Column contents for reflux

[Dude]

So I have at my disposal the following

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Column is a 2 inch.

Pieces of copper pipe, enough to fill a 250 mm section of column.
Glass marbles, enough to fill a 250 mm section of column.
Copper mesh, enough to fill a 250 mm section of column.

My question is what and how much would you put in your column?

This is for discussion and entertainment mainly as I believe there is no right or wrong answer.


My thought would be, 3 rolls copper mesh, half the marbles and half the copper rings.

[PeterC]

1st. All mesh - high surface area, low thermal mass
2nd. copper pieces only moderate surface area, low thermal mass
3rd. glass marbles low surface area, high thermal mass (more energy to heat up)

Just my opinion

[Dude]

That is why I posted this, peoples opinions start good conversations.

[The Stig]

Having different media throughout a column is not a good idea , it makes it hard to equalize

[Dude]

So what do you suggest Stig, just copper mesh, just marbles?

[The Stig]

Pick one and try .
It would be interesting to see the diff between marbles and copper mesh for both ABV and flavor

[RC Al]

The marbles will work best if they are 10-12% of the column diameter, those look too big for a 2" if im not mistaken

1st. All mesh - high surface area, low thermal mass
2nd. copper pieces only moderate surface area, low thermal mass
3rd. glass marbles low surface area, high thermal mass (more energy to heat up)

:text-+1:

[Dude]

The marbles will work best if they are 10-12% of the column diameter, those look too big for a 2" if im not mistaken

1st. All mesh - high surface area, low thermal mass
2nd. copper pieces only moderate surface area, low thermal mass
3rd. glass marbles low surface area, high thermal mass (more energy to heat up)

:text-+1:

They are 10mm

[The Stig]

10% of a 2” column would be about 5mm
At 10mm that would be 10% of 100mm or about 4”

[LikkerSheWillLoveIt]

My still is made of stainless, I figured that is probably an important piece of information. I use stainless scrubbers and small pieces of copper tube. The copper tube is 1/4” and cut into pieces around 5-7mm long. I don’t know why, but I layer it. I have 1100mm of packed section. I put stainless scrubbers in the bottom about 200mm high, then a few hands full of copper “saddles” then more scrubbers, then more copper, and repeat.

Please tell me if this is a sh!t house idea!

[The Stig]

I don’t know if it’s a shit house idea but in my mind you will have pockets of “heaps of reflux” and pockets of “not as much reflux”
It’s kind of like having a portion of your tall column exposed to a breeze , it’s going to be inconsistent.
Is this a bad thing ? I honestly don’t know .
I would rather have everything even, maybe I’m just anal :laughing-rolling: And maybe I’m completely wrong :-B