Whats size thumper?

[captainmorgan36]

Hi guys, I have started getting in to Rum production. I got to thinking that an in line thumper might benefit production.

My current set up is an 18 gal keg with 2 x 2200W elements and a 2" pot still with a 3/4" over 1/2" 4' long liebig.

On of the element is power controlled.

I load the keg up with 50litres. So I have a couple of questions:

1) how beneficial will a thumper be?
2) how big a thumper keg would be needed?
3) how large a pipe should I run into the thumper?
4) how high should I charge the thumper?
5) are low wine tails the best think to charge the thumper with?

Thanks

Captain

[bluc]

From what I read 1/3 to 1/2 boiler for a traditional thumper, with a modern inline thumper that has a return drain to the boiler I think generally the idea is it can hold the volume your low wines would be,. For me with a 30l boiler on a strip run I get 4.5l at 40% so I would make mine 5l.this isn't really nessacary but more effective as less low wines return to boiler.

As far as what to charge with depends what you are trying to achieve. For a cleaner spirit a lot just use water. If you like some tails in your rum for example put some tails in (in the caribean they use two thumpers one with heads one with tails) if you want bigger yield strip a wash and charge thumper with low wines. You can also use it for infusions herbs and spices fruit honey etc can all go in the thumper to add flavour. Not sure if you use inline thumpers for infusions also or if they are more for bumping up the abv.
Traditional American distillers just did a single run when using a thumper . Looking at doing a small inline thumper myself while I save for a plated column.

[Meatheadinc]

If your boiler charge is 50L look at 8L+ if you want to charge with heads and tails i would also add that volume.

[Meatheadinc]

Try make the thumper wider rather than taller. The higher the fluid bed the longer the downcomer trap will need to be.
In my experince i have found that depth to trap size relationship not to be linear. A larger diameter downcomer and trap can help reduce this phenomenon.

[bluc]

Try make the thumper wider rather than taller. The higher the fluid bed the longer the downcomer trap will need to be.
In my experince i have found that depth to trap size relationship not to be linear. A larger diameter downcomer and trap can help reduce this phenomenon.

Have heard wider than taller mentioned a few times. Besides the downcommer issue any other reason to go wide?

[Meatheadinc]

Wider also helps overall height.
Very deep fluid bed (tall and skinny) can cause some surging/pulsing effect.

[bluc]

Thanks, I always thought a deeper bath would be better for doing infussions longer contact with the fluid and better condensing would this be right? Does bath depth affect taste much?

[Meatheadinc]

In my experince, deeper baths give a cleaner product.
I believe that due to the longer contact of a deeper bath there is more condensation and separation,which can strip flavour.

[WTDist]

Im not set on my thumper size. After reading this thinking about making it as wide as i can using rummys technique. I plan on doing mostly flavour so would wider and shallower be better? like 8 or 10" and shallow? ill have perf plates for neutral to add in also so not too concerned about stripping flavour. would rather keep it and go faster

[bluc]

In my experince, deeper baths give a cleaner product.
I believe that due to the longer contact of a deeper bath there is more condensation and separation,which can strip flavour.

Interesting that's exact opposite to my way of thinking.. thanks for the info cheers :handgestures-thumbupleft: am I right in thinking a deep bath is a bit like a reflux condenser?

[bluc]

Im not set on my thumper size. After reading this thinking about making it as wide as i can using rummys technique. I plan on doing mostly flavour so would wider and shallower be better? like 8 or 10" and shallow? ill have perf plates for neutral to add in also so not too concerned about stripping flavour. would rather keep it and go faster

I think I will go same way as hilzabilly big fat half keg on top of an 80l keg.I think that will be my next upgrade. Thinking I might go three plates on top of the thumper...but going to take my time to be sure it's the right thing for me. A plus is I can use my pot on a thumper in the interim..

[Meatheadinc]

a thumper can still add some flavour regardless of width and height, when primed with a flavour eg wash.

once vapour has left the boiler, it will start to lose flavour in the plates through reflux action. by putting heads, tails or wash into a thumper you will re-introduce flavour further up the vapour stream and gain flavour over not having one.
if it is primed with water it will help to strip flavour

[bluc]

Awesome it both adds and strip flavour depending on how it's used.
When using it to add flavour what if I used a smaller design like rumdidlydum's above the plates? Get the abv up then pass it through the thumper, maybe even put it above the reflux condenser? Wouldn't help with puke but may do a better job on infusing flavour things like honey or spices could steep spice in water than add to thumper :think: Maybe two models small one for infusions big one for temperamental wash like molasses and for speeding up runs..

[Meatheadinc]

just to clarify , Inline thumper or regular ?

a small volume inline thumper will drain any flavoured pre charge back to the boiler fairly quickly. so a large volume is recommended in this case

regular thumper wont matter much as long as it has adequate volume to not flood

[Meatheadinc]

Hi guys, I have started getting in to Rum production. I got to thinking that an in line thumper might benefit production.

My current set up is an 18 gal keg with 2 x 2200W elements and a 2" pot still with a 3/4" over 1/2" 4' long liebig.

On of the element is power controlled.

I load the keg up with 50litres. So I have a couple of questions:

1) how beneficial will a thumper be?
2) how big a thumper keg would be needed?
3) how large a pipe should I run into the thumper?
4) how high should I charge the thumper?
5) are low wine tails the best think to charge the thumper with?

sorry captain been thinking inline.
regular thumper should be at least 1/3 to half boiler charge, 1/2 or more may be better if you plan to prime it with a sizable charge. a vessel the same size will also work.
the pipe size is variable to some degree, 1" line through a 2" tee is common
the thumper can be primed with low wines, wash or water depending on what your after, for rum I would use the heads and tails and even some wash.
a lot of traditional rum was done with two thumpers with heads in the first and tails in the second.

[bluc]

Of course Yea was thinking inline thumper above deflag, although after 3/4/5 plates the proof is going to be high so volume is going to be a lot less going through thumper tHan if its sit ting on top of boiler. May get the job done. Or even a big inline thumper like hilzabillys then three plates a deflag then a smaller inline thumper like rummies.
Big one down bottom to catch puke and or hold alcohol, then when needed the smaller inline thumper above deflag for infusing spices etc

[Meatheadinc]

Above the dephleg will have a much reduced vapour speed and a reduced temp compared to below the dephleg.
The thumper needs heated vapour to bring it up to temp and run efficiently.
Before a thumper comes up to temp it will condense the up coming vapor. If it has a small volume, i think you will find it will fill and drain through the downcomer before it operates correctly.
Will be interesting to see your results.

[captainmorgan36]

Thanks for the replies.

Well I was thinking a traditional thumper, but I could run a drain from a smaller thumper.

I have a 30l stainless container that might be suitable for a thumper, would that be large enough to go traditional thumper?

Will the thumper add much flavour to a rum?

So ideally you would have a thumper with heads and then a thumper with tails before the condenser when running a rum?

If I want to spice the rum would there be anything to gain from putting stuff in the thumper or does that need a carter head?

Thanks

Captain

[hillzabilly]

Found this pic.cheers hillzabilly

[Meatheadinc]

30 litre thumper will work with your boiler with 50l charge