Continous grain stripper

[bluc]

I didnt hot azeo but got major suprise in throughout pretty much double on sugar wash/neutral/rum vs solids in mash :shock:

[bluc]

Ok quick update


I ended up with 15.3l in 5hrs 27m from switch on. 40mins was heatup and full reflux..
My heads cut was light at 6% but cant noticeably test it in spirit i thought the heads was concentrated enough that it was mostly heads not too much hearts. Feints sat on 5% stripper was rock solid at 49% whole run 100c on bottoms.
First start to finish full drum. Still plenty experimenting to do to run it too potential.
I collected in 3 demis then blended, once cool will get abv. Average 90abv off still but obviously hot. Still very happy.

At 81abv.. 5hrs to process drum rum wash to me is pretty quick im uaed to 1hr 45mins heat up then 2-2.5l/hr collection so far ahead of poor old phyliss..but ita apples to orange 8 have tried fire a 4" plater with 6kw...but in my new setup its two stills two processes... Stripping rectification....I understand there is not alot discussion because there is very few with it working down at this power level..

Absolutely chuffed :happy-partydance: ..

The stripper is capable of way more with more power input..

Sorry this was from blue drum rum wash recipe 20l molly feedstore. 25kg sugar approx 180l volume. Lowans yeast...

[RuddyCrazy]

Well Bluc I have been trying to get my head around around your setup so I can decode into Rob's terms but the mind does boggle :scared-eek:

Now had a great day here went and voted but no Democracy Sausage as my front teeth arrive next week :handgestures-thumbupleft: So got on my mini excavator and spent a few hours clearing weeds and great fun it was.

Now from what I can get of your setup, you feed in the wash at the top of the plate tree and use steam to condense the wash, so the wash is basically getting flashed by the steam into vapour and naturally the lower fractions will fall as they are heavier in the vapour.

From what I've read you are getting 90% so it's not really a grain stripper but more of a one run and it's done and a 200 litre fermenter is ready for a clean. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Now if I was going to make a continuous grain still Copper is the secret weapon here as it is great at handing heat transfer just feeding the wash straight into the boiler where a sight glass with the pill that goes in the sight glass has a 3mm neo magnet that can switch a hall effect sensor or reed switch to keep an eye on the boiler level. Then another port 2/3rd's down the boiler can monitor the ABV and can open a drain to expel the waste . That way we can keep a constant ABV in the boiler so continuity can be done.

Another option that can be put in place is my inline thumper and measure the ABV where I have found it's 10% lower than the output which holds a litre of condensed vapour so the drain can be placed there and with the fill rate and vapour rate.

I did see your pushing 6Kw of heat into this where a BD burner running at 6 PSI would provide all the heat , I have done 2 strip runs along with the spirit run in pot still and this 8.5Kg gas bottle only started showing the level as it got down when I put the rum over plates.

$32 is my cost for a 8.5 litre LPG bottle so online have you worked out what it costs for a run using the grid

Getting idea's here :scared-eek:

Cheers Bryan

[bluc]

Mate you nailed the theory except out the stripper its 45abv, todays run, out rectification side its 90abv. Litterally is two stills working as one the whole rectification side is parastitic ie un powered relies on residual power from stripper.


Just a quick fyi on batch on high proof sugarhead whiskey rum, not all grain, on batch i could pull 3l/hr at 90abv., that doesn't include 1.5hr heatup on uninsulated keg with as much as I can get in it. now today i pulled 15l hearts + heads tails at 81abv emptied a 180l ferment in 5hrs 25mins. I am newbie im not even close to being an engineer but bit more fine tunning few more minor adjustments i see a bit more as far as effeciency. What the ceiling is i have no idea but this will be my last public post about throughput 8-} cheers seriously if you want to know theory let me know..cheers bryan

[bluc]

So for my rum i strip it to 45 then the vapour doesn't condense just flows through rectification side. Turns into 81%-94% hearts. Downside if you artificially inflate abv by allowing abv to rise, hearts, you lose alcohol out rectifing side. Its a balance. I dont think any harder then running bubblers give me 6mnths will know it back fron... So your not feeding 6kw at a 4" plater, your pulling at least 4kw probably 5kw but im not sure how to measure, out of that 6kw input with stripping side, more so, and also lower through put with solids in grain mashs(working on that)... Anyhoo as i said any questions keen to answer, giving something back to a forum that gave me so much.. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[bluc]

Oh yea those figures of 3l/hr on batch are all inclusive heads and tails. On new setup figure quoted is hearts.. :shock:

[bluc]

Heads and tails not collected first and last but simultaneously you need to collect at right ratio across 3 outputs to get desired results.. sounds way more complex than it actually is...

[bluc]

I hope some that makes sense

[bluc]

Hey ruddy do you still make wine presses whats max capacity do you have one with like a 200l barrel capacity?

[RuddyCrazy]

Bluc I only made the one and that was before I started making my own single malt, now it is designed to use a BIAB so one squeeze the rest of the liquid from the grains. Now after me doing my first mash I did find it much easier to just ferment on the grain which cut down a heap of work for such little return.

[bluc]

Im actually thinking of grapes in this case i have grain worked out now, to my liking

Ruddy another questions 8 have a metering needle valve for hearts takeoff i can go back same setting easily. Looks bit like a micrometer for lathe.

My question can you get one suitable for vapour for repeatability being able go back same setting over over very quickly would be very handy. This is for a lm style takeoff changing heads takeoff from cm to vm..? Not about loading backpressure just tp adjust takeoff like any lm neutral still

[RuddyCrazy]

Bluc I just measured my press and it's 300mm internal diameter 600mm high :handgestures-thumbupleft: one thing I have to put on some mesh at the base so the product crush doesn't lift up the unit. Freight would be a killer but if you want the one I made make a decent offer mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Now for the needle valve a SS one with BSP connections would do so installation is easy and then just count the turns or part of to get repeatable results, no use buying an expensive one when a standard one will work. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Cheers Bryan

[bluc]

I have already moved from ordinary on lm i think i will buy once cr6 onc3 but only if i can glow steam not liquid...i dont see why not..