2" or 3" Product Condenser on Stripping Still

captndiet

Hi guys,

If you were to put together a dedicated stripping still, would you use a 2" or 3" product condenser?

100L (26 gallon) boiler, 4" x 510mm (20") column, propane fired.

Thanks for your time!

Jeff

CothermanDistilling

water temp/cost will probably be the deciding factor, if you have free cold water, 2" will be fine, if you have to pay for water, use the 3"... a long 2" will be better than a short 2" of same HX area, especially with warmer cooling water...

2x 2x20" PC's in series are probably cheaper than a 3x20"

captndiet

Thanks for the input Michael.

I am on good well water and cost is not a factor, but, I have put together a cooling barrel with a 12" x 12" evap. cooler/fan as you found on Ebay and will be using it instead of watering the garden this winter.

Jeff

Smaug

Yeah a pair of 2s give you more surface area

jbierling

For stripping, bigger is better. Personally I think column diameter should equal condenser diameter.

Smaug

@jbierling said: For stripping, bigger is better. Personally I think column diameter should equal condenser diameter.

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