Copper packed column above plates

Reflux still design and discussion

Copper packed column above plates

Postby patpawlowski » Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:06 am

Hi all,

I have two options for reflux on my 2" column still. I have a small, 9" long column with 3 plates and a 21" long section packed with copper mesh. I have considered these either/or options, but I'm wondering if there would be any benefit to running the copper mesh column above the plates?

I figure it might be too much for flavored spirits like bourbon and Scotch, but it might work well for vodka. Any thoughts?

TIA,
-pat
patpawlowski
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Location: Evansville, Indiana, USA (I'm a blue dot in an red state)
equipment: I have a pretty generic 2" column still attached to a 35-liter DigiBoil. I have 3 plates and a second 21" straight column packed with copper mesh.

I also have a 5 liter air still that I use mostly for creating distilled water for brewing and other stuff. It's not the Air Still brand but a similar product that is considerably less expensive.

Re: Copper packed column above plates

Postby BigRig » Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:26 am

With 3 plates and a stacked section you are essentially running on the equivalent of a 4 plater (maybe slightly more or less).

I use 4 plates on everything including my neutral, but i don't sip neutral, it fits into limoncello so a little residual flavour doesn't bother me.
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Re: Copper packed column above plates

Postby The Stig » Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:38 am

Having a packed section will strip out the flavor.
Best to drop back to the plates only for "dark" spirits, or just remove the packing because thats a really short still without the "tube"
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Re: Copper packed column above plates

Postby patpawlowski » Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:49 am

Do you do a stripping run and then a spirit run or just a single run?

I attempted a single run on a bourbon but couldn't find the cuts, so I called it a stripping run and found it much easier to cut the second time around. Both times, I was just using the three plates and powering it with a 35L DigiBoil. It's not a powerhouse, but it seems well-balanced.

Stig, I have an 8" sight glass below the plates and a 9" reflux condenser above them, but I'm not sure that counts. I assume the empty section would go between the plates and the condenser rather than below the plates?

-pat
patpawlowski
Site Donor
 
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2025 7:26 pm
Location: Evansville, Indiana, USA (I'm a blue dot in an red state)
equipment: I have a pretty generic 2" column still attached to a 35-liter DigiBoil. I have 3 plates and a second 21" straight column packed with copper mesh.

I also have a 5 liter air still that I use mostly for creating distilled water for brewing and other stuff. It's not the Air Still brand but a similar product that is considerably less expensive.


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