Brewhaus Forum
»
Distiller Design and Operation
»
Distiller Operation
»
??? about Essential Extractor PSII cooling configuration...
 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/21/2012(UTC)
Posts: 29
|
Okay, I have about 6 runs on my Essential Extractor PSII with pretty favorable results...granted I've just been running your typical sugar/yeast/h2o wash. On my first run, I produced 90% abv...after increasing my column packing, I've been producing 93-94% abv. My question is...do you attach your column cooling hoses as directed in the directions, or do you use another configuration? When I was running a batch yesterday, I just started thinking about my present configuration, which is as directed with the instructions. I was thinking about reversing the order..instead of bottom to top as directed...maybe using gravity and going from top to bottom?...yes, I understand heat rises and cold falls. Maybe it won't matter, but just curious. Think I read a thread on here sometime back about someone using another configuration...just can't find it. Any thoughts anyone? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/27/2012(UTC)
Posts: 526
|
Hi wut4, I set mine up like the instructions tell you to and it works fine. You won't get the reflux action you want if you set it up in reverse. Colder at the bottom of the cooling tubes makes the stuff that boils over 173 F recondence and fall back in the pot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360   Location: Louisiana
|
I too connect mine with the input at the bottom and output at the top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Me too..but I have a tendency to follow the rules. I do not like to get in trouble by being creative. Has anybody bothered to invest in or at least look at an additional water control set up where the condenser coolant can be controlled as opposed to running full blast when the water is turned on? One of of the regulars over at HD place has a great diagram of such a set up and vouches for its good points. That seems a little bizarre to have some control of the column but nada for the condenser. Now I have been sipping on moonshine so I could be hallucinating...or maybe just pondering stuff. Let me know.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360 Location: Louisiana
|
" Originally Posted by: bigwheel  Me too..but I have a tendency to follow the rules. I do not like to get in trouble by being creative. Has anybody bothered to invest in or at least look at an additional water control set up where the condenser coolant can be controlled as opposed to running full blast when the water is turned on? One of of the regulars over at HD place has a great diagram of such a set up and vouches for its good points. That seems a little bizarre to have some control of the column but nada for the condenser. Now I have been sipping on moonshine so I could be hallucinating...or maybe just pondering stuff. Let me know.
Thanks. Well the simple solution to have condenser flow control would be to add a second ball valve." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Thanks for the info. Notice BH has them for around 18 bucks or so. May consider adding one. The condenser stays pretty drippy during the reflux cycle..but then that might be the ideal plan to get rid of the foreshots. Do you see any pros and/or cons on the proposition?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/4/2010(UTC) Posts: 360 Location: Louisiana
|
" Originally Posted by: bigwheel Thanks for the info. Notice BH has them for around 18 bucks or so. May consider adding one. The condenser stays pretty drippy during the reflux cycle..but then that might be the ideal plan to get rid of the foreshots. Do you see any pros and/or cons on the proposition? You can get ball valves a lot cheaper at the hardware store. I did not like the plastic one so i replaced mine with a brass one with a steel ball. Its a lot smoother and makes it easier to make fine flow adjustments. If your dripping during reflux you may want to turn the heat input down a bit. With the cross tube configuration it can only knock down a certain amount of vapor even with flow wide open. If the heat is too high the rising vapors will over run the cooling tubes, pass through the condenser and re condense into liquid. Keep in mind though that heat adjustments take a moment to reach the top of the column, there are not immediately noticeable. As for condenser coolant flow control, many say that it is better to collect the distillate fairly warm, and not cool. They claim it helps the more volatile compounds in the distillate to dissipate through evaporation. So the ball valve would allow you to slow the coolant flow and allow the distillate to be collected at a warmer temperature." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
Groups: Guests
Joined: 2/10/2002(UTC)
Posts: 5,254
|
Well I sure appreciate that info. My distillate is always coolish to cold. I better get to the hardware store..lol.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brewhaus Forum
»
Distiller Design and Operation
»
Distiller Operation
»
??? about Essential Extractor PSII cooling configuration...
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.
