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Is there any value in using a horizontal LM/VM head?
I had this goofy idea, and I don’t know enough to evaluate it fairly.
Please ignore the lack of packing in the column, as I just didn’t want to bother trying to draw it. Infer its presence please. There are quite a few details that I omitted because they don’t serve to illustrate the concept any better in my opinion. This was just a quick and dirty sketch to get the point across. The idea is a combination LM (on the left) and VM (on the right) still head mounted horizontally to save height. The LM section uses a low dam on the vapor side to form a pool beneath the coil, and a needle valve mounted anywhere beneath the top of the dam. I drew it on the end of the tube for convenience, but it could go underneath just as well.If the vent hole is plugged and the vapor valve fully opened, it might work as a pot still as well. Jack of all trades… master of none?Anyway, I just wanted to get some feedback from folks who have done and seen a lot more than I have.Learn from the past, live in the present, change the future.
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9 Replies
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The way I see it is the PC coil had to have a slight incline so regardless of LM or VM , the condensed reflux falls back towards the packed column . So , the LM takeoff valve needs to be close to the column to be able to always be in the dam of reflux liquid . This wouldAlso make the VM section work . Doesn’t have to be a large angle …. Just enough so condensed liquid runs back towards the packingMy recommended goto .wiki/index.ph … ion_Theory
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My thought process here was that the dam at the vapor end (right as shown) and cap at the other end would form a well where all the condensate would collect, with the only ways out being via the needle valve or over the dam and back down the column.Not saying that’s a good idea, just that’s what I was thinking. Is that completely wrong?It would make for a larger volume of liquid at the top, but is that a bad thing? Does it matter, once things get going?Learn from the past, live in the present, change the future.
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Hi SB!The way I see it your original statement “I had this goofy idea” was spot on. The combination LM/VM has been tried many times in the past. Most however usually end up using only one side, (their favorite) leaving their less than favorite side to remind them of their appendix.What was/is the original plan/idea for this combo designed to accomplish?
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It’s inspired by my favorite animal, the eliphino.
The truth is that I just don’t now enough. LM seems like an obvious, simple choice for both design and operation, but it doesn’t get much love these days. People seem to really like VM, and that’s the only design I’ve tried (with mixed results, which I ascribe to my lack of experience more than the design). I also quite like running a pot still, and the products that I make on it.But also, I enjoy the mental challenge of creating something interesting and useful. I see a few complaints about the height of a column, especially in the larger diameters, so I was thinking about ways to reduce the height needed without impacting functionality.Learn from the past, live in the present, change the future.
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The thing that’s worrying me is the amount of liquid in the collection area causing smearing Steve . If you have the pipe horizontal , you may get away with a small size dam but it would have to have the column dead level . If it leaned away from vertical there would be even more liquid . Having the pipe on a slight angle should cause it to all pool at the column end in a smaller amount . A Boka plate holds about 30ml or 1ozBut thinking about it , what you have there is half a cross flow condenser . ( ignoring the VM take off )
Now some if those did angle the two sides into the middle and some didn’t .
On those that didn’t there must have been some pooling on the side that was slightly lower .This one was made by Myles . He was a perfectionist so if he felt pooling was an issue , he would have angled the two ends toward the middle .
My recommended goto .wiki/index.ph … ion_Theory
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Maybe a slight mod to something like this.
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Yes that My recommended goto .wiki/index.ph … ion_Theory
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Other than physical height is there any reason to make it horizontal?There are two types of people in this world.1. Those that can extrapolate from incomplete information.
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None that I know of.
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