Warra's 2" bubble plate column running thread.

[warramungas]

This has been an ongoing build for months. Here's the thread for it.
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=8933
Sorry don't know how to link.
I'm starting a new thread to document the running learning curve of it as I don't think the other topic name adequately captures the topic if people do a search for similar discussions.
Currently doing a vinegar run at 2000 watts in full reflux. Think I over engineered the reflux condenser as I need a trickle of water to let the vinegar into the product condenser.
All the connections in the column made it lean slightly but I corrected that mostly with a piece of 1" pipe up the side. Just temporary for now.
Can hear the bubbles but obviously I'm unable to see them but can see the bottom plates not flooding using the level indicator which is a good thing.
See how it goes later with 4 liters of 90% heads and tails (watered down to 40%) as a sacrificial wash.

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[warramungas]

Alcohol run all good so far. Couldn't get the column to flood.
Two small pinholes in 2 small components but not enough to shut it down to repair. Will fix it tomorrow after a strip down and a clean. I'll just give the two repaired bits a citric acid bath before my next run.
Man that vinegar made it nice and blue. Regardless do a patch job and probably run a wash on Sunday.
Tested alcohol and it was pulling at 95% with 6 amps and 85% on 8 amps which is full power. Not hard with a 40% wash so the all grain wash will be the true test.
Water was exiting the PC at mains temperature so good result there with the big length of coiled copper.
Measured rate was 2.4 l/min after the first 2 liters had been taken out already.

Question. Should there be a breather in the PC? I noticed a bit of surging while it was running.

[bluc]

Cool look forward to your results from your run :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[warramungas]

Run ended really well last night. Late though.
Sitting steady temp at 84 degrees (probe is beneath top plate), came out to pour another beer, went back in and it was reading 98. Only out for a few minutes tops.
Recovered pretty much 4 liters back again. Slightly lower abv though.
Ecstatic with the results so far.

[bluc]

What sort of collection rate are you getting? Still trying to work out how you did your bubble caps...

[warramungas]

Running a full load of ujsm strip right now.
Got a max of 2.4 liters p/min at 2000 watts on the cleaning run on friday after I ran in full reflux for half an hour or so. Keep in mind i wasn't planning on keeping this spirit (down the drain).
I'll take a couple of pics of my completed caps for you when I strip it down again. Probably tonight.
Run into my first problem. More like a vicious cycle on my spirit run.
I've got a long PC and when it starts to do some work it heats up the water which in turn heats up the water on the inlet side of the RC which in turn stuffs up the reflux rate. My water goes through the PC then through the RC. I thought id be able to set and forget (so to speak) but looks like I'll need to separate the flows and put a needle valve in front of the RC. I've already got the bits together so will install after this run. Got another 2 runs to go. Another ujsm and an all grain wash.
Also the PC seemed to surge a lot. Not sure if this is a symptom of the water issue or a I need to install a breather at the bottom of the PC. See what happen after I get the water under control.

[bluc]

2.4l/h is pretty good do you know what your abv was at this speed?

[scythe]

Surging in the parrot is from not having a breather after the PC.
I would split the water feeds, RC will have a hard time on its own without constantly having to adjust.

[rumdidlydum]

Surging in the parrot is from not having a breather after the PC.
I would split the water feeds, RC will have a hard time on its own without constantly having to adjust.

I can vouch for surging even with a vent. Put a bit of ss wool down the bottom of the parot, if you already have a vent :D

[EziTasting]

Wow, it's cool to finally get up and running, isn't it!

For better control, I can't imagine joining the two condensers. One runs on a tiny bit of water while the other needs constant flushing.

I have the garden hose set up to trickle feed the RC; while I have a large water reservoir with a small pump recirculating thru the PC. That way I can drop ice bags into reservoir to keep the temps down and and reuse the water for several still runs... Worx really well

[warramungas]

2.4l/h is pretty good do you know what your abv was at this speed?

That was 85% at full power. Boiler had already had half of the alcohol taken out so probably 20ish percent in the boiler.
I separated the water flows mid first run and continued. Major control difference. Much, much better. Comfortably pulling 1.7 l/min with little to no surging (maybe too fast still but I'm in the tails already) at 83% at aprox 1500 watts. Can smell strong tails so I'm just playing at the moment. Will take the next run more seriously and consider this one a 'shakedown' run so to speak.
The 'fizzing' sounds like its stopped or a lot less in the bottom plate. I made that a higher flow downcomer for the extra volume. Maybe too much.

[EziTasting]

Can alway put it back in and then rerun it?!?!? :D




Can't write today - too much chocolate!

[warramungas]

Can alway put it back in and then rerun it?!?!? :D




Can't write today - too much chocolate!

Maybe. But I'll probably strip all the flavour out. See how it goes after its aired. Can always add it to my next sugar head wash to up the ante.

[warramungas]

Couldn't edit my last post.
Slowed it right down to 900 ml/min and pulling 90%. Try and maintain it there for a while and see what I end up with. Top temp is reading 74 but that's strapped to the outside of the RC. Need a better setup for that. Later. The one under the bottom plate is at 90 so bit of a difference there. I've got the capacity, might put one on each plate later.
Temp definitely on the way up but nowhere near as sudden as friday night.

[WTDist]

Well done. my 2" bubbler days are over. sounds like you could hold 92-93% at 1.5l/h then slowing to 1l/h in tails?

[warramungas]

2nd run on. Had to pause for a lightning storm. Settled again now. Pulling 90 @ 3.2 L/hr. Crazy but numbers could be off as I'm measuring between surge to surge. Seems when the wash is in the 40s it can pull heaps.
Lovely sound those loaded plates fizzing away like crazy. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

NB. Where I was saying liter per minute I actually meant liters per hour. Sorry if I caused any confusion. Used to talking liters per minute at work.

[bluc]

Sounds awesome!

[warramungas]

Second run finished of ujssm.
RC off at the moment to suck the last of the alcohol out of the boiler. Definite quick transition to tails but I was tasting it every 250 ml so picked it up.
Worked out it needs to run at 7 amps instead of the 6 I was running at for most of the run. I think 6 is just too close to equilibrium for the column with the RC running.
Needs a breather for the PC too. Will install one before the next run.
The all grain is a no go damn it. Opened it up and tasted it and I think it would go well sprinkled over some chips with a little salt. Very vinegary.
Will have another go at all grain sometime but will get another ujssm on so I can try a single run for flavour.
Will strip tommorrow and try and post some better photos of my plates and caps setup.
One good thing is I can also use the head for a reflux column by chucking a meter of packed 2" pipe where the plates were. Might make a good next step and retire my PDA-1 with its 400 mm column. I had converted the small column for a longer tube but can use this on this one with the stronger cooling system setup.
Cheers,
Warra.

[warramungas]

Some piccies. Site wont let me post more than a couple At a time from my phone so will do this in a couple of posts.

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Only got two up in the edit menu but its showing three pics???

[warramungas]

Better pics from my PC this time. Mods, feel free to delete my last post.

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