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Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 11:28 am
by Hick1960
For any maths gurus out there, I’m trying to find the alcohol content of a 1 and a half x boiler charge. I have 75 ltrs of tpw which I plan to strip 45 litres then add that to the other 30 litres for a spirit run. My question is, say if the 75 ltrs has a 10% alcohol content to start with. I strip 45 litres and end up with roughly 10lts of 40%. I then add this back to the left over 30 lts at 10%. What is the overall alcohol content now of the second charge. Figures aren’t exact, but for the life of me I can’t seem to get my head around it. Somehow I’ve come up with 40 lts at around 13%.
I’ve checked out the calculators but can’t seem to work out how this equation could be made using them. I apologies if there is a simple solution, but does anyone know how to work this out.
I seem to be having a brain fart. :angry-banghead:

Re: Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 11:55 am
by Professor Green
Calculate the total alcohol volume in each batch, sum the results and divide by the total combined volume.

10 Litres @ 40% = 4l of Alcohol
30 Litres @ 10% = 3l of Alcohol

in total, 7 Litres of Alcohol in 40 litres total volume = 17.5%

But, why are you adding the results of a stripping run of part of your wash back into the remainder of the wash?

Re: Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 12:03 pm
by Hick1960
Professor Green wrote:Calculate the total alcohol volume in each batch, sum the results and divide by the total combined volume.

10 Litres @ 40% = 4l of Alcohol
30 Litres @ 10% = 3l of Alcohol

in total, 7 Litres of Alcohol in 40 litres total volume = 17.5%

But, why are you adding the results of a stripping run of part of your wash back into the remainder of the wash?



Thanks professor.

I have 75 ltrs to run. Am going to strip 45 litres then add it to the remaining 30 litres then do a spirit run. My boiler is only 50 ltrs. Just trying to bump up the alcohol of the boiler charge. I have a new FSD Neutralizer and found it runs better with a higher alcohol volume in it. ( for neutral anyway, I haven’t done a flavoured run). I realise I could just do 2 stripping runs then dilute enough to cover the elements, but thought I’d gives this way a go.

Re: Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 12:36 pm
by Professor Green
I see. The neutraliser is capable of producing good neutral in a single run, that is what it is designed for but I think you'll get even better neutral results by stripping your wash in two separate batches followed by a combined spirit run. Just my opinion of course, you can use any run strategy that works for you. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 12:49 pm
by Hick1960
Professor Green wrote:I see. The neutraliser is capable of producing good neutral in a single run, that is what it is designed for but I think you'll get even better neutral results by stripping your wash in two separate batches followed by a combined spirit run. Just my opinion of course, you can use any run strategy that works for you. :handgestures-thumbupleft:



Yeah I was very happy with the results I got first couple of runs but I seemed to be chasing reflux , flow and a nice toothpick size stream a bit. I read bigrigs post where he mentioned low alcohol content running a little erratic so I stripped a wash and bumped up the alcohol of the next run. It ran a lot better. That’s why I was wondering how to calculate the alcohol volume. I knew there was an easy way somewhere.
I now have a 220 litre olive drum for larger fermentations so I’ll be able to strip a few runs then run a spirit run.
All practice.

Re: Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 1:52 pm
by RuddyCrazy
G'Day Hick,
Just just do a rough workout of the dilution amount needed of the volume and percentage of the wash, now when I do my TPW to date I have done 2 runs and it tasting pretty good but a third run with the packed section will be the final run.

Now lets say you have 20 litres of 80% so to temper down to 40% add 20 litres, now if it's 60% then I add 10 litres then as the boiler is getting filled I take an ABV reading, the 50ml measuring cylinders are a good fit for the alcometers so just a 40ml or there abouts is needed to check :handgestures-thumbupleft:

for piece of mind it does pay to take a reading before sealing the boiler to ensure the boiler charge is no higher than 40%.

Cheers Bryan

Re: Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 2:03 pm
by Hick1960
Thanks Bryan.
I only had a 30 and 60 fermenter so that’s why I was looking at adding a stripped run to the remainder, trying to get some finished product while the next lot fermented.
Now I have a 220 ltr olive drum to ferment in, I can strip the lot and end up with enough low wines for a full spirit run.
I bought the new rig only to find I was now waiting for fermentations to finish. :))

Re: Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 3:51 pm
by MarkA
Hi Hick,

I've been using an app on my phone called "Alco Calculator" for temp conversions for hydrometer and alcometer. It also has water dilution,
and for your question, mixing alcohol. There's a ton of stuff in it. Might be worth a look.

It also aligns with Professor Greens answer, so I reckon it must be close :handgestures-thumbupleft:


Regards
Mark

Re: Alcohol content of 1.5 boiler charge.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 3:55 pm
by Hick1960
MarkA wrote:Hi Hick,

I've been using an app on my phone called "Alco Calculator" for temp conversions for hydrometer and alcometer. It also has water dilution,
and for your question, mixing alcohol. There's a ton of stuff in it. Might be worth a look.

It also aligns with Professor Greens answer, so I reckon it must be close :handgestures-thumbupleft:


Regards
Mark


Thanks Mark
I’ll check it out :handgestures-thumbupleft: