Which condenser is more efficient

[twojaythomo]

Here are my 2 condensers which one would you use?
Vertical one is 300mm long with a 9mm coil to a 19mm coldfinger.
Crossflow is 320mm long with 12mm tubes.

[crow]

that does depend a little on what you are using it on

[TheMechwarrior]

Is that a 2" reflux column?

If so both condensers are big enough to knock down the vapour from a 4" column! (IMHO)
Assuming you have the water supply to keep up.

Take your pick.

[twojaythomo]

63mm diameter condenser and water flow will be about 1.5 l/m. Using it on a 1.5m packed column with a 2.4kw FSD element keg boiler.

[twojaythomo]

Sorry for being so vague I was trying to reduce height of my column so I can use it under cover so wanted to be sure before I chopped the condenser column

[Yummyrum]

TJT Nice work ...are you counting 12 tubes as 6 a side?

You need to tell us now you have made it . Just boil water in the boiler and adjust the flow rate until it stops venting steam out the top ....measure the flow rate required and report back :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Edit , did you fit the slant plates in the end?

[twojaythomo]

6 X 12mm tubes and no slanted plates was going to be a tight fit as you said before don't think there will be much pooling anyway, I tried to solder holding the outer pipe up a little but when it hardened one side was level and the other had the incline I was after but oh well.

[bang300]

Well you would have to calculate the exposed tube in the crossflow as opposed to the amount of tube area in the wound coldfinger. First impression is that the wound coldfinger coil has more surface area and would use less water flow

And, the crossflow is more demanding of design and being perfectly level so as not to accumulate or hold condensate liquid when in use.

[twojaythomo]

TJT Nice work ...are you counting 12 tubes as 6 a side?

You need to tell us now you have made it . Just boil water in the boiler and adjust the flow rate until it stops venting steam out the top ....measure the flow rate required and report back :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Edit , did you fit the slant plates in the end?

I am hoping it is less than 1.5l/h or I will need a new pump.

HD calculator is telling me at 28 degress C with 12mm pipe and 2.4kw heater I will need 1.78m at 1,56l/m.

I decieded 28dc because in summer water gets hot and you want to compensate for everthing, all is telling me I will be on the limit, no big deal will just have to upgrade pump http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DC-12V-60W-5 ... 20e8bf7996 what do you guys think.

forgive me if I am wrong I have had many at this point in time.

[twojaythomo]

Well the crossflow was not effcient enough, was still getting a small amount of steam coming out on the cleaning run so not sure if I can fix it or just knock the guts out of and use my other coil or was thinking making a double wind 6mm.

Still want to keep it horizontal as it fits under my roof nicely, there must be a way.

[pulsetech]

If your talking about a vinegar cleaning run then the vapour is a lot hotter than Ethanol vapour.
you would still want to see 100% knock down imho

a lot of guys use this one http://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-350w-s ... p_p4816179
I have a 1000W pump in my system using 2 x 1000L IBC tanks

[Brendan]

If your talking about a vinegar cleaning run then the vapour is a lot hotter than Ethanol vapour.
you would still want to see 100% knock down imho

I don't think so. Back when I tested my earlier reflux stills, I always had vinegar vapour bypassing the coil (which I got from Mac) and was told that was normal due to the fact that it has a higher boiling point...never happened with ethanol, and condenser was more than adequate.

[twojaythomo]

I might run the same solution in my HBS still and see the results, also as I think Zak said before and it is in my HBS condenser part is some scrubbers around the coil this also might help. I still would like to see 100% knock down.

[TheMechwarrior]

If your talking about a vinegar cleaning run then the vapour is a lot hotter than Ethanol vapour.
you would still want to see 100% knock down imho

Out of interest I always got 100% knock down with my RC on a vinegar run as well.

[twojaythomo]

Yep just confirmed my HBS still even with a small amount of water flow has 100% knock down. I have just put some ss scrubbers in and doing another test now, if I am still getting venting I am thinking of going down the 6mm double wind.

[twojaythomo]

So my stupid tee thing didn't work, just going to have to build another coil, I will just stick with the vertical and cut 50mm off my packed column to get everything fitting.

[Zak Griffin]

1.5L/minute doesn't sound like very much on a recirc setup... Get a bigger pump?

[twojaythomo]

I was using the water mains for testing even at a high flow rate still got a small amount venting

[Yummyrum]

Just wondering where your vent is...guessing up one end.
Is it the end with the cool water entry ...might just give it an extra help :think:

[twojaythomo]

Was thinking about the design today, real it's not a good one because vapor can bypass half the condenser if the think about it would be the reason for venting. Really I would have to put a vent in each side tee into one, still thought it would have worked as the is 1.8m of 12mm pipe for cooling.