VAPOUR MANAGEMENT (VM) STILL BUILD

This is a photographic record of my VM Still Build which may be of use to others. It is not intended presented as a definitive manual but rather a record of my efforts which are open to constructive criticism and/or observation.

Brand Spanking ew !arrot

" new Still deserves all new accoutrements# fittings and accessories befitting such a beautiful piece of e$uipment % so here it is&' PRETTY POLLY II

Fittings Used Any fittings that will come into contact with the wash, vapour or distillate should completely lead free so for this build I used only Copper and Stainless Steel. For the Condensers I did use some Brass compression fittings because these will only be in contact with the coolant. All copper fittings used that would come into contact with the vapours or distillate in this build are Endfeed Fittings which means they are not pre soldered. I used this type as I was unable to find out e!actly what type of solder is used in the pre soldered fittings. Solder & Flux "he Solder I used is composed of ##.$% "in and &.'% Copper and (ead Free Flu!. "wo things I can)t show in this record is the insides of the (iebig Condenser but inside both the coolant path and the vapour path I installed a spiral of *.+mm copper wire to create some turbulence in both paths in an attempt to increase efficiency of the condensing process. Soldering & Welding I did all the soldering myself using a Butane,-ropane .i! torch. Everyone I as/ed about 0oining Stainless Steel and Copper said it could only be done by "I1 welding 2"ungsten Inert 1as3 which, for most people including me, is not 4I5. 6owever, by the end of this build I discovered that the best method for this type of 0oin is actually using Silver Solder and a .A-- 1as torch. Slightly more e!pensive than normal soldering but what it cost me to get an engineering wor/shop to weld on two ferrules, cut two small holes and weld in two SS sleeves for an electric element and a drain tap I could have paid for the .A-- torch and enough Silver Solder to do the 0obs myself.

VM Condenser Head - Parts List

1. Condenser Sleeve *&7 8 97 Copper 2. Double Concentric Condenser Coil Condenser :ound from $mts of ;mm copper tube. (ength of coil is <7 3. VM Reducing He d .ade from 9 8 97 Endcaps, * 8 *7 E=ual "ee, * 8 *7 >7 ?educer, 97 of >7 Copper "ube, * 8 >7 Copper @ipple. !. St inless Steel " te V lve #. Connector to $iebig * 8 >7 Copper @ipple, 97 of >7 Copper "ube, * 8 >7 Elbow Compression Fitting

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"he A. head is the most important part of this still so here)s all the parts that ma/e up the head. Some parts have several components to them. (ater pages show each individual section and it)s component)s in more detail. If I miss anything or you need any more info send me a -. and I)ll get bac/ to you.

Double Concentric Reflux Condenser Coil

Re%uire&ents' $ meters of ;mm Copper "ubing *B7 length of *;mm SS bar to use as a small .andrel for the inner coil B7 length of $Bmm SS -ipe 2inner diameter $&mm3 to use as a starter .andrel for the outer coil *B7 length of $Bmm SS -ipe 2inner diameter $&mm3 to use as the main .andrel for the outer coil ;mm Copper tube usually comes in a wide coil and is already annealed so it is =uite soft and relatively easy to shape into a coil. 6owever, as you bend the tubing it will become wor/ hardened. At any time you can re anneal the tubing by applying heat to the point where the copper begins to glow. Cnce cooled you will be able to shape the tubing again and this can be done repeatedly. "o wind the Copper you must /eep constant pressure on the tubing to avoid /in/ing in the tube. I found that slow progress was the best way to get the 0ob done. "he initial wind was relatively easy once the first turn was completed. Cnce the inner coil was at the re=uired length I left the Stainless Steel bar in the coil and slipped the B7 length of SS pipe over the inner coil and turn the Copper tube over onto this outer tube. "his was the hardest part of the wind. Cnce the first wrap around the outer steel tube was completed I replaced the small starter outer mandrel with the longer piece of SS pipe and from this point completing the coil too/ 0ust $& minutes.

Double Concentric Reflux Condenser Coil contd.

"he ?eflu! Condenser is finished with brass reducer fittings to connect some >7 pipe for the coolant inlet and outlet. I had loo/ed for a fitting that would allow me go from ;mm to *+mm but could not find one. "he best available was a *+ <mm reducer. "o solve this problem I slid a *7 piece of <mm on to each of the coil tails and soldered in place. "he top is fitted with some copper mesh and an endcap with a *7 hole drilled as a vent to atmosphere to negate any pressure buildup.

Liebig Product Condenser

"he (iebig Condenser is made from $&7 of >7 Copper for the vapour path and this is inside a D7 water 0ac/et which is closed a both ends by D78 >7 8 >7 "ee. Both the water 0ac/et and the inner vapour path have copper spirals soldered inside to create turbulence in both paths the theory being that these will increase the efficiency of the condenser.

Vapour Management (VM) Reducing Head

( rtsE 9 8 97 Endcaps, * 8 *7 E=ual "ee, * 8 *7 >7 ?educer, 97 piece of >7 Copper "ube, * 8 >7 Copper @ipple. "his component is made by soldering the parts listed above. Before soldering I had to drill out *7 holes in the Endcaps so the *7E=ual "ee could be soldered in flush. See inset pic.

I drilled a hole directly opposite the ta/e off valve to ta/e a grommet to hold the digital thermometer

a!e-"ff Val#e
"he ta/e off valve is Stainless Steel which presented a problem in connecting the copper to the SS valve as brass fittings could not be used. A copper nipple is soldered onto the fittings on each side and screws into the steel fitting. "his allows disassembly for cleaning and storage.

"his is the complete head after assembly on top of the insulated column.

$e %oiler
.y boiler is made from a +&lt beer /eg with a 97 Clamp Ferrule welded onto the opening and the end of the column. "he two Ferules are held together with a 97 "ri Clamp with an E-4. gas/et seal between the ferrules to ensure a gas tight seal. "he main column is 97 Copper and is +B7 high. "he column pac/ing is Copper .esh 2see pic below right3 which is tightly rolled into sections and inserted into the column from the bottom and can be removed for cleaning. "he mini scaffold beside the still is to allow me safe access to the still head during operation rather than standing on a stool or stepladder.

"he boiler is powered by a $Fw electric element mounted through a SS female threaded soc/et welded into the /eg and the element is controlled by a power controller with an integral potentiometer and heat sin/ which allows full control on the power input to the element. "he boiler also has a drain tap welded into the bottom of the /eg.

Pot Head
I)m currently preparing a -ot 6ead for use with the boiler and am 0ust waiting delivery on new SS ferrules to weld in place. "he (iebig off the A. column should be able to handle output. "he -ot 6ead sits on top of a 9B7 column. "he head was made fromG A. 97 copper elbow, B. 97 *7 Endfeed ?educer, C. B7 piece of *7 copper pipe, 4. *7 copper coupler, E. *7 to >7 Endfeed ?educer A 97 piece of >7 copper pipe with a compression nut is also fitted to facilitate connection to the (iebig Condenser see pic on bottom left.

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