sign the unit is running too hot. Operate your unit at lower temperature, closer to 55 degrees Celsius.
]If the temperature is fluctuating, ceramic saddles may need a clean and repack.

[Dominator]

Puking is when your wash foams up in the boiler and the foam/wash makes it into your still/column. With a pot still it will literaly puke your wash out of the condenser and contaminate your distillate.
If you read something and arn't sure what it means, check here: Glossary of Terms. It is in the newbie section. However, whem looking up this link I realised 'Puke' is not in the glossary of terms. Maybe one of the mods could add it.

[Sam.]

I don't think puking is what is going in here more like flooding.

I have never seen a TPW puke in the slightest, there is no reason a stripped anything should puke.

I reckon you might be trying to pump through much alc through the little rig.

Either increase reflux or decrease your boiler charge ABV :handgestures-thumbupleft:

And try some offcuts

[SBB]

Sounds to me like your colum is flooding.

That was my other thought, or two much in boiler.

I have noticed when I rinse the column out water dribbles out from the top. Manufacture told me this is normal when cool, apparently when in operation the top of the column seals closed from creating a vacuum.

That is rubbish...if its leaking its unsafe....a lot of these stills have leaked around that area, Its not really safe to run them if they are leaking, maybe you need to ask the supplier / manufacturer where the "vacuum" is in that still.

It may have been surge boiling. Do you use any sort of boiler chips? ie a couple of little off cuts of copper.

Good point Sam......they do come with boil chips, and should be used.

That is LM still so it must have a vent in the top.Otherwise it would explode if you had the takeoff valve closed

Yummy the only valve on these stills is for the water flow.

Another note is that the T500 can't handle low wines very well - you'll get vapour from the product output coz the condenser/cooler is very small and inefficient (unless you have a massive powerful pump and and run crap loads of water thru it) - and especially if you have it set up as recommended by still spirits

Ive run mine a number of times on low wines and never had that problem, The instruction that come with the still are a rough guide, I found it best to forget the temps and water flow and concentrate more on keeping the flow of product from the condenser slow n steady.

That's weird :think:
Stig always runs low wines through his T500

:handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[NotBenStiller]

Ive run mine a number of times on low wines and never had that problem, The instruction that come with the still are a rough guide, I found it best to forget the temps and water flow and concentrate more on keeping the flow of product from the condenser slow n steady.

That's weird :think:
Stig always runs low wines through his T500

:handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

OK... *my* T500 i used to have couldn't handle low wines very well.
YMMV