 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/15/2011(UTC)
Posts: 13
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"I have an Essential Extractor Pro Series II on top of a 15 gal beer keg on top of a propane burner. I am having trouble on both the first run and second run keeping a steady tempurature at the top. The column is insulated with foam tubing and I've followed the diagram for attaching the cooling lines. I have about a dozen agates at the bottom of the keg.
Once I get the keg to tempurature and the column starts heating up I turn the gas down and keep an eye on the top temp. It will stay steady for awhile and I get a nice even drip then I notice the temp will start to fluctuate as much as 5-10 degrees. On the lower end the drip will stop and after about a minute the temp will start rising and a steady flow will develope along with some steam. Then it will settle down to a drip for a couple of min and start all over again fluctuating. I've tried increasing and decreasing the heat with no success. The water from the condensor is coming out cool so I don't see any problem with that.
Right now I'm on a second run and the first and second gal is testing at 92% so I'm happy with that.
Hope someone has some ideas for me. Thanks."
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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Where are you doing the distilling. I'm thinking of a breeze.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/15/2011(UTC)
Posts: 13
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This is being done outside. No appreciable breeze blowing. The outside temp is 40-50 degrees.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 4/14/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,666
Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 15 post(s)
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"outside is prolly an issue. Try just watching the drip - even if you have to turn the heat down and then just adjust it going up a lilttle bit ata time. You'll find that concealment is not only good for your mind but for your still.
Also using propane is really not user friendly, especially outside. It does work of course but you really need to pay close attention to the flame and the drip. Once you see the drip or stream whichever you prefer then make a mental note of the temp and use that as a base.
Try running your heat alittle on the high side and useing the cooling tubes in the tower control the drip or flow. Thats what that tower is made for I think."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/15/2011(UTC)
Posts: 13
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"I've already tried adjusting the heat up and down by just a little bit at a time. I think I'm at an ideal temp as it sits now, meaning, if I adjust just a bit up I get steam, if I go down a bit it stops dripping. Also right now I'm mostly getting a drip which seems to be the best although slow with an occasional fluctuation in the temp.
The cooling: I'm running a pretty good flow with the water coming out cool."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/18/2011(UTC)
Posts: 26
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"are you running both your product cooling and condenser cooling from the same pump or water source? i read that splitting them can make for better and more controllable reflux. and also the way you run your reflux cooling waterflow basiclly from the bottom to the top insted of top to bottom. someone with more experiance to go into more deatail. i read this off the other site. just a thought.
keep us posted. hope you get it figgured out."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/15/2011(UTC)
Posts: 13
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What is product cooling? I'm running a water pump from a 60 gal barrel to the bottom of the condenser out the top and then thru the tubes in the top of the column back to the barrel. Hope this makes since to you.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
Joined: 7/25/2009(UTC)
Posts: 2,209
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What is the starting temperature of the water in the barrel and how does it change from hour to hour.
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