First Stripping Run

[Shaun]

Hi again, up until now i have used my cm reflux still just for sprit runs as i didn't have the volume for a stripping run.

I have removed the packing and slowed the cooling to get a faster run, i am producing 100ml every 4 minutes @ 75%abv with a 2 inch column, the temp is sitting at around the 86 oC mark does this sound ok?

[PeterC]

That's 1.5 litres per hour and seems fine for a stripping run on a 2 inch column. Some go even faster. You could turn your reflux cooling off altogether if it was separate from your product cooling. You then control it by varying your power input.

[Shaun]

Unfortunately it is not seperate, that will be the next job to get a valve put in place.

[RC Al]

Ignore the temp on a strip run

What product are you trying to produce?
Running a bit slower on a strip may help your end product for a neutral, but only if you do some rough cuts and keep some the tails out of the equation
If your looking to do rum/ bourbon etc then strip as fast as your condenser set up will allow you to bring as much flavour through as possible, collect down to 0-10%

I currently strip at 12 l/h with a 2" riser and a 6' 3/4 over 1/2 liebig - gas is good :music-deathmetal:

[Shaun]

My understanding of a stripping run is to reduce a large volume so you end up with a shorter spirit run time.

All the runs ihave done in the past were straight spirit runs because my volume was 60l or less.

[bluc]

You also get a bigger volume in boiler by stripping first..

[The Stig]

My understanding of a stripping run is to reduce a large volume so you end up with a shorter spirit run time.

Incorrect, essentially your going to increase the time taken to do your spirit run.
You strip 2 or 3 wash's and water this down to below 40% then add back to the boiler.
Youve now gone from 10% or 15% alcohol in the boiler to 40%
Like RC says, it depends on your wash and end product but your going to take a lot longer to run this new boiler charge.

[Shaun]

My understanding of a stripping run is to reduce a large volume so you end up with a shorter spirit run time.

Incorrect, essentially your going to increase the time taken to do your spirit run.
You strip 2 or 3 wash's and water this down to below 40% then add back to the boiler.
Youve now gone from 10% or 15% alcohol in the boiler to 40%
Like RC says, it depends on your wash and end product but your going to take a lot longer to run this new boiler charge.

True, but the overall time from first run to last run is reduced? And i only have to do cuts on one run instead of 4?

[dist]

Strip run - fast
Spirit run - slow

You can skip cuts on strips, but def do them on spirit.

The reason why spirit run is slower is two fold.
First, like mentioned by Stig, your abv is higher, hence more time is needed to extract that alcohol.
Second, you want it to be low and slow, as this is what makes it easier for you to make cuts and reduces smearing - read makes your end product better quality.