DonMateo's Distillery Shed

Smaug

Talk to me about the pumps again.

What am I looking at? Are those recirc pumps?

DonMateo

Yes these are recirculation pumps for the cooling water circuit.

On the back side of this wall I have 4 x 2500l water tanks for the cooling water in a closed loop. So I first installed a 1800l/hr vertical presurization pump which worked OK when I was only putting in in 8kw. Then I sorted out my panels and I could put 15kw into it and now I upped the control panel configuration again and I can put in 30kw or 95 amps.
So I put in the second recirculation pump with a capacity of 3000l/hr but that wasnt enough (because it had a filter and was clogged with goop) and wont be enough for when I have my big boiler that I can put 50kws or 230 amps into. So I told my gardener, who installed the pumping, to put in a 1.5hp or 1500w pump in which can handle 8000l/hr. So after buying them all I thought actually having 3 pump options is not a bad thing. For low volume recirculation while fermenting, running the cooling water through the fermenter cooling jacket lines, I only need the smaller pump that consumes only 100watts per hour. For running the spirit still I can run the medium size one and that keeps my 20kw still cooling 2 x 45cm x 3" condensors cool as the cooling water, then I use that one. When I finally get my big still I am going to need to knock down double the energy and the medium pump wont work, but I dont want to be burning 1500watts per hour cooling a ferment. So I put them all in series with valves to isolate which one is service. The reason why I posted this is that the very small pumps are really cheap ie US$80 to 120, and for guys and gals who are installing water cooling circuits you dont need huge flows from a pump for cooling fermenters, but you do need something then this is a good option. So putting them in series gives you choices. I installed all of them because I had them, but this configuration gives you options.

DonMateo

Its been a while since I updated this post. Since the last time posted this the development approval was submitted to the local municipality and 4 months later it was approved. Now we are waiting on a submission number to submit the construction drawings which are already prepared. So hopefully in about 4 to 6 weeks I should have some construction fotos on the back extensions pretty soon.

In the mean time I have been cranking my distillery as fast as I can, making about 600l per month, but I have burnt through 6 solid state relays in 6 months. These ones are rated for 40 amps and even with a big ass fan trying to cool them the burn out pretty fast even when your only running about 30 amps through them. I am just getting some 60 amp relays and hopefully they last longer. So a lesson for beginners figure out what your typical load your going to use with your elements and double the capacity of the internal components of your control panels and you may just be OK. I started out with 12 x 40 am relays and I am down to 6. I just bought another 12 x 60 amp relays, they are not expensive but the whole thing is a pain in the ass. The only other comment is the recirculation cooling system and common services on the wall works really well. I can get cleaning fresh and cooling water anywhere in the shed. Now I need my solar panels to add hot water to that combination.

DonMateo

Its been a while since i posted progess. Here is the bar inside the shed.b

DonMateo

Basic secrion foto.

DonMateo

I am just putting a basic bar sink and another glass cleaning sink to the right of the shelving. I love the corrugated iron look. The color goes well with the grey walls. Its turing out well consdering its being done by two gardiners and a welder. The shelving will be varnished and painted the same color as the bar top. The bar top is solid 2" eucalyptus.

DonMateo

I forgot this foto. What distillery shed shouldnt have an air rifle and archery range.

DonMateo

And access platform to new mash tun. It was made bybthe cheapest welder in mendoza.

punkin

Us lazy bastards prefer resetting targets.

DonMateo

I have a couple of those on the bottom of the blue archery target. But I need more.

punkin

No worries, your photos are too big to see is all.

DonMateo

I forgot too. First full time employee. Whiskey the cat. Main duties, rodent patrol.

DonMateo

Whiskey.

DonMateo

Foto.

DonMateo

Foto.

DonMateo

Sorry my phone is not uploading fotos.

grim

Looks great! Congrats!!

DonMateo

thanks mate..

Moonshine

@DonMateo said: Sorry my phone is not uploading fotos.

Can't help you with something I'm not seeing.

DonMateo

Foto

DonMateo

Every time i upload a foto of the cat its not working. I will take a live foto. Thanks Moonshine.

Moonshine

@DonMateo said: Every time i upload a foto of the cat its not working. I will take a live foto. Thanks Moonshine.

If it has worked before, something must have changed on your side, because nothing has changed here.

DonMateo

Well I finally received my stripping still today. My mate took 58 months to make it. The final boiler is very nice. But dont do what I did. Buy SD gear. Then you wont have to wait 5 years for a peice of gear. Its a 1300l strip with 6 element ports, an 8 " condensor that has 25 copper cooling coils. All local manufacture. I did the design myself one even when I was with my mate bent on bad whiskey.

Bolverk

She looks great man!

punkin

Top work.

DonMateo

Thanks mate. Here are a few more fotos. The first is the highly specialised front end loader as still removal crane thingy, the next is yours truly to give an idea of size of this thing and the final is a welding fotos for the equipment guys, which is most of us. The guy with the beer gut hooking up the lifting sling is Raul my gardener. I was going to take a gardners crack foto but that would have been a step too far.