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Saw the valve Rick has for sale and was just curious as to what a valved reflux still does and what makes it better or worse than the regular reflux. Always looking for ways to make the end product a little better.
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I saw it also and color me stupid but I don't have a clue how or where this thing even hooks up. Like you I'm not really sure what the point is.
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Many people like to use a valved reflux system to attain greater control, such as the ability to hold the system in full reflux. Instead of having to purchase a completely new column, this will allow you to convert your current column to a valved system.
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Better color me stupid also, :-, I don't understand to process at all. Thanks for trying Rick!
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Without getting very long winded ,and we all know that I don't like to do that ;-, ,, if you create the ability to condense all of the vapor then you can keep your system in full reflux. The more times you reflux the vapor ,within reason,, the purer the distillate. The problem is that if you do this with the cooling lines, then no vapor ever makes it past and to your condenser. As a result, you get no distillate. The Conversion Kit will alter your column so that all condensing is created after the take-off point. But, without a valve, this would mean collecting all of the liquid, leaving you with a simple column still ,a downgrade,.
The Valve Conversion Kit changes your system to allow you full control of the reflux rates and purity by adjusting your collection rate via the valve. Instead of adjusting cooling water through the cooling lines, you have a more precise control by adjusting the valve.
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rick,
not that the words arent saying it right, im just struggling with understanding exactly what you mean and where it goes. maybe posting a picture of one of them installed on a unit would help?
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Well, now I know what it's purpose is. I'm just not sure how it all works. Does this mean that there will be no need for cooling lines and that you just control condensing by heat? ,My ignorance is screaming., This sounds like a good thing to have on a still. Being new to this, I've just now gotten to understand the relationship between heat, cooling and collection rates. It's just a little confusing to switch horses in mid-stream and condense ALL the vapor. WOW! This could really give you a headache. :-,,
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I don't have any photo's at the moment, I am afraid. Because this is a conversion kit, and the space for photo's is quite limited ,the actual photo size, that is,, we opted to just go with a picture of the kit. Also, if we show it installed, then people will wonder why they did not get the condenser, etc., with the kit.
You are correct- you no longer use the cooling lines. Instead, you use the condenser's ability to condense all of the liquid, and control how much you collect and how much is returned to the column to be refluxed by adjusting the valve. This gives you control anywhere from wide open ,no reflux other than that created by air surrounding the column, to closed ,full reflux,. Cooling lines work great, but do not give you this kind of control.
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Rick
Okay, so on a Essential Extractor PSII how and where do you hook this thing up? Do you have to cut up your unit? Drill return holes? Please explain.
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There is a single cut on the condenser, which can be done with a standard tubing cutter. In all, the conversion takes less than 5 minutes.
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So the conversion is non-reversible?
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While the conversion is reversible, I would not suggest bouncing back and forth.
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Rick,
At first I thought you guys were referring to the hose valve that allows you to control water flow between condenser and column. I see this is an actual internal valve in the column itself?
Can you explain the reflux mechanics of this in more detail please? What exactly happens with the vapors?
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We use the condenser to condense all of the vapor and send it back to the column instead of sending it to a collection container. The valve is on the liquid return path, so you can draw off as much of the liquid as you want, sending the remainder back to the column.
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This is starting to make sense. Looks like I might have to start from scratch again. Does this valve affect a dramatic change in a persons ability to collect a purer distillate?
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Interesting,
I'll have to try that one out.
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Rick,
Since my e-mail as been hoppin about this subject, please answer this question. Would it be correct to assume that what the kit does is turn a reflux still into a fractioning still?
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'Reflux' and 'Fractionating' are terms often misused. But for the sake of simplicity, yes, the kit converts your reflux column into a fractionating column. It will not help improve purity for those already achieving the maximum, however, it will make it easier to do because of a better ,and simpler, form of controlling the distillation speed and reflux ratio. For those having a problem achieving the maximum purity, this will certainly allow them to push those extra few points out of their run.
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If I have a relatively slow trickle as it is with my reflux still at the moment ,around 3-5 spoons a minute, with my heating element at full. Would I need a hotter element to get a greater amount of vapor for this valve?
Would seem that if I use the current setup and return any product back into the column, distillation will take forever?
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You do not need to use the reflux ,cooling, lines with the new conversion, so you may even be able to speed the process up. That is another nice feature- if you have too little heat to really work well with the cooling lines ,ie. they are cooling too much for the amount of vapor that you are producing,, then you can simply bypass them without a loss of control over the system and quality of your output.
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