Do-it-yourself masonry columns: drawings, instructions. DIY distillation column Homemade column
More and more people are coming to the understanding that store-bought alcohol is not worth the money they ask for it: the quality is low and the prices are too high. For this reason, more and more “moonshiners” are appearing in our country. They start with primitive moonshine stills, but quite quickly come to the idea of creating a full-fledged distillation column with their own hands. But doing it is not as easy as it seems at first glance.
The distillation column has a complex structure. In order for it to work well in the future, its parameters must be accurately calculated. Only in this case will it be possible to count on creating a truly balanced system for home use.
Before making a distillation column for a moonshine still with your own hands, you need to carefully calculate the parameters of each of its elements, and then purchase all the necessary components that correspond to the calculations.
Characteristics of the drawer and nozzle
In fact, this is the main element of the distillation column. All other parameters of the column will depend on the pipe parameters.
When creating an alcohol column with your own hands, it is best to use a chromium-nickel steel pipe. This is the so-called food grade stainless steel. Due to the fact that this alloy is completely neutral in chemical terms, it will not add any impurities to the final product. This is very important, because the main task of rectification is to obtain a pure product without impurities, and not at all to change its taste and aromatic properties.
Some experts advise using a copper drawer for distillation. Under no circumstances should this be done. The fact is that copper can change the chemical composition of alcohol. The maximum where copper can be used is a distiller or a mash column.
The drawer must have a wall thickness of at least 1 and no more than 1.5 mm. Thicker pipe walls do not provide any advantages during distillation, but at the same time make the entire structure much heavier. This is unacceptable for a home distillation system.
The drawer must be calculated together with the nozzle. At home, it is customary to use nozzles whose total contact surface area does not exceed 4 m 2 /liter. Of course, you can use nozzles with a larger contact area, but this will only increase the separation capacity of the column, however, it will reduce the overall productivity.
Spiral-prismatic in size the nozzle should be 12 times smaller than the column diameter.
Experienced moonshiners recommend keeping attachments with different characteristics ready to use depending on the situation. So, to obtain fortified moonshine, it is best to place copper rings up to 10 mm high in the column. In this case, copper will effectively remove sulfur compounds from alcohol.
When selecting a frame, you should remember that even a minimal change in the diameter of the column will seriously affect the performance parameters.
Regarding the pipe height, then it should fit within the parameters of 1 to 1.5 m. The height will be less, then fusel oils will penetrate into the selection. At the same time, as the height of the pipe increases, the transfer time increases, but not the separating capacity of the system. That is, it makes no sense to increase the height of the rectifier.
To increase the selection of high-quality alcohol and prevent the tsar from overflowing with fusel, raw alcohol should be poured into the cube no more than 20 volumes of nozzle. On average, the cube is filled to 2/3 of the volume. This means that with a drawer diameter of 50 mm, you need to use a cube with a volume of 40 to 80 liters. If the pipe diameter is 40 mm, then a cube with a volume of 30 to 50 liters is sufficient.
Heat source calculation
Many people think, that if a moonshine still can be heated on a gas or conventional electric stove, then it can also be used to heat a distillation column. This is far from true. The fact is that rectification is very different from the usual distillation process. If the process of obtaining a distillate allows for heat surges, then during rectification the heating power must be properly regulated. Therefore, neither a gas, nor an electric, nor an induction cooker will work.
Ideal option: installing a heating element of the required power inside the distillation device with an output voltage regulator for precise adjustment.
As for the power of the heating element, to heat a 50 liter cube you need 4 kW of energy, for 40 liters 3 kW, for 30 liters 2 kW.
The heating element must be installed correctly in the cube so that its heating does not cause the mash and raw alcohol to boil. The higher the heating element is, the less power it requires to cause the contents of the cube to boil. As the depth of immersion increases, the power required to boil increases.
Dephlegmator calculation
The power of the reflux condenser is largely determined by the type of distillation column. If you plan to build a column with liquid extraction, then the power of the dephlegmator must correspond to the rated power of the entire column. Most often, this design uses a Dimroth refrigerator, whose utilization power is 5 watts per 1 cm 2 of area.
When creating a distillation column with a fence installed above the dephlegmator, then the power of the latter should not exceed 2/3 of the power of the column. In this case, you can abandon Dimrot and use a “shirt maker”, whose utilization power does not exceed 2 Watts per cm 2.
Calculation of a once-through refrigerator
If the direct-flow unit will be used as additional cooling, then you should choose the simplest and smallest option. Its power should not exceed 30% on the power of the distillation column.
A straight-through refrigerator looks like a straight tube between the drawer jacket and the inner pipe. The length of the tube usually does not exceed 30 cm.
If the same direct-flow refrigerator will be used not only for distillation, but also for rectification, then the maximum heating during distillation, rather than the rated power of the column, should be taken into account.
The minimum tube diameter is determined by the minimum speed and the maximum kinematic viscosity of the vapor.
- With a power of 1.5 kW, the minimum diameter is 8 and the maximum is 9 mm.
- With a power of 2 kW, the minimum pipe diameter is 9 and the maximum is 12 mm.
- With a power of 3 kW, the minimum diameter is 10.5 and the maximum is 18 mm.
So, we have in hand all the necessary calculations with the drawing, and therefore we can begin assembling the distillation column.
It is necessary to prepare the following elements of the distillation apparatus:
- Frame.
- Dephlegmator.
- Nozzle. It can be dish-shaped or spiral.
- Thermal insulation.
- Thermometers.
The tank for raw alcohol can be used from a moonshine still. You also don't have to make a new coil. It can be taken from the same distiller. A correctly calculated and assembled column can be installed on any moonshine still. The main thing is that the tank volume is more than 20 liters. If the volume is smaller, the distillation column will not work.
How to make a king with your own hands?
It is best to make it from a stainless pipe. Ideal option – food grade steel.
Experts advise doing it with several joints. At the very bottom of the drawer, a flange is welded, through which it will be attached to the lid of the distillation tank. The flange connection must be airtight, so a gasket must be used. Preferably silicone. Plastic gaskets change shape when exposed to temperature.
The flange must be welded so that the column stands strictly vertical. A deviation of just half a degree will change the quality of the output product.
Individual parts of the column are better connect with clamps. This way, it will be easier to assemble and disassemble the column.
The two lower parts of the drawer are just pipes. They will have nozzles installed to increase the area of contact between the liquid and the steam. But the upper part is quite complicated. It must have the following structural elements:
- Flow refrigerator.
- Outlet pipe.
- Connector for installing a thermometer.
- Air valve.
The flow cooler accounts for half of the top of the column The simplest option is to wrap the pipe with a copper coil, but it is not very effective. The ideal option is to place a Dimroth cooler inside the pipe. In this case, the reflux condenser will turn the condensate into steam until it reaches the air valve at the highest point of the distillation column.
The outlet pipe should be installed lower refrigerator by a couple of centimeters.
Nozzle
This is one of the most important parts of the column. It comes in 3 types: plate-shaped, sieve and spiral. The first option is much more effective. Many novice moonshiners make a disc nozzle from parts that are freely sold on the Internet.
A sieve attachment is much easier to make. All you need: a drill, disks, and small-diameter drills, stainless steel partitions. We drill holes of different diameters in the partitions and install them inside the pipe.
You can’t make a spiral nozzle yourself, but you can easily buy it in a specialized store.
Some thematic forums and websites advise using dishwashing mesh to create a spiral attachment, but you shouldn’t do this. the fact is that no one knows for certain what alloys they are made of. This means that no one can predict what kind of compounds will be obtained when the mesh material comes into contact with hot alcohol vapor.
Thermal insulation
When assembling the column you must remember to protect it from heat loss at least to the lower limit of the dephlegmator. As insulation, you can use materials such as polyurethane foam, penoizol, foil insulation, etc.
Actually, all that remains is to put all the parts together and test run a homemade distillation column.
Conclusion
Now the reader knows how to make a column for home rectification. All that remains is to put this knowledge into practice and enjoy the purest product.
Even the simplest distillation column, despite the low distillation speed, will allow you to obtain a sufficient amount of alcohol both for consumption in its pure form and for the production of more noble drinks based on it.
Also, do not forget that using a distillation column as a moonshine still to produce moonshine will allow you to obtain 30% more product than from a conventional distiller. In addition, the quality of moonshine will be much better.
To obtain a higher quality distillate, distillers use different methods: from upgrading a moonshine still to purchasing a distillation column. An intermediate option is a mash or strengthening column.
Due to the formation of a moving film on the inner walls during operation, it is also called film film.
The design differs from the classic distiller in appearance, principle of operation and degree of the final product.
The mash column allows you to obtain alcohol up to 90% strength. As for quality, the level of purification directly depends on the skill of the distiller. The more experienced the moonshiner, the better the distillate, but in any case it does not reach the characteristics of a rectified distillate.
Design and selection of materials
The classic strengthening column consists of the following parts:
Still
You can use a pressure cooker, a milk flask, a beer keg, a container from a classic distiller, etc. as a basis.
Copper or stainless tube - the column itself
The optimal diameter is 2.5-5 cm, the height should be 30 times the first indicator.
Dephlegmator (precooler)
The coil can be built inside the pipe or located outside. It is installed at the top of the column and should occupy approximately 25% of its length. It is optimal to take a ready-made cooler, but you can make the device yourself. It is recommended to equip the device with a regulator (for example, from a heating battery).
Steam line
It is a metal tube with a diameter of about 1 cm.
refrigerator
For cooling, a classic device is used, which is part of any distiller.
You will also need 2 thermometers (one is installed on the tank, the second - in the upper part of the column, just above the precooler) and connecting elements: nuts, couplings, adapters, clamps, silicone seals, tubes, etc. Home craftsmen make reinforcing columns from stainless steel or copper Both options are good in their own way: steel is more affordable, copper conducts heat better.
Work stages and drawings
It is difficult and impractical to describe the entire process in detail; it is better to focus on diagrams and videos. In general terms the process looks like this:
Connection of tank and column. To do this, make a corresponding hole in the lid of the cube, install a flange/threaded fitting, and install a pipe. It is convenient to use a clamp connection to fasten the elements.
Manufacturing of a reflux condenser. The simplest option is an external coil - winding a copper tube along the contour of the column, but you can use a design with a water jacket, mount it as a separate unit and connect it from above, taking care of the pipes for supplying and discharging water.
Preparing holes for thermometers. One is done in the tank lid, the second is at the top of the column, between the reflux condenser and the refrigerator.
Assembly and installation of the main refrigerator with pipes for water supply/discharge. Sometimes a jumper with a tap is made between two vertical pipes, but this element is not mandatory.
If desired, the device can be improved: connect several dephlegmators, fill the pipe with nozzles, install automation, etc. For the column to work efficiently, it is very important to ensure a stable water supply. There is no need to insulate the device.
Of course, among all the varieties of moonshine stills, the home distillation column is one of the most difficult both to operate and to manufacture. Usually, for home brewing Industrially produced columns are used, which can be purchased almost without restrictions in every specialized store. However, it is also quite possible to do it yourself.
In order to make this apparatus, you need to have its diagram and design drawings, as well as know the main principles of the column’s operation and the meaning of the processes occurring in it. And quite a lot of interesting things happen here - the rectification procedure differs from conventional distillation in its chemical and physical bases.
Distillation column: Operating principle
In the column, as in a simple distiller, there is a refrigerator, a heater, and a regulator, which are working and full-fledged elements. However, from the surface of the mash on the path of alcohol-containing steam to the refrigerator coil there is another complex unit called a distillation column. This unit is a tall pipe, the cross-section of which is 40-60 times larger than its size. The cross-sectional diagram shows how an alcohol or mash column for preparing alcohol is constructed.
Hot steam rises up the pipe, cools slowly along the way, condenses, and flows down back into the container. As the condensate moves from top to bottom, it comes into contact with hot steam, reheats, and low-boiling substances again turn into steam. Among these substances is ethyl alcohol.
When you select the operating mode of this column so that the alcohol vapor begins to condense at a certain height, where the intake pipe is located, then pure alcohol, without various impurities, will begin to flow into the refrigerator. After a certain time, a dynamic equilibrium mode begins in this device, due to the difference in the vapor phase and heat capacities of the liquid; in addition, the liquid-vapor mixture begins to separate according to its chemical composition into fractions, which will determine vaporization temperature.
Directly in the uppermost area, vapors of volatile impurities accumulate - acetone, aldehydes and other toxic components. When the temperature of the column on the upper thermometer is more than 70 degrees, they simply escape into the atmosphere, since it is connected to the outside air by a valve or pipe and operates at almost atmospheric pressure.
At approximately three-quarters the height of the column, alcohol vapors begin to accumulate, which must be selected. Below are fusel oils and other elements whose boiling point is higher than alcohol. At the alcohol selection site, it is necessary to maintain the temperature within 75-77 degrees, so that this can be realized and a significant column size will be required, rather than a larger zone of different fractions, so it is easier to separate one element from another.
How to make a distillation column with your own hands?
Building a distillation column at home with your own hands is not a myth. This is proven by numerous photos and videos on the Internet, as well as posts on forums. Even when they are half as good as their owners claim, this unit is worth making. However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that for the production of moonshine itself, a distillation column, regardless of industrial or home-made production, is not suitable.
A rectification device is required to obtain alcohol with a minimum amount of additives, including resins and aromatic substances, which give moonshine a special taste and aroma. However, the resulting alcohol can be used as a base for some alcoholic drinks made at home, without worrying about poisoning with esters and methyls or fusel, promotes severe hangover.
For re-distillation of ordinary moonshine or raw alcohol, which is obtained in a usual distiller for moonshiners, a rectifier is an indispensable thing. No distillation system can compare with the quality of the resulting product.
Manufacturing technology
At home, a do-it-yourself distillation column will work properly only if its height will be at least 1.9-2.1 meters with an internal diameter of 45-60 mm. This column is difficult to operate, store and manufacture. It is advisable to build it collapsibly, with threaded or tube connections; it is quite convenient to use couplings.
The coupling connection will not be a problem when you have experience with a lathe. Otherwise, you will need to use the paid services of specialists.
Design principle
The main components of the distillation column are as follows:
- refrigerator-reflux condenser;
- frame;
- thermometers;
- thermal insulation;
- nozzle (spiral or disc-shaped).
In the general scheme of the moonshine still itself there is also a container for mash, as well as a refrigerator for condensate, which is a simple coil. If you build a distillation column correctly, it can be installed on any moonshine device with a tank capacity of at least 20 liters.
For smaller sizes it will only be possible to accelerate it to working condition and get a couple of liters of alcohol (50 percent of the probable yield). The best evaporator volume is 27-45 liters. Thus, it is more convenient to regulate the process temperature, which is considered one of the main factors during rectification.
In addition, the production of alcohol in quantities of up to 9-12 liters takes the same amount of time to accelerate and prepare the column as 4-6 liters. More often than not, saving time is also quite important for reducing the cost of the product.
Frame
It is advisable to make the body from three parts, approximately equal in length. A flange with a strong lid is welded to the bottom of the stainless steel pipe for mounting on the distillation tank. The height of the column is quite large - approximately 2 meters. The optimal solution is a flange connection with a sealed gasket. The flanges must be welded so that the entire structure is in a clearly vertical position, only in this case will it work as it should.
The body elements are connected to each other with threads or clamps - whichever is more convenient. The most important thing is to maintain a tight seal. The best material for the main pipe is food grade stainless steel.This material has a relatively low thermal conductivity, and heat loss in the column is undesirable, up to the passage of vapor into the refrigerator.
The two parts below are just pieces of pipe. Nozzles will be installed here - devices that increase the contact area of liquid and steam. The most complex is the uppermost element of the structure, here:
- it is necessary to equip a flow-through refrigerator;
- provide an air valve;
- thermometer socket;
- outlet pipe.
The flow cooler occupies approximately half of the top 1/3 of the column. The simplest solution is to wind a stainless or copper coil over the pipe. A more complex method is to install the same coil, Dimroth cooler or ball cooler inside the pipe.
For this task, you can purchase a pipe of a larger cross-section by connecting it to the lower part using an adapter. In this case, there are a large number of options - the point is the same, the reflux condenser must provide a barrier on the steam path and convert it into condensate before reaching the air valve. Only couples are required to come here with a temperature of no more than 60 degrees. When the refrigerator cannot cope with its task, alcohol will be released into the air along with volatile elements.
The air valve is placed at the highest point and is required to equalize the pressure. You don’t have to install a valve, but simply install a thin copper tube (Ø4-5 mm). The presence of a tube will require special temperature control at all stages of rectification. During the selection of heads, T = 55–65 C must be at the level of the intake pipe.
The selection is made through a pipe that cuts into the body below the refrigerator at a distance of 3-6 cm from it. It is a simple tube into which a silicone hose is connected from a medical dropper.
A do-it-yourself distillation column works quite slowly, the main intake occurs in drip mode. This needs to be taken into account - making 9-12 liters of alcohol can take a whole day.
Nozzle
This part of the column is one of the most important. Two types of nozzles are used for rectification:
- spiral, made of steel mesh tightly twisted into a spiral or special wires that are twisted into prismatic spirals; they are simply poured inside the column;
- disc-shaped, in the form of mesh or cap elements.
In the first case, a mesh filter is placed at the bottom of the column, which prevents the nozzle from falling out. For making a distillation column with your own hands, the most effective is a cap-type disk attachment. In this case, it is necessary to start the work with the purchase of plates - the size of the body must correspond to their diameter. The easiest way is to match the pipe to the cymbals rather than vice versa.
Mesh partitions are much easier to make; all you need is a set of 2-3 mm drills and a drill press or drill. Partitions are made of copper, brass or stainless steel. For one meter of column height, 8-10 pieces are needed.
Spiral prismatic special Panchenkov nozzles (RPN), mesh or analogues will need to be purchased in specialized stores. You can't make them yourself. You should not choose nets for washing dishes - unknown alloys are used for them, which can react with vapors of impurities or alcohol.
Thermal insulation
The column must be protected from heat loss to a height no less than the lower cut of the reflux condenser. For insulation, you can choose any elastic heat insulator - tubular basalt foil insulation, penoizol, polyurethane foam. Warming is a rather important stage. If heat loss is avoided, the height of the fractional layers can be reduced by 10-20%. Moreover, the concentration of the substance, in this case alcohol, will increase in them, clearly maintaining the boundaries of the fractions.
Automation of a distillation column
The rather complex process of rectification requires constant monitoring and human presence. High-quality automation allows rectification to be carried out without constant supervision. It makes it possible to select the head fractions into a separate container and prevents “tails” from getting into the commercial alcohol.
The rectification control unit (RCU) will reduce power during extraction, turn on cooling water at the required temperature and automatically reduce extraction at the end. After collecting the tails, the water and heating will be turned off. The simplest way to automate– this is the installation of a start-stop with a valve that stops selection when the temperature in the column increases; after the temperature is restored, selection resumes. For a home mini-distillery, it is cheaper to purchase automation on specialized forums or assemble it from Chinese components.
The Russian genius who wants to regularly taste alcohol in its pure form does not sleep - this is how they see a person who has assembled a homemade distillation column with his own hands.But, in fact, this is absolutely not true!
With the help of a distillation column, you can obtain such delicious drinks as absinthe, whiskey, you can prepare flavored alcohol, etc.
Previously, rectifiers were a multi-meter column, but today’s version with “multi-pass” rectification makes it possible to reduce the height of the column.
If you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to buy a distillation column in an online store, for example, the Dobrovar series allows you to obtain 98% alcohol from the first distillation.
However, let's return to how to make a homemade distillation column with your own hands.
We provide you with a simple way to prepare a rectifier at home. The appearance of the structure is provided in the first image. In addition, drawings of the rectifier are provided.
To begin with, I would like to talk about why the overgrown moonshine device is the most successful design.
Firstly, this device is unique, since it only requires a supply of running water. You can regulate the temperature of the boiler using a light switch, which has a smooth adjustment. You can use a homemade distillation column with any container, from a three-liter jar to an installed pressure cooker.
Let's look at the diagram of a distillation column made at home.
Distillation column drawing
As you can see, the design is quite simple. The refrigerator and water jacket can be made from a copper pipe by wrapping it around the rectifier pipes. You can make them from thicker diameter pipes than we used in our column. In this case, you need to solder the lower and upper parts to the walls. The remaining part needs to be insulated - for this you need to visit the construction market and purchase insulation for metal pipes.
Scourers are iron sink scourers that are cut with scissors. As a rule, sponges are made of stainless steel, which do not deteriorate during the operation of the distillation column. For a pipe 130 cm long and 35 cm in diameter, you need to use 15-20 washcloths.
The medical IV clamp must be used in conjunction with the tube. The tube will serve as a connection with the atmosphere - this is a classic syringe needle.
The height of the distillation column, which is shown in the drawing, is 130 centimeters (the height of the distillation cube - soldering iron is not taken into account).
Now a little theoretical knowledge.
Rectification is a reusable distillation of distillate, which is carried out in countercurrent packed and plate columns with contact components (plates, packings, etc.).
For the successful operation of reflux flowing down the column and steam moving upward, you can use any contact components that increase the efficiency and area of their action. Trays are usually used as contact components in large distillation columns.
Each plate that is located in the column is called a FT - a physical plate. Its purpose is to ensure rapid movement of the equilibrium state between the vapor phase and the liquid.
The plates work in this way: steam in the form of bubbles with a sufficiently developed surface acts through a layer of reflux, which is located on the plate. As a result, mass exchange between phases intensifies.
It is worth noting that when steam passes through one plate, equilibrium between the different phases is not achieved. The actual state of the liquid and vapor phases in relation to their state is assessed only by the coefficient of correct action of such a plate.
The efficiency of a conventional plate is 50-60%, that is, to achieve a state of complete phase equilibrium, which theoretically corresponds to one plate, two physical ones are required.
Thus, it turns out that to create a 40-TT distillation column, it is necessary to install about eighty plates of a conventional design in it.
For distillation columns assembled at home with a diameter of 30..50 mm, the effective contact component is a special nozzle, which fills the internal volume of the column. When the column operates downward, the distillate flows down the contact filler, and the steam rises upward.
In industrial distillation columns, a “SULZER” nozzle is used, made of stainless, corrugated mesh or stainless wire in the form of small springs of a spiral-prismatic nature.
Heat-mass exchanges at the contact connecting parts occur continuously along the entire height of the column. The phase equilibrium position equivalent to the 1st theoretical tray (“TT”) occurs after the vapor overcomes the packing layer—transfer unit height (“TUP”) or the height of the theoretical tray (“TUT”).
This height is measured in millimeters, which in turn allows you to calculate the height of the future column. Therefore, in the manufacture of an installation at home, we are talking about columns that have a diameter of 30 - 50 mm, using packed contact components.
And this is what a purchased distillation column looks like in “full kit.”
Despite such an abstruse theory, a homemade distillation column is a very simple product!
Vadim speaks:
Maybe the pipe diameter is 35mm and not cm???
Vadim speaks:And I also have a question, why do we need a connection with the atmosphere?
Marat speaks:Good article...
The topic is not only covered, but the written information is well received, thank you!
Vadim, when the column reaches the operating mode, the clamp from the medical dropper is closed and if there is no connection with the atmosphere, excess pressure will occur and subsequent destruction of the equipment.
George speaks:But what if instead of washcloths you place a ribbon spiral in the form of an auger...then how to calculate the pitch of this spiral?
Igor speaks:Good evening, can I look at the schematic drawing? And what gaskets should be used at the connection points? Thank you.
Artem speaks:Georgy, why don’t you like iron washcloths?
Nikolay speaks:Where can I buy an inexpensive river column?
Anatoly speaks:pipe: dia. 50mm, length 1.6cm, cannot be used without washcloths. Cause?
Vladimir speaks:I understand that not everyone has the opportunity, but...
A good result can be obtained by using the head of an old distiller. As a rule, their TENs and cubes fail earlier, and the heads are simply thrown away.
Help me figure out what the difference is between a distillation column and a distiller (such as Volzhanin or Kum). That is, the alcohol selection is below the reflux condenser or like Volzhanin?
Paul speaks:To reduce the height of the column, place an additional refrigerator in the work area (where the washcloths are), and adjust the temperature during distillation.
Fedor speaks:That is, washcloths, in this case, replace plates?
IlyaMoonshiners use in their practice and come up with designs that allow them to obtain a high-strength product with a minimum content of harmful substances. The reinforcing column is especially popular and copes well with this task.
This device is often called Tsarga. The basis of the device’s activity is repeated evaporation of liquids from mash.
Due to this, the final product is purified from water, which, constantly trying to escape from the fermented wort, are forced to return back along with the condensed water. Due to the fact that water vapor also partially condenses before reaching the refrigerator, moonshine is obtained with a high degree.
Film is a column that is not filled with nozzles (hollow). What's going on inside?
- Evaporating from the mash, alcohol vapors along with impurities enter the strengthening column.
- Here they are cooled, either forcibly using a water jacket (which is preferable) or in air.
- There is a division into factions:
- alcohol, which has a boiling point of 78°C, rises higher in the form of steam, first enters the second refrigerator, where it condenses, turning into liquid, and from there it flows down a tube into a receiving container;
- all heavier fractions (including water and fusel oils) do not pass further. They condense in the strengthening column and flow like a film along its walls back into the distillation cube. That is why this type of reinforcing column is called film.
Reference. Inventive moonshiners sometimes direct a flow of air from a fan to the drawer.
This is effective, but for your own safety you should use it exclusively. electric stove so that the fan does not blow out the gas flame.
The cylinder of the reinforcing column is filled with nozzles (for example, pieces stainless steel washcloths etc.) In addition to the fact that such a column selects reflux with a high content of fusel, it also does not allow methanol to rise higher. Therefore, the output strong alcohol distillate will be cleaner from impurities than when using a film frame.
Need for a column
The presence of a reinforcing column in the moonshine still is due to the desire to obtain high-proof and already largely moonshine.
In the partial cooler, the most harmful, most saturated with harmful substances, “head” vapors are selected. That is, what we call the “heads” of moonshine and pour it out mercilessly, despite its high strength, is no longer harmful.
The “heads” freed from phlegm do not have a sharp fusel smell and almost do not contain dangerous impurities, because of which the strongest part of the moonshine was disposed of.
Principle of operation
Cooling in the column, the moonshine vapors are separated and those that have a lower boiling point (alcohols) go further, and the remaining components flow back into the distillation cube.
During this process, steam containing alcohol, flowing upward along the drawer, interacts with the phlegm flowing down the walls.
The process taking place is called heat and mass transfer: the vapors again select from the condensed liquid the remaining components that have a low boiling point, and also release the water and fusel remaining in the alcohol vapor to reflux. This is how the degree of the future increases.
At the beginning of distillation, a minimum temperature is set, which at the top of the column should not exceed 76°. So, only the head fractions pass into the second cooler (or the only one, if there is no first one) (they drip 2-4 drops per second, they are selected separately).
Peculiarities. Experienced distillers identify “heads” by their specific smell.
As soon as it changes for the better, it is already a body. For beginners, this is 50 ml (if 15-17 liters of mash are distilled). When using a strengthening column, the alcohol does not come out, but returns to the cube. Then we raise the temperature and drive the alcohol without removing the “tails”.
Device
The drawer is a pipe made of stainless steel or copper, which is installed vertically directly on the distillation cube. In most cases, it is tightly connected to a lid that is screwed or otherwise secured to the container with mash.
note. The reinforcing column may also have its own refrigerator, to which a water jacket is connected. This device is called partial cooler.
In a simplified design, there is no flow cooler; the pipe is cooled by air. But with such a device, it is possible to select fusel only from the very first (by the way, really the most poisonous) portions of alcohol vapor.
The body of the moonshine is already chasing, as usual. It is advisable not to “pick up” the tails or put them in a separate container to be added later during the next distillation.
The pipe of the reinforcing column sometimes passes into (in more complex structures), where alcohol vapors are finally released from the fusel.
With this design, it is actually possible to obtain an almost pure rectified alcohol - alcohol with a strength of up to 95°.
More often, the drawer passes into, which additionally frees the alcohol from impurities, and from there - into, where the alcohol vapors are finally cooled and flow down as a liquid into the substituted container.
This is a model of an improved distiller, with which you can get moonshine with a strength of 80° and higher.
The simplest design when the column goes directly into the cooler. The distillate will also be strong (subject to separation into fractions), but requires additional purification with the help of other substances.
How to do it yourself?
Is it possible not to buy a reinforcing column, but to make it yourself? Yes, this is not a very complicated mechanism. You will need:
- pipe made from food grade stainless steel or copper. The most common size: width – 22 mm, height – from 40 to 90 mm;
Important. The higher the height, the better the separation of vapors into fractions, but the distillation speed (productivity) decreases.
- fitting transitional from 22 to 15 mm. The amount depends on how the column is connected to the lid of the distillation cube. If this is a blind connection, then one fitting is needed - at the point where the reinforcing column transitions into the refrigerator;
- welding machine or a soldering iron with consumables;
- a piece of tube and a plug - for a thermometer;
- thermometer. Preferably, a kitchen mechanical one (with a round scale);
- optional - metal grid(attached to the bottom of the column) and pieces of stainless steel (copper) sponge, if you plan to make a column with nozzles.
Attention. For a column with nozzles, it is periodically necessary to change pieces of sponge or other material used (copper springs, etc.).
Operating procedure:
- Cut a piece of pipe with a diameter of 22 mm to the required length.
- When using nozzles, close the bottom hole with a mesh so that pieces of washcloths do not fall into the cube, but the vapors can freely rise and the phlegm flow down.
- Not reaching 1 cm from the top of the pipe, we drill a hole for a 15 mm tube into which the thermometer will be inserted.
- We cut the 15 mm tube, cap it and insert it at an angle into the hole made. Solder or weld.
- We reliably connect the reinforcing frame with the pipe (plug) of the distillation cube by welding or fitting.
- If we are making a column with nozzles, we fill the pipe with them.
- We fix the fittings, check the tightness of the entire structure and test it in action.
Peculiarities. Copper is also preferable if you are going to distill grain whiskey using a still. This material is used in (including industrial) applications.
When using copper pipes and fittings (suitable for connecting food water pipes), the work is easier, because copper can be easily soldered and there is no need to use a welding machine.
To complicate the task and want to make an additional water casing, you can use a 15 mm tube for the column, and 22 mm for the casing. You will also need pipes (0.9 - 10 mm) for connecting and draining water.
With certain skills, you will cope with the task and make your own reinforcing column without unnecessary hassle.
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