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Stripping/spirit configuration

I have been asked to review this configuration by an interested commercial distiller. He's after a larger boiler with this config in 6 or 8" . It's well beyond my comfort zone and i'd like to know if anyone see's any problems, can suggest any improvements or would like to configure it in SD parts.

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  • Yea that was me that asked punkin, thanks for putting it up. thought it would be a good way to do stripping runs and switch to production runs without changing the configuration, also could do rum/gin followed by vodka without changing too much, has the advantage of still being able to remove plates to further customise runs. boiler under small column with vapor enering bottom of tall column, overflow (with some form of vapour lock) to return back to boiler if level in seccond column gets too high to stop it flooding first plate. couple of three way valves to direct vapour. what do you think?

  • edited May 2013

    I think it would be easier to configure if both columns and the condenser are all sitting on the same table. The table and boiler are physically attached to each other so nothing can move would also be good. Of course, the table could not be lower than the top of the liquid level in the boiler - after heat expansion. A tube running into the boiler with one end close to the bottom of the boiler would make a great vapor lock. Something like this...

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    oops, I forgot a valve above the condenser. The first, or starter, section at the bottom of each column can be a custom flange. Bolt holes on bottom and triclamp ferrule on top. That make it easy to secure the column to the table.

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  • edited May 2013

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  • thanks for the feedback LLoyd. what advantages do you see in having both columns on the table? I was thinking that as long as the table is attached to the boiler then it would be the same as having both on the table, but I could be wrong. good thinking on the dephlem on the first column didn't think of it because thought the product condenser would be fine for stripping runs but it would be good to have to add some reflux (if wanted) for rum and extra reflux on vodka.

  • And if this was made with a 6'' or 8'' column what size do you think the plumbing for the vapour path would need to be?

  • Hi Cleadus, it probably won't make any difference either way of have the first column on the boiler or the table. It might make plumbing easier if they are both attached to the same table. You could even feed the columns from multiple boilers.

    Imagine stripping into a smaller boiler and then using that boiler for your final rectification. All the while using only what's on your table and a couple of boilers. One big boiler, one small boiler and your table full of stills. No handling and no pumping once the mash is added to the big boiler. Nirvana.

    A bubble column without a dephlegmator (reflux condenser) is just a pot still. The passive reflux will soon dry up as you run and the plates will become inactive. By disabling the dephlem on the first column you effectively have a simple pot still or stripper without the added plumbing.

    You could also 'dial in' the desired strength of the stripping run by trickling enough cooling water to flow through the dephlem to enable one or more plates.

  • edited May 2013

    that sounds like a great idea! something similar to this picture. probably not something I would want to do initially (don't want too spend too much on initial setup at this stage) but I can see the merits in it and it wouldn't be too hard to re-configure like that later on.

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  • Outstanding!

  • That's the beauty of the modular setups Cleadus, the ability to reconfigure at any time. We could quite easily do this with existing two inch fittings for the vapour path plubing. You would need to think long and hard about valve placement so that nothing could be pressurised though. Perhaps replace the valve above the product condensor with a short piece of TC pipe that can be taken out and an endcap attached for stripping or something along those lines?

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  • Very interesting... Lloyd can you make the parts to build this one? I would be interested in this configuration. Shoot I could probably build the table eay enough out of stainless to keep the metals all the same.. Love the idea. Looks like one of the big commercial rigs.. Nice job all

  • edited May 2013

    Hi Mountaineer, I beleive all of the parts except for the plumbing from column to column, is already available in 8". The special flange to bolt to the table is ready now.

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    Its 1/2 of a 8" sight tower.

    The condenser sitting on the table I'd have to give some thought to though.

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  • @Mountaineer said: Very interesting... Lloyd can you make the parts to build this one? I would be interested in this configuration. Shoot I could probably build the table eay enough out of stainless to keep the metals all the same.. Love the idea. Looks like one of the big commercial rigs.. Nice job all

    Mountaineer, if you do end up doing this before me keep us posted on progress!, yea I was thinking stainless table too, would look very smart. The commercial rigs is where I got the idea from, had two internet pages open one with big commercial rigs and the other stilldragon, and I thought wait a minute im sure that I could configure stilldragon the same!

  • edited May 2013

    sorry not much of a 3d designer but something like this that could be clamped to the table mount, and with a 2'' T that could be clamped to standard SD 2'' pipes would be all that is needed to be able to do this then..

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  • I bought my stainless table from ikea sounds cheap and nasty but it is actually a really sweet table perrfect for this kind of application

  • actually the gin basket that you have in development Lloyd would work (don't know what size they are though..), would just need to block off the extra hole, and maybe put a disk in-between the table mount and basket to seal it..

  • edited May 2013

    Yes, Cleadus, I get the idea. 8x8x2 Tee as short as possible (probably about 120mm tall). The column drain could be fashioned into the plate between this section and the sight tower fitting. Something like this (go ahead, Law of Ohms, laugh)

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  • juessus, did u fail finger painting in pre-school?

  • Are you talking about something like this?

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  • That's the one!

  • Yes, LOO, just like that. Though mine has a certain, je ne sais pas, savoir faire?

  • LOL you guys are hilarious... Cleadus I am really interested. We are going to be the first legal distillery in the state of Alabama I hope. This is the type of rig that can change to what ever config. you would want... I love the idea. I am going to have to talk to larry today and get him to put a parts list together for me on this today..

  • edited May 2013

    Doodling on the condenser...

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    A 4"x 20" product shotgun condenser (not a single one built yet but that's no trick for us) on top of a "Collector" section. Its just a funnel welded inside a TC pipe section with a 3/4" ferrule sticking out to attach a parrot to (again, not built but maybe no big step for us). This leads to a 4" sight tower flange (easy, got those in stock).

    The collector section might be the holdup while the funnel gets worked out.

    Let me know what you think. Nothing has been ordered yet so its all pretty flexible now.

    *** 20" is about the limit that I can comfortably ship by express. Longer than that really needs to ship by sea freight.

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  • An 8" bubbletee may be just fine with a 3 x 2 reducer?

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  • Doodling on the condenser?

    Me too!

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    Was going to upload a 3d pdf but its 15mb

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  • I too am very interested in this set up. When you guys have it worked out contact me and let's talk.

  • edited May 2013

    I'm ordering prototype parts now. Should be in my hands in about 2 weeks.

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    Only two major pieces are missing;

    1. the 8x8x2 special short Tee that will be under the first 8" Bubble Tee of each column

    2. the 'Collector' section that will fit between the 3" shotgun condenser and the sight tower flange. The factory was very close to refusing to build this because they cannot fully polish it. I've indicated the shaded area that does not need polishing so it looks like we're back on track.

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    When completed it should look something like this:

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    To attach a SD parrot, the condenser assembly either needs to be positioned close to the edge of the table or a TC pipe section added under the Collector.

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  • It looks absolutely terrific Lloyd. World class equipment at the best value in the world.

    StillDragon Australia & New Zealand - Your StillDragon® Distributor for Australia & New Zealand

  • @punkin said: It looks absolutely terrific Lloyd. World class equipment at the best value in the world.

    It almost makes me want to wipe my fingerprints off of the SS before taking a picture.

  • all you need now is a parrot with the little glass dome for the commercial guys..

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