What temperature does a still run at?
Distilling alcohol uses high temperatures – generally around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. High temperatures mean opportunities for accidents, so make sure that everyone who is in your distilling environment is aware of how hot your equipment will get.
How fast is reflux still?
The only real requirement is that you reach a minimum water flow speed of about 8 liters per minute. There is no maximum water flow speed with this still design so you can run the water as fast as you like as long as you are meeting the minimum flow required.
Do I need a thermometer on my still?
As the distiller you’ll be able to control heat input, but that is not at all the same as controlling or particularly stabilizing your temperatures. Monitoring temperatures on your pot still can assist as a timing mechanism at best. Need a thermometer on your pot still? It’s not going to hurt.
What should head temperature be for reflux still column?
If, for example, 90°C / 194°F is the optimal head temperature for your reflux still column to collect alcohol, if the temperature increases during the distillation, the distiller can increase the reflux ratio and thereby increase the amount of ABV being sent over to the product condenser.
Which is easier to run still or internal reflux?
When the unit has reached room temperature, disconnect the cooling hoses, and back-flush the column with water. Then remove the cover and clean and flush the boiler. Operating the valved reflux still is much easier than running the Internal Reflux still because the valves on the still head provide direct control of the distillation and reflux rate.
How to calculate the ABV of a reflux still?
To run more efficiently and precisely, distillers can formulate an ABV rough estimate throughout the run using the different temperatures available. A vapor-liquid equilibrium graph is helpful to estimate the ABV in the reflux still column. Collecting correct temperatures is an important factor in estimating the ABV during the run.
Which is the most effective forced reflux still design?
….Probably the most well-known and still most effective forced reflux still designs is the “cooling tube” design. In this design, tubes run directly through the column and cold water is run through them. The reason that this design is so effective is because the cooling lines are in direct contact with the rising vapor.