Optimal length of boka 2inch column

[Vickypoint2003]

Hi guys what do you reckon.

[juana_b]

20-24 times the diameter. Also the type of packing will change the hetp.
2" Boka is slow though. I have one. Be ready for an all-day run if trying for a neutral.

[Vickypoint2003]

Thanks for the info.

[bluc]

Do 3" if ya can you wont be dissatisfied...

[pistagain]

Hi
I am interested in a couple of points made above regarding distilling time and was wondering if anyone could resolve my confusion. My understanding is that for neutral one needs to do it slowly, drip, drip, dribble or what ever. Now I understand that the wider the diameter of the column the faster the distilling process. However, given the need to distill at a slow rate anyway, what is the point of a larger diameter column? Or am I missing something here?
Cheers

[bluc]

You had it first time faster run time. Yes a reflux generally you run slower then a pot but increasing diameter speeds up neutral run. 2"vs 3" is night and day if your building do 3"...

[RuddyCrazy]

I have setup my modular system to a 4" pot still for stripping and 40 litres of wash was done in under 3 hours from first heatup, now doing the same amount of wash in a 2" would take close to a day to get thru. So what bluc says about going 3" is good advise so go that way and you won't be disappointed.

Cheers Bryan

[The Stig]

Stick a standard size straw into 200ml water and see how long it takes to suck up the water .
Now, stick one of those huge bubble tea straws into the same amount of water and see how much quicker it come up.
Science experiment finished :laughing-rolling:

[pistagain]

Thanks for the replies. I understand that for the purposes of a stripping run a larger diameter would be better because the idea is to run hard and fast. But I guess you are also saying that it is also OK to run a neutral spirit run faster if doing it through a 3" as opposed to a 2". I currently do a spirit run through a 2" boka style column and it is true to say that a 45Litre @ 40% ABV run takes a hell of a long time. However that is because I adjust the flow control way down. I could open it up and do the same run in less than half the time but I always thought that that would result in an inferior product. At the moment I get 10 -11 litres of hearts @ around 93 - 94% ABV.

[The Stig]

The long and short of it is :
Bigger diameter will allow for faster runs
There’s a lot more to it but that’s the crux of it

[pistagain]

Thanks guys.
So does anyone know where I can get a 3" Boka style still? I can't weld for nuts so I would need to source a complete one. I can't find one on the 5SD site.
Cheers

[The Stig]

We tried a 4” Boka but it didn’t perform as expected so abandoned the idea and stuck to the 2”

[BigRig]

We tried a 4” Boka but it didn’t perform as expected so abandoned the idea and stuck to the 2”

I have often wondered where the 4" boka went. Did it sell ?

[The Stig]

It did sell to a member down south , can’t remember his username sorry
We figured using a 500mm packed section and the deflag was a better option

[pistagain]

I was thinking something similar. Would a packed section (or 2) and a reflux condenser on the 4″ Modular Pot Still produce a decent neutral?

[The Stig]

Yes it will

[MattSmith]

I was thinking something similar. Would a packed section (or 2) and a reflux condenser on the 4″ Modular Pot Still produce a decent neutral?

That's exactly what I run and I'm drinking a kale vodka made using it on the rocks right now!

500mm packed section - 3 rolls of copper mesh + 1kg of copper spp

[christoth]

I can't weld for nuts so I would need to source a complete one.

As someone who can't really weld myself, you can get away some basic welds now a days just by watching YouTube and picking up a simple DIY welder :smile: I'm loving the VIPER 185 (https://www.alphaweld.com.au/product/19427-unimig-viper-185-mig-tig-stick-welder) I got last Christmas and have been able to use it on several home distiller projects.

[Wellsy]

Welcome Christoff
Why not pop into the welcome centre and tell us a bit about yourself mate, what sort of gear you have and what you are hoping to produce etc