My new bubbler

Perforated & bubble cap plated columns

My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Tue Jun 20, 2017 9:15 pm

Hi everyone,

Back in January I started building a 4" bubbler and finished it, the boiler and it's cooling system recently.

I didn't take any photos along the way, sorry, but when I get stuck into something I very rarely remember to take photos.

Anyway, it's a 4" 4 plater, solid state with no sight glasses on a 50 L keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements. RC is 85 mm with 5 x 3/4" and the PC is 400 mm with 4 x 1/2". It's pretty much following the same design as my 2" stove top bubbler.

I don't have a parrot yet but I may make one some time soon.

It's a block head but I didn't research well enough how big to make the block head and I think it may be too small for making gin. The RC and PC are all one unit. I may at some stage make them modular.

Cooling is with a bunnings fountain pump, it puts out 14 L/h through the 20 mm tubing I have connected to the still.

I recirculate water through a twin fan car radiator that I operate off of a 12 V 300 W transformer. The transformer only runs one fan (it cuts out if I try to run them both) so I've ordered another one to run the second fan, but it's on a slow boat from China and who knows when it will get here. For now it looks like the radiator will do the job to keep my water cool but I'm not really confident it will keep the water cool during Brisbane summers. I'll have to play the wait and see game.

I had trouble in the first few runs to get the RC into full reflux so I shoved some copper scrubbers down the tubes and now it works fine. I don't think it was an issue of too small an RC, more a case of the positioning of the inlet, the water goes straight in between two of the tubes and isn't forced to change path until it hits the middle tube. So it's not a very efficient RC, but it works now.

Anyway, I'll get into the man cave now and take some photos. Don't expect copper porn. If I could quote someone on Zak's build thread (can't remember who) "it's a work horse, not a show pony". I may shine it up one day though.
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Tue Jun 20, 2017 9:54 pm

Forgot to mention the plates are sieve plates. I figured with a solid state it's much easier to clean out if they're sieve rather than caps. Only down side is if I have to shut down the heat for any reason I need to get the plates re-loaded and reflux for a few minutes again.

Anyway, here she is:
IMG_20170620_212419914-02.jpeg


My voltage controller:
IMG_20170620_212430914-01.jpeg


My block head join:
IMG_20170620_212445848-02.jpeg


A butt joint I made (it's reinforced on the inside):
IMG_20170620_212511888-01.jpeg


Looking down into the RC:
IMG_20170620_212553708-01.jpeg
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db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Tue Jun 20, 2017 9:56 pm

The top plate:
IMG_20170620_212823984-01.jpeg


My little fountain pump:
IMG_20170620_212646119-01.jpeg
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db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby Doubleuj » Tue Jun 20, 2017 10:09 pm

So going to re read this when I'm not so pissed. Looks good :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Doubleuj
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Re: My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Tue Jun 20, 2017 10:18 pm

Thanks doubleUJ. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I made a mistake, the pump puts out 14 L/min.
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby Huntsman96 » Wed Jun 21, 2017 12:03 am

Hey db having only soldered for the first time building a 2" boka I have to ask how did you solder the plates in? Trying to figure it out but only way I can see is to stick your arm down the pipe which seems like a bad life choice when it's that hot :-D anyway build looks great and its giving me serious inspiration to start a bubbler build. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Huntsman96
 
Posts: 72
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2016 6:45 pm
Location: Perth
equipment: 2" boka / regular old pot still

Re: My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:00 am

No don't put your arm down it.

I used soft solder (aquasafe) and propane on my whole build so some of this doesn't apply to silver solder or mapp gas.

Cut your plate to size (once it's complete with downcomer etc, you don't want to try and get them out again once they're in, so make sure they're ready to go first), clean the edges and apply flux, then place it in the correct spot of your pipe. This is easiest done with the pipe laying on its side. Make sure you clean and flux the spot on the inside of the pipe where the plate will go too.

Clamp the pipe from the outside so that it squeezes onto the plate and holds it in place. Heat from the outside. If you're using propane you'll need to run flat out and it'll take ages to heat up but it will eventually get there. Either push small pieces of cut up solder down the pipe with something that won't burn or simply stretch out the coil of solder down the pipe. Once the solder joins with pipe and plate let it cool a bit. After a bit, start heating the pipe again and work on the other sides of the plate. So long as you work your way around the plate the solder should stay in place.

It helps to have as close a fit to the pipe as possible. It doesn't matter if there are little gaps around the outsides of the plates but I didn't stop until I'd soldered them all up. Even gaps as big as 2mm can be joined, but you want your plate to fit much more snug than that.

Also don't bother trying to stick your torch inside the pipe, the exhaust fumes will smother the flame and it will go out.
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby Huntsman96 » Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:22 am

Funny how easy things seem once someone who knows what they're doing explains them :doh: thats a great help mate really appreciate it. Will definitely be putting the parts together for a bubbler build now that I know I won't need to char grill my arm to do it :D
Huntsman96
 
Posts: 72
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2016 6:45 pm
Location: Perth
equipment: 2" boka / regular old pot still

Re: My new bubbler

Postby Sam. » Wed Jun 21, 2017 6:20 am

Huntsman96 wrote:Funny how easy things seem once someone who knows what they're doing explains them :doh: thats a great help mate really appreciate it. Will definitely be putting the parts together for a bubbler build now that I know I won't need to char grill my arm to do it :D


How about dropping into the welcome center and let us know exactly what you are trying to achieve, you will get more help that way :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Sam.
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Location: South Oz Straya
equipment: Original FSD 5 plate 4 inch modular bubbler SSG with hand crafted plates and parrot by Mac.
18 Gal boiler.
2 x 2400W elements and power controller.
.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Wed Jun 21, 2017 6:22 am

Good luck mate, use the old saying: measure twice, cut once. You'll spend more time thinking about what you're planning on doing than actually doing it and you'll be alright. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby bluc » Wed Jun 21, 2017 9:21 am

Looks good I like it :handgestures-thumbupleft:
bluc
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Posts: 8967
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Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: My new bubbler

Postby Lowie » Wed Jun 21, 2017 9:35 am

Lucky you posted some pictures or I thought never really happened mate. :handgestures-thumbupleft: Are you cooling through your Blockhead?
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Posts: 712
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 1:32 pm
Location: Crow eater
equipment: 4", 4 plate "Frankenfurter" copper bubbler and blockhead on a 50L 3000W electric boiler, 10000W controller - don't even know why I need that much, all grain HERMS system through 18G HLT keg and 50L mash tun.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby Zak Griffin » Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:03 am

Love it mate! I've got a real soft spot for the original style semi-modular bubblers. Pretty sure I'm going to build myself a 3" one when I get a minute.
Zak Griffin
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equipment: "The Heart of Gold" - 4" Bubbler - finally bubbling!
"Zaphod" - 3" Pot - retired
"Agrajag" - 6" Bubbler - midlife crisis build?

Re: My new bubbler

Postby warramungas » Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:05 am

Interesting and old school. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
An issue with your RC may be it only looks quite short. How long is it?
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30 liter boiler
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110 liter boiler with 25 liter (max) inline thumper
4" x 4 plate bubble cap still

Re: My new bubbler

Postby bluc » Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:56 am

How do you find running it without sight glasses? :-B
bluc
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Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:53 pm

Lowie wrote:Lucky you posted some pictures or I thought never really happened mate. :handgestures-thumbupleft: Are you cooling through your Blockhead?


Yeah the RC is the bottom 85 mm of the block head. There really isn't enough room in the block head to do anything with but I'm thinking of some modifications.
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:56 pm

warramungas wrote:Interesting and old school. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
An issue with your RC may be it only looks quite short. How long is it?


The RC is 85 mm, as I said above I had trouble keeping full reflux but now with copper scrubbers in the tubes it's fine. It would have worked better if the water inlet was positioned so it hit one of the tubes but as it is, the water goes straight between two of them. I'm using 2000 W to drive it and it's sufficient for that much heat.
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby db1979 » Wed Jun 21, 2017 2:15 pm

bluc wrote:How do you find running it without sight glasses? :-B


I learnt to run my 2" bubbler without sight glasses and following mac's instructions it's a piece of cake. I'm guessing it would have been easier to learn to run with the sight glasses. The extra time and cost in making them, for me, doesn't make up for the slightly longer time in learning to run it.

I like the KISS principle - Keep It Simple Stupid. It keeps me out of trouble. ;-)
db1979
 
Posts: 1760
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: South of the big smoke in banana bender land.
equipment: Eve - 4" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (sieve plates), 330 mm packed section on a keg boiler with 2 x 2000 W elements.
Currently having a makeover: 2" x 4 plate solid state bubbler (1" bubble caps, no sight glasses...maybe not for much longer!) on a bain-marie boiler.

Re: My new bubbler

Postby Zak Griffin » Wed Jun 21, 2017 3:40 pm

If you're worried about making gin, build a Carter head :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I have now soldered the top cap of my blockhead on, because I needed an extra 4" seal for one of other flanges :laughing-rolling:
Zak Griffin
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Posts: 6832
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:34 pm
Location: Radelaide
equipment: "The Heart of Gold" - 4" Bubbler - finally bubbling!
"Zaphod" - 3" Pot - retired
"Agrajag" - 6" Bubbler - midlife crisis build?

Re: My new bubbler

Postby bluc » Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:17 pm

Really simple design like it heaps. Wondering about self draining bubble cap plate designs. I have 2" caps. May well copy this but with bubble caps 8-}
bluc
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Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

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