Modular external thumper/bubblecaps column

[astronomical]

Design:
Six 2"X6" chambers with 1.5" pool of distillate (image shows 2X12 chambers)
1/2" downcomers with diffuser ends
3/4" returns with liquid traps
Thors hammer condenser over boka plates w/ LM takeoff

Intent:

Simple design that is easy to build with minimal tools.
Relatively cheap build.
Compact.
High rectification with lots of positive feedback.

Concerns:
Many, but, if I type em all out you probably wont read em. Ask and I'll make a list.

Thoughts:
I see these more as bubblecaps than thumpers. I will build them in a honeycomb array to try and lose as little heat as possible.

Bring out your cat-o-nine tails. I expect someone to thrash me for this.

[rockchucker22]

Very interesting idea, I'm in for the ride!

[astronomical]

Please keep responses limited to constructive criticism and or design improvements. If making a flute was simple, and cheap, everyone would have one.
Not @ you rockchucker

[rockchucker22]

I would increase liquid volume, maybe stepped where the first thumper has the highest volume while the next has little less and so on.

[rad14701]

HERE is a post I just made in a similar topic... It seems to have relevance here...

[Prairiepiss]

How much liquid do you plan to have in each of these thumpers?

What kind of spirits are you planning to make with it?


Rad start of a new year. Are you keeping tally.

[rad14701]

Rad start of a new year. Are you keeping tally.

Crap...!!! My desk blotter calendar still says August 2008...

[astronomical]

people keep coming up with multi-column designs which, essentially, do little more than a thump tower or a plated column design

thats exactly what I'm after

What are you accomplishing with a multi-column design that isn't accomplished with a thump-tower...

Nothing, except, what I percieve as a more compact and easy build

Height issues can be mitigated by simply utilizing shorter thumper sections... The only real difference is using extra height and structured packing to promote additional HETP"s which these other designs provide in a more efficient manner and without the added weight and expense...
.

HETPs was definately one of my big concerns and I'd love to know what I should expect from these. I realize that the faster I run vapor through them the lower the number of HETPs will be (right?). Im concerned that the amount of input to keep it running properly may severely decrease the amount of HETPs. Thats assuming I don't run into other issues with vapor paths. As far as weight and expense go, 2" isnt that heavy and its 3' of 2" is definately cheaper than 2' of 4".

So we agree on almost everything, but, I still want to build it. Perhaps we just have different resources and abilities (mine lacking)

Simply put, this is way easier for someone with my skillset to build. I dont really see it like its multi columns more than its a bunch of thumpers like you described (totally agree). I said in my second post that not everyone can make a flute. This can be built for under 100. All you need is a couple drill bits, a torch, a hacksaw, and some solder. If this will actually work like a thump tower and fit on a stovetop than I see a HUGE reason to test its ability. With "Rad's Still", I'd expect you to be on board with me there.

Is there serious design flaws? Wouldn't you be interested in pointing me in the right direction on sizing it, so, we can see how many HETPs these really small inlines may produce.Maybe this isn't a common design because most people are capable of bulding more complex/difficult schematics that accomplish the same thing. I could very well be completely wrong.

I already have all the parts lyin around as scrap. I'm going to build it. If it fails than you can use my build thread to "settle the score" in the future. I'm not just wasting your time theorizing here. You guys always say there is more than one way to skin a cat. If this will make a short thump tower that actually works than whats the issue? I don't think I'm breaking new ground here. I think I'm reshaping some land in a way thats easy for me. I'd give credit where its due once I find that my modification of previous designs actually works. I'd rather not start thanking people for inspiration prior to success.

BTW, sorry for making this it's own post rad. I did that because I've actually decided to build it since I have all the parts (except 2" test caps").

@PrairiePiss

1.5" in the cups. Id be wary of raising it because it will change the pressure on my inlets. Id hope to possibly use this like a flute ( Which I'm slowly trying to build as well). I really dont know what to expect. Maybe it'll just make a glorified high speed stripper that spits out high abv. Until I can see what it'll do I really have difficulty commenting on what I'd use it for.
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I knew id get some guff for this layout. I may feel like a monkey when I do my test runs. But, either way, I'm building it. I may make some minor changes, but, the overall idea and size will remain the same.

[rockchucker22]

Once more, more liquid think about a drain from your top thumper to the bottom thumper, all mods that cost 0 and will Benifit your build. Trying and experimenting is all we have, fringe building is the only way advancements take place.

[Prairiepiss]

What I'm seeing is way overkill. I could be wrong. I've been known to be wrong. A lot. I think you really need to look at LWTCSs experiments with inline thumpers. I think it would help you a lot. A flute type still can be made easily. But you first need a target spirit you want to make with it.

From what I see its going to be more of a neutral still then a flavored still.

[astronomical]

Once more, more liquid think about a drain from your top thumper to the bottom thumper, all mods that cost 0 and will Benifit your build. Trying and experimenting is all we have, fringe building is the only way advancements take place.

I should try it. Like I said though, more liquid means more resistance for the vapor. Too much and my liquid traps wont work. I guess If it was too deep I could just cut the downcomers shorter or shorten the chambers under the return to get it shallower. More liquid should increase the HETPs so long as it doesn't make something else fail. At least, thats my understanding (do i understand. who knows..).. As far as introducing more positive feedback by linking them out of order, I'd say, totally. In another drawing of this that has more chambers I have chamber 7 dumping back into chamber 3. This also enabled me to add a lot more chambers without adding much more height. It drops 4 levels from 6 to 7 so I can get 12 chambers into the height of a 8 chamber configuration (without a step down). (probably hard to visualize)

What I'm seeing is way overkill. I could be wrong. I've been known to be wrong. A lot. I think you really need to look at LWTCSs experiments with inline thumpers. I think it would help you a lot. A flute type still can be made easily. But you first need a target spirit you want to make with it.

From what I see its going to be more of a neutral still then a flavored still.

Overkill being too many bubblers/thumps? I think I read all of lwtcs' stuff on thump towers and watched the videos, but, I'll dig around and reread everything as well.

I don't care if it makes neutral or flavored spirits so long as it does one of them well. I need both. If the prototype results in proof of concept than I'll solder in some 3/4 and 1/2" unions so that I can add the exact number of chambers I want. I guess that could be a benefit of this design. It would be simple to tune up or down.

[LWTCS]

Still pretty new territory.......Liquid volumes and heat loss are the biggest question marks for me.. But beyond that,,,,it would be 7 (or so) plates.........A build like this could answer some questions....