Copper SPP in the packed section

Perforated & bubble cap plated columns

Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby M8Harry » Sat Nov 14, 2020 2:31 pm

Hi everyone.

Still it had a great video showcasing spiral prismatic packing for running neutral. He had good results with the stainless variant but I noticed there is a copper version available.

Has anyone ever tried this in their packed section?

Granted Im running 5 star Copper mesh in my packed section but im wondering could the Copper SPP give a potentially better quality product as opposed to copper mesh due to the increase in surface area exposure?
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby The Stig » Sat Nov 14, 2020 4:07 pm

It will work, will it be better? Probably not. I would guess it would have less surface area than the woven copper mesh.
Oh and ask anybody thats tried making SPP and ask them what a bitch it is to make
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby tubbsy » Sat Nov 14, 2020 7:21 pm

Most of the copper SPP I've seen is just little copper spirals unlike what Jesse was using which as a spiral triangle shape. There is plenty made in Russia, but I haven't found one that ships here.

From what I've read, SPP beats all other packing by a good margin. It's been quoted the HETP of SPP is 3cm compared to 10cm for mesh.
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby Doubleuj » Sat Nov 14, 2020 9:12 pm

Ahh the great spp debate is back :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby RC Al » Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:01 pm

For the cost of buying it or hassle of making spp, i recon your better off using additional height for the packed section - an extra meter of that would make the world of difference to what you have, provided you have height available in your area

If your looking for a more pure neutral, consider doing another run on the hearts of the first run knocked back to 10-15%, you will be surprised as to what gets cut on the second one - watch out for your element if your running small amounts
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby M8Harry » Sun Nov 22, 2020 2:55 am

I found it interesting when I watched the Still It video on it.

His results were chalk and cheese when compared to copper mesh he was using.

So with 5 plates and a 500mm packed section i'm very much out of available roof space to go up with more packed section.

Does anyone have any first hand experience with SPP?

Just to be clear i'm not in a rush to swap out my copper mesh for it, but I feel it never hurts to keep an open mind to other options.

I do love looking at distilling as purely a hobby and part of me likes to look at ways to do things better (either efficiency or better quality or both). For example, I have seen welding techniques adapt and change and I look at some of the old hands who taught me things, using out dated and inferior (proven inferior through weld testing) techniques because they didn't want to change from what they knew, I learned to keep an open mind and be willing to go against what I know if it can yield a better result. Hence me asking about SPP here.
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby Sam. » Sun Nov 22, 2020 9:14 am

I believe it does well just not well enough to justify the price...
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby RC Al » Sun Nov 22, 2020 1:41 pm

When height is an issue, an second offset column is a good solution, as you can fabricate things, I dare say that would work out under the cost of purchasing ssp and wayyy less hassle than making a -good- ssp yourself
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby Dude » Sat Aug 28, 2021 8:06 am

When adding a packed section to a bubbler setup does it go before or after the deflegmator and or before the bubbler section. Just curious for future expansion.
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby bluc » Sat Aug 28, 2021 2:21 pm

Above plates below rc :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Copper SPP in the packed section

Postby Dude » Sat Aug 28, 2021 3:42 pm

bluc wrote:Above plates below rc :handgestures-thumbupleft:



Thanks bluc.
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