 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/18/2008(UTC)
Posts: 13
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"I have just completed building my first valved reflux still (as depicted in ""Building a world class distillation apperatus"" - 2 inch column w/3 inch condensor). My question is regarding the placement of the RTD temp probe that is wired into the pid controller...should my placement be in the kettle or on top of the column? I know that if I put the probe at the top of the column, the PID controll will give max output until the probe, reaches the desired temp. Will this control scheme cause my column to puke out or scorch? I am currently planning on doing a 12 gallon wash in a 15 gallon keg.
Or should I keep the probe in the kettle and wait the hour or so for the column to equalize to temp?
any input will be appreciated, thanks in advance."
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/18/2008(UTC)
Posts: 13
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Well, it seems that after several runs, the RTD temp probe seems to work best at the top of the column. After the column get to temp, the controller keeps the temp, at the top of the column, within 1 or 2 degrees of my target (172). After all the hearts are collected I can then manually "bump up" the temp setting on the controller until the desired volume and percentage is obtained. My column is 2" copper with copper mesh packing. My first sugar wash that I ran, my packing was installed and I got 92.5 abv on my very first distallation run! My second run was a 5 gallon batch of wine that I made last year and never bottled. I left the packing out just to see what difference it would make. Now I don't know if the lower percentage was due to the evaporation over the year or the lack of packing but, my distallate only came out at 60 abv! The wine was a merlot and the distallate has a wonderful smell...I think I will put some oak cubes in it and let it set for a while.
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 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/14/2009(UTC)
Posts: 6
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I am running an electric setup similar to yours. I have a dual control with 2 sensors, 1 in the kettle 1 in top of collumn. the kettle sensor controls heat and collumn temp controller shuts off heat controller if temp gets above 78c (incase Im not paying attention). Im working on hooking up electric valves to control reflux and collection based on temps. Make this thing work itself!
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