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about to start a Boka condenser

PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:24 pm
by stubbydrainer
Hi brains trust , me again ! :D
This time I need your opinions about the clearance between the outer coil and the inside wall of 3" tube ( I've been experimenting with this and have got it down to 1/16 "- 3/32" . Is that too close ? Is that too far? ) and the clearance between the coils themselves, not to get confused with the spacing between the windings of the coil, Is there an optimum clearance I should aim for in both areas ? :?
I am trying to get 4 coils of 1/4" tube ( inside each other, with every second one counter wound ) into a 3" pipe for this condenser, each individually soldered to the in & out lines
( I like to challenge myself :think: :crazy: :crazy: )
Then I gotta work out how long to make it :think: :think:

I know I will get good, reliable info from you lot :laughing-rolling:

Thanks in advance

cheers
Stubbydrainer

Re: about to start a Boka condenser

PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:40 pm
by MacStill
Sounds good to me mate, a bit of over kill but good none the less :mrgreen:

When I wind a coil I space the winds about a 1/4 inch apart & like a fairly snug fit with the condenser in the pipe, I made a coil for my 3" bok ages ago that was 8" long and it worked great... it was a double helix 3/8" outer & 1/4" inner coils ;)

Re: about to start a Boka condenser

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:37 am
by R-sole
Any gaps in or around the coil are best filled with some loose copper mesh. It will increase the surface area of the cooling and break up the flow of the vapour. 8-)

Re: about to start a Boka condenser

PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:47 pm
by stubbydrainer
Thanks guys
reading between the lines here It seems that I would be better off opening the clearances up to allow for easy fitting and removal of copper scrubbers, I might go back to traditional condenser design and fit scubbers to
1. disturb the vapour flow
2.to increase the surface area of the condenser
3."seal up the gaps"

Cheers
Stubbydrainer