Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

do you find the pump is overkill?

i ran my second wash through it today and 5 plates i was holding full reflux with barely a dribble coming through. output water temp was bloody hot but very little adjustment each way went from full reflux to too fast and bottom plate going dry

Jimmy, try putting some copper or stainless mesh in the tubes of your RC, it'll increase cooling efficiency and you'll get full reflux with less flow. Also, are you using a ball valve or a gate valve? Or needle valve. Ball valves don't give enough fine adjustment.

+1 what valve you using?

gate valve currently
im saying flow through condenser is very very little to hold full reflux like a few litres an hour!

Sounds like you'll need a needle valve. Gate valves are good but needle valves are better. If a gate valve isn't doing it for you, then change. Many use gate valves because they're cheaper.

How long is your RC? And how many internal pipes?

RC is 9 hole, ~250mm long

Is the very low flow common?

Jimmy. wrote:RC is 9 hole, ~250mm long

I think that's your issue. Mine is 85 mm long with 5 x 3/4" internals. It needs copper scrubbers (mesh) inside the internals but it works beautifully with a gate valve. Change to a needle valve and it should give you the control you need.

Or cut your RC in half. :?

RCs only need a trickle going through them when collecting product but usually full flow is required for full reflux. Mine didn't hold full reflux with 2000 W without the copper mesh.

Whats your thoughts on keeping a 3/8th needle valve in the cooling system.
My concerns are that if i upgrade my whole cooling lines from the braided ones to the ones recommended here is that the smaller valve may negate the desired flow?
but... my small understanding of fluid dynamics is that it shouldnt...

I was just wondering same thing bout 1/2 needle valve. Going to change hoses first then if need be go to a 3/4 needle valve..I would like to be able knockdown full 3600w :handgestures-thumbupleft:

The 5 star uses larger diameter holes and 170mm long condenser, how much (Lpm) are people running through the 5 star? I am talking between my two condensers I used under 250l for a 4hr run

Edit: Why did people reduce down to a 3/8 needle? the 1/2 is not much more like a few dollars

Another reason I put the valve in the coolant tank is ,if you need less flow to the condencer or valves are too touchy with adjustment,you can open the valve in the tank a bit ,wich will reduce pressure to the valves slowing the flow and make adjustment easier.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

I think low flow would be normal with a 250mm rc. There is a lot of water in that rc. I would guess that it would take a long time to change after any adjustments also.

I have a 75mm long rc with 5 x 3/4" tubes with a baffle plate and mine will hold full reflux on 2800 watts. It also has a very quick responce time, about 1-2 minutes. I use a gate valve and the small braded hoses and don't seem to have any problems. I do run off a pressure pump though but only have the tap leading into the still open about 3/4s.

Not sure if any of that helps but it may give you some ideas?

It does thank you, I will put a few flow meters into the mix and see what actual flows I am using

Anyone using the 5 star 170mm long version having the same trouble?

woodduck wrote:I would guess that it would take a long time to change after any adjustments also.

:text-+1: you'll probably need to wait a few minutes between each adjustment to know for sure if it's enough or needs changing further.

So thinking out loud here, how dose filling an overkill rc with some boiling chips to reduce the jacket volume sound?

Would depend on the size of the tubes as to what size medium you could use, but even a half fill would make a difference, just have to stop it from blocking the pipes

I don't have a multi tube condenser to try it out

The 5 star one
https://www.5stardistilling.com.au/prod ... condenser/
thats ~190mm long

Mine is about ~250mm long

Are we talking RC or PC Jimmy ?

RC, 4"
I linked the right one? size says 19cmx17cmx17cm

Our 4” RC are actually 150mm

Anything that increases surface area in your RC should reduce the volume of water you need to knock the vapour down (length, internal tube diameter). I would be cautious when comparing water flow between your RC and a shorter RC. Other things such as charge ABV will also change your water demand at your RC. What I am trying to get to is you need to compare apples with apples.

What I would be concerned about is your ability to regulate such a low flow when you are collecting product. As mentioned a needle valve will give you better control than a gate valve. I would research what size gives you the best flow control at the lower flow rates when collecting product, but is also able to achieve the Max flow rate with the water pressure you have at the inlet to your RC.

I have previously thought about doubling down on a RC to reduce that water requirement under full reflux. Ie. running two RC under full reflux and switch one off when collecting product