by Wobbegong » Tue May 31, 2022 10:12 am
So after doing a couple days of reading to get an understanding of the difference between VM, LM and CM, I've decided to go with a CM..
3" column 1200-1500 long in Cu
3" dephlegm s/s
3" Lyne arm
3" shotgun PC
Reducing down to a parrot
For ease of operating, might make another column 600 odd long for running pot still mode
Everything will be modular,
Keggle will be 2x 3000w ulwd elements, controller for one, flick off second one once we're warm.
Haven't decided whether to flip the keg and use the 2" Sankey as the drain or to cut that out for a bigger ferrule for column, dont love the look of a chopped ring but understand the practicality of having handles on the damn thing.
4" fill/clean port , haven't asked any suppliers but haven't found a 6" ferrule available, though if I can get hold of one I'll definitely go that way as I'm not a skinny bloke.
Thanks for the advice so far, definitely be putting a drain on it, with a lockable ball valve so I don't accidentally empty my boiler.
I'm thinking for the water lines, to keep them neat and tidy, running some cable tray and using 12mm John guest style connectors to a needle valve , from what I've read, controlling the coolant can be fiddly and I'm thinking with the higher pressure/lower OD tube , it might make the cooling adjustments with a needle valve almost immediate? (We'll see)
For now, I'm researching the lengths of the dephlegm and PC , for ease of fabrication I'll be using stainless end caps (haven't decided on the baffles, think It may be easier to braze then in with copper, copper vapour tubes with stainless shell .
Seperate input/outputs for each condenser,
I think that about sums up the game plan,
I have a bit of 3mm and 1.6mm stainless sheet in the shed, left a few of my marking tools at work (will be popping in Thursday) so might have the chance to design and mark out the end plates before going back to work. :happy-partydance:
If anyone has any opinions or ideas on the build, I'd be happy to listen as I've not started yet , just think for the versatility I'm after, a modular cm will serve me well.