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vsaks

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Posts posted by vsaks

    Black deposit on inside of copper still

    in Equipment

    Posted

    Thanks. What concentration of citric acid should I try ?

    On ‎11‎/‎17‎/‎2017 at 6:33 PM, bluestar said:

    Water softeners substitute salt (NaCl) for other minerals. That could result, in part, in the formation of copper chloride dihydrate, among other things. To remove copper salts, etch with hot dilute citric acid (normally part of refreshing a still). We never use softened water, we use RO water. If you need to demineralize, then use RO. Usually there is no problem using hard water, unless it has iron in it.

     

    Quick connect/disconnects for hoses

    in Equipment

    Posted

    What gaskets do you have in your camlock with high proof alcohol ? Most of the camlock fittings I am looking at seem to have Buna-N gaskets

    1 hour ago, indyspirits said:

    We went 100% camlock. It's a bit pricey initially but in the long run so much simpler to operate. We purchased a full roll of 2" Goodyear Purple Flexwing, a centerpunch crimp and fittings and made our own hoses. 

     

    Quick connect/disconnects for hoses

    in Equipment

    Posted

    What are people using for connecting hoses/pumps to tanks ? We are using tri-clamps but there are cases where we have to move the pumps between tanks. Getting the PTFE gaskets to seal is not as simple as I thought, and I don't relish the thought of doing it several times a day. High proof alcohol, so I don't want to use other elastomers like BUNA-N/Silicone.

    One option I was looking at was these quick disconnects. Made of SS. But the O ring inside is probably rubber.

    https://www.morebeer.com/products/female-stainless-steel-quick-disconnect-wbarb.html?site_id=9

    Connections on G70 pump

    in Equipment

    Posted

    Michael,
      Do you have these G70 barb fittings in 3/4 in stock ?

     

    On ‎11‎/‎2‎/‎2017 at 4:15 PM, MichaelAtTCW said:

    We have the 3/4" barbs in stock and of course our price is better than Southernhighlander :lol:

    The G70 normally comes with 3/8" barbs. Flojet makes a special G70 assembly for us with 3/4" barbs, because this is what most of our customers want.

     

    IMG_3604.JPG

    Connections on G70 pump

    in Equipment

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Southernhighlander said:

    vsaks,

    The hose barbs are interchangeable on the g70.  We can sell them with ether the 5/8" or the 3/4", and of course our price is better than TCW.

    Paul,
      I already bought two of the pumps from you with 5/8. So can I purchase the 3/4 for them ? I can't find the fittings on your web-site.

    PP body for spirit transfer pump

    in Equipment

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Lenny said:

    Lot's of folks use polypropylene pumps. We try to use stainless wherever we can, but so long as ethanol is compatible with whatever material you are considering (https://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance), you're good to go. Out of curiosity... which Yamada pump you're considering. I need to pick up a few smaller aod pumps.

    Lenny,
       I was looking at NDP-15 pumps. Either NDP-15BPT or NDP-15FPT. Both are PP body with Teflon seals for about $400. The difference is flat vs ball valves. They'll do about 13.5 gpm .

    PP body for spirit transfer pump

    in Equipment

    Posted

    8 hours ago, MichaelAtTCW said:

    To ensure you're comparing apples to apples: part of the reason the G70 is more expensive is because it uses conductive materials that allow the pump to be fully groundable, thus granting it ATEX certification for safe pump operation in potentially dangerous or explosive atmospheres. Air diaphragm pumps have a lot of rapidly moving parts that can cause static build-up and discharge unless they're grounded, making them potentially unsafe if used around flammable products or vapors.

    Most air diaphragm pumps are not designed to be fully groundable. The ones that are groundable usually broadcast it pretty loudly by proclaiming ATEX/UL certification, or something like that. Groundable pumps are also usually more expensive than non-groundable pumps, as you've discovered.

    I'm sure Yamada makes some groundable pumps—they talk about having select ATEX and UL certified pumps here on their website. I'd be surprised if the Yamada you're comparing with the G70 is one of them.

    Michael,
      You make a valid point. Their PP pump is not groundable, so can't use it with high proof. But wondering if it still might be okay with low wines (20% ABV). And use G70 to move high proof alcohol (55-70%).

    PP body for spirit transfer pump

    in Equipment

    Posted

    I am wondering if it is okay to use polypropylene body for spirits transfer pump.
    People have recommended Flojet G70 pump in the past which is polypropylene.
    I have been looking at Yamada pumps, and if I get polypropylene body with Teflon elastomers, I can get a 13.5 gpm pump for the same price as Flojet G70.

    Steam Boiler Requirements

    in Equipment

    Posted

    California Building Code 2016 : Table 509 requires separate boiler room if you are running a high pressure boiler (above 15 psi) and above 10 HP (about 330,000 BTU/hr). I am assuming you are planning to use a low pressure steam boiler, so you shouldn't need a separate boiler room. Unless your city has more stringent requirements above and beyond the California code. Ask a local boiler company.

    Anchoring barrel racks

    in Local Issues

    Posted

    Wanted to know if anyone had to anchor barrel racks for seismic reasons. We are looking to get the 7" 4 barrel racks from Country Connection and stack them 4 high to stay under the high pile storage. One architect we are considering told us that these will need to be anchored seismically because they exceed 5' in height and 400 lbs in weight.

    Has anyone else run into this issue. Since they sit on top of each other, Not sure how they'd be anchored. Maybe strap adjacent racks together ?

    Emergency procedures for spill control and fire

    in Safety

    Posted

    Thanks for the pointer. I looked at California Fire Codes 2013, and Chapter 4 is titled : Emergency Planning and Preparedness. So I guess that is the starting point on what needs to happen.

    1 hour ago, TheMechWarrior said:

    Not sure of the US regs but usually this is dictated by your local/state/federal safety regs. I'd be starting there. Since you're asking here I'll assume you don't know where to look, in which case I'd suggest you invest in an expert in the field. There's a US chap that's mentioned from time to time on here but the name escapes me right now.

     

    Somebody will know the name of the consultant.

     

    Ethanol Detectors ?

    in Equipment

    Posted

    You can take a look at MQ-3 sensor which will detect down to 125 PPM. The LEL for alcohol is 3% or 30,000 PPM.
    Typically you'll start the exhaust fan at 25% of LEL which is 75,000 PPM. You could probably build one with Arduino for under $50.
    But for something this critical, do you really want to risk a homebrew design ?
    https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8880

     

    4 hours ago, Sailor said:

    Jedd can you send me this link.

    How do you measure the spirits quantity ?

    in Equipment

    Posted

    I think your name should be changed to Amazing Dave. Very deep and informative. The part is liked the best is
    "I'll not make a long comment here" ;)

    So the takeaway is : When withdrawing from bond (for tax purposes) like bottling, you must have an accurate scale per TTB guidelines

    For other tanks, you can get away with sight glasses
    - low wine receiver : filled from wash still, feeds the spirits still
    - feints receiver : filled from spirits still, feeds the next batch of spirits still
    - intermediate spirits receiver : filled from spirits still, feeds the spirits receiver
    - spirits receiver : filled from intermediate spirits receiver, fills the barrels

    25 minutes ago, dhdunbar said:

    I'll not make a long comment here.  TTB allows sight gauges, but not for any gauge that involves tax determination of bulk spirits.  They want a scale tank in those cases.  Even if you are not tax determining spirits in bulk (most of you will never do that, but I have one client who does), the cut to bottling proof is crucial and I would want to do it with the same equipment TTB wants you to use when tax determining bulk spirits.  Here, for your listening pleasure, are the applicable regs:

    Sec. 19.183  Scale tanks.

     

     

     

        (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, if the proprietor uses a tank to determine the distilled spirits tax imposed by 26 U.S.C. 5001, the tank must be mounted on scales and the contents of the tank must be determined by weight. The scale tank also must be equipped with a suitable device so that the volume of the contents can be quickly and accurately determined. 

     

     

        (b) The requirement to mount tanks on scales does not apply to tanks having a capacity of 55 gallons or less. Such tanks may be moved onto an accurately calibrated scale when a tax determination gauge needs to be made.

     

     

    Sec. 19.184  Scale tank minimum graduations.

     

     

     

        (a) The beams or dials on scale tanks used for tax determination must have minimum graduations not greater than the following:

     

     

     

     

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

     

               Quantity to be weighed                 Minimum graduation

     

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

     

    Not exceeding 2,000 pounds.................  \1/2\ pound

     

    Between 2,000 and 6,000 pounds.............  1 pound

     

    Between 6,000 and 20,000 pounds............  2 pounds

     

    Between 20,000 and 50,000 pounds...........  5 pounds

     

    Over 50,000 pounds.........................  10 pounds

     

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

     

        (b) For scales having a capacity greater than 2,000 pounds, the minimum quantity which may be entered onto the weighing tank scale for gauging for tax determination will be the greater of:

     

     

     

        (1) 1,000 times the minimum graduation of the scale, or

     

        (2) 5 percent of the total capacity of the weighing tank scale.

     

        (c) The weighing of lesser quantities for determination of tax may be authorized by the appropriate TTB officer where the beam of the scale is calibrated in \1/2\ pound or 1 pound graduations and it is found by actual test that the scales are accurate at each graduation.

     

     

        (d) Lots of spirits weighing 1,000 pounds or less shall be weighed on scales having \1/2\ pound graduations.

     

     

     

     

    Don't ask me to repeat any of that tomorrow morning.  I just know where I have to look.  Take or send the info to a scale company and ask them what they can do for you.  When TTB (then ATF) made gauges of spirits in bulk for tax determinations, we did so in large tanks permanently mounted on a scale, which had to be certified every six months, if i recall correctly.  If you are going to use large tanks, remember that you must have a way to agitate the tank because the alcohol will layer.

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