Havent read any post past this so if i missed something my bad just short on time ATM and thought i would jump into it.
1. Am trying to prove that my 1500w boiler can provide enough power at the height and wanted packing density of the column. If i lock it up and it doesn't work i would hate myself
T500 boiler, not 2kW?
If you want to pack it you will have more than enough power. Look into the last few pages of my T500 mod, i had 500mm of packed section (or there abouts) and i couldnt get it under 1.8L/h in heads and it slowly got to 1.5lh in hearts and near end of hearts i got it down to 1l/h as ABV dropped.
I thought no prob ill increase the column and use some of that power up. i added 1m and it was then at 1.55m packing in 2" with standard 2000w boiler and my RC which couldnt hold full reflux on standard washes (fine for bubbler, not packed sections which i dialed down to 190v).
What i found... took longer to fill column, yea obviously... but once i had column filled and it was at the stage of fores they would come out and i found i had same problem as before only one difference. I had same take off speed but this time it was azeo.
Long story short, adding height wont use up any power or none that you can see. It will just take a bit longer on heat up times (refluxing whole column, equilibrium stage) and give you a far better product.
Your 3" will be more than up to the task with the T500 boiler, probably a good match. low wines will require less power but being 3" you could prob crack faster take off rates. I read someone getting 3l/h on their boka. When i had low wines in my 2" at 1.55mm packing i had to shut down as it flooded but before it flooded i had over 5l/h at azeo before it started spraying out like a hose. way too fast on a 2" with smearing but wont be as much of a problem for a 3". I think you will have enough power with 2kW, if you have 1.5 then strip and run low wines on full power and you will get a good and fast product.
just fix those seals :teasing-neener:
Ill go read the other posts now :whistle:
Like wara said, insulate it also and you wont loose any speed, or power. Its passive reflux that will drain the power