Q? boosting abv with reflux on potstill

[8-ball]

I was having a thought the other day (ouch my head) would there be a problem with adding a reflux coil/mini rc to a 2in pot to boost the abv on single run?

Would it be any benefit in a non packed column just for the soul purpose of boosting abv would it lose flavor or anything?

Thanks for any help

8-ball

[SBB]

A few people have played around with that sort of idea as far as I know. Your right on both counts, in theory you should up the ABV a bit, but might loose flavour as well, cant imagine it being a lot though. Ive heard they are buggers of things to run till you get the hang of it.

[crow]

I think bt1 and a few other guys have done stuff like that with their hybrid stills. Most reports I've read are once you raise ABV this way you also strip some flavor (never tried it myself)
Edit posted same time as SBB

[bt1]

Timing crow timing!

http://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1648&hilit=hybrid

Good for whiskeys, great for big flavoured bourbons, used weekly for great rum, crap on neutrals

single runs require really good quality washes...flavour pull through is high

Simple to run, can get away with just 1 gate valve ( resistance/controlling coil pushing more into Lyne arm, Lyne arm on all run and the default)

very small pond pump only needed like real small

Can strip by turning coil off.

Nice little soln that still use near weekly.

bt1

[8-ball]

Thats a good thread dont remember ever seeing that one in the past have you got any packing in there or is it as I was thinking just pack around the coil I was also thinking of making a 2in deflegm as I have 2 4in perf plate modules here all I need is the 2-4 reducers and stick the pot ontop

[bt1]

Hello 8,

For packing through the coil blank centre and loosely wrapped SS scrubbies around coil outer to take up some of the space between coil and column wall to extend the cool zone effect. I have two SS scrubbies below the coil removables to alter abv... worth about 2 -3 perhaps abv points.

I tried a 2" RC but the knock back was way too high even on little flow...the beauty of the inserted coil( trial and error and bloody good luck) is it's length/flow combined seems to sit right in the sweet spot for impacting abv.... During a run very small adjustments to the limited flow in 1x 1/4"/6.37 tubes (twin helix, not a cold finger)change abv by bout 12 abv points from none to flat out.... the rest I attribute to passive reflux due to packing.

Hope that helps

bt1

[8-ball]

Seems like a good idea then I might build another 2 pots 1 with a coil and one with a rc for a modular plated hybrid

[bayshine]

what about just putting some steelo packing in the colum, has anybody tried that ?

[bt1]

Hello jbay,

yep, tried it a few times...it does improve abv no question, but not enough to change to single runs, still requiring a strip run and a spirit run=no point.

bt1

[bayshine]

cheers bt1