Running My Boiler

Just starting out and need some advise? then post it in here.

Running My Boiler

Postby Shaun » Mon Jun 21, 2021 9:56 am

I have been doing this for awhile but still struggle at times with how to run my still, i have a CM reflux still the issue i had yesterday was it ran very slow, i was getting about 92% but it was running at 1lt every 1.5 hours, i am suspecting it was due to cooler weather, i am in Qld but definitely cooler yesterday.

I have a 2200watt element in a 50lt keg, i guess my question is should i reduce the reflux to increase the flow rate or just leave it to run like this?
If i reduce the reflux i am pretty sure the product will come out at a lower abv.

I can reduce the power if this will help at all, but i don't think this will be useful.

Cheers
Shaun
 
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equipment: 2" CM Reflux Still
50L Keg

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Clickeral » Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:25 am

Can you post a pick of your setup?

On my bubbler with 4 plates I run a minimum of 2400w of 50L (3000-3600w is better) and after I have taken off fores at a slow drip a second. Ill dial back the RC until I am collecting at 2.5LPH and I typically get 90-93% (temp corrected) out of a 10% charge you may need to adjust your RC a lot to increase output

I am in VIC and its bloody cold atm, the run I did last night I had the hose in as low as I could have it while keeping the shot gun working (distillate was coming out at 16C so safe as, have maxed out my 2" shotgun before by dropping the input water to low and running 4800w)

As long as the RC isn't fully turned off you will still get reflux, part of me thinks 2200w isn't enough and that 2400w is the minimum in my mind.

I have done 4.5L per hour at 93% before using more heat and almost maxing out my RC, issue was more flooding my old plates doing that.

My procap plates and my bigger RC ive done 7-8LPH at 4800w and 93% without flooding.

If your setup is similar to mine im happy to use my old plates and do a video call showing how I run mine if that helps?
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Location: Victoria
equipment: 5 Hectoliters of Fermenting space (120L temp controlled)
12 Plate modular procap bubbler with 1020mm stainless packed sections and super reflux condenser
50L Milk can boiler 2x 2400w or 70L kettle (2x 2200w)
3v nanobrewery mashing

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby BigRig » Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:41 am

Shaun wrote:I have been doing this for awhile but still struggle at times with how to run my still, i have a CM reflux still the issue i had yesterday was it ran very slow, i was getting about 92% but it was running at 1lt every 1.5 hours, i am suspecting it was due to cooler weather, i am in Qld but definitely cooler yesterday.

I have a 2200watt element in a 50lt keg, i guess my question is should i reduce the reflux to increase the flow rate or just leave it to run like this?
If i reduce the reflux i am pretty sure the product will come out at a lower abv.

I can reduce the power if this will help at all, but i don't think this will be useful.

Cheers


i am in North Brissie too and the weather over the weekend was cold and very windy. hence why i put my runs on hold until next weekend (weather permitting).

My last run a couple weeks ago had similar weather and it was a bastard to run the still.

I will never do a run in those conditions again.
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Amberale » Mon Jun 21, 2021 10:53 am

Bloody Banana benders.
Soft.
:teasing-neener:
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Shaun » Mon Jun 21, 2021 11:46 am

Here is a pic, unfortunately i can only control water flow from one point for both the RC and PC.
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Shaun
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:10 pm
Location: North Brisbane
equipment: 2" CM Reflux Still
50L Keg

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Dude » Mon Jun 21, 2021 11:49 am

First step would be to split the water supply so you can control flow to the PC and RC separately.
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby The Stig » Mon Jun 21, 2021 2:54 pm

PC needs full flow all the time .
You only need to control the RC
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Shaun » Mon Jun 21, 2021 3:13 pm

Yeah i don't think there is enough vapor going upthe column yet i can't control the RC with out slowing the PC, time to find some one to mod this or buy a new still.
Shaun
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:10 pm
Location: North Brisbane
equipment: 2" CM Reflux Still
50L Keg

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby howard » Mon Jun 21, 2021 4:08 pm

Shaun wrote:Yeah i don't think there is enough vapor going upthe column yet i can't control the RC with out slowing the PC, time to find some one to mod this or buy a new still.

from the picture, i assume the water flows through the RC, then through that 10mm pipe, then into the PC?
if that's the case, a fairly simple mod would be to cut the bend out of the 10mm pipe.
then you could fit separate hoses to the RC & PC and control them individually. :think:
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby The Stig » Mon Jun 21, 2021 4:12 pm

Exactly :text-+1:
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Last edited by The Stig on Mon Jun 21, 2021 4:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Shaun » Mon Jun 21, 2021 4:30 pm

Maybay i will go at with an angle grinder, i just setup a radiator so will need to both run through that.
Shaun
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:10 pm
Location: North Brisbane
equipment: 2" CM Reflux Still
50L Keg

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Dude » Tue Jun 22, 2021 8:25 am

When you cut it leave enough of a stub to fit a compression fitting then you can fit garden hose fittings to it.
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby rushn » Tue Jun 22, 2021 12:43 pm

Shouldn't the RC be filling from the bottom? Looks like your current setup is filling from the top. If you modify it as suggested, you can water-in from the bottom.
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby The Stig » Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:45 pm

All condensers should fill from the bottom otherwise they don’t fill properly
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Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Clickeral » Tue Jun 22, 2021 4:16 pm

The Stig wrote:All condensers should fill from the bottom otherwise they don’t fill properly


Hmm have been running both my RC and shotgun via counterflow for awhile, perhaps I should switch back to water in the bottom and see how it goes. Also alternate between RC control being on the inlet and outlet depending how I feel
Clickeral
 
Posts: 300
Joined: Mon May 06, 2013 6:54 am
Location: Victoria
equipment: 5 Hectoliters of Fermenting space (120L temp controlled)
12 Plate modular procap bubbler with 1020mm stainless packed sections and super reflux condenser
50L Milk can boiler 2x 2400w or 70L kettle (2x 2200w)
3v nanobrewery mashing

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Shaun » Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:54 am

Sorry for late reply, the intake is from the PC and flows up, but i guess also flows down from the RC, i bought this and they have it labelled that way i have never tried in reverse, if i cut it as shown then i could have both running correctly.
Shaun
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:10 pm
Location: North Brisbane
equipment: 2" CM Reflux Still
50L Keg

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Shaun » Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:29 am

Also if i split up the lines i will have 4 lines, can i run the both intake and output lines to a single line each as i have setup a closed radiator system, so both intake lines come from the one main line and both output lines go to a main line, i can add adjustable 3 way hose adaptor like the one i have in my first pic.
Shaun
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:10 pm
Location: North Brisbane
equipment: 2" CM Reflux Still
50L Keg

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby howard » Sat Jul 10, 2021 10:57 am

yes.
the RC already has a valve on it for fine adjustment.
if that rig is anything like mine, you will probably find that the RC uses very little water to reflux.
if you are keen on refluxing i would suggest adding at least a 600mm column between boiler and the RC.
i can't see a clamp on the boiler/column connection, is that soldered or usually tri-clamped?
do you/can you put packing up that column at the moment?
howard
 
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2020 12:53 am
Location: perth
equipment: 35l brewzilla
2" modular CM
gin caddy
changeover element switch and voltage controller on brewzillas 1900w element.
5L glass boiler/glass leibig

Re: Running My Boiler

Postby Shaun » Sat Jul 10, 2021 1:32 pm

The column screws in to the boiler, i have packing up to the RC, i have thought about getting and extra piece and some clamps to extend it, next time i run it i might swap the hoses around.
Shaun
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:10 pm
Location: North Brisbane
equipment: 2" CM Reflux Still
50L Keg


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