Stills second column is creating a vacuum

[whiskeytango]

Hi I have a question.  When im running my two column still 4 plates on the first and 16 on the second column. It seems like the second column is crating a vacuum and not letting the reflux drain back into the still. Has anyone seen this? 

[Silk City Distillers]

Yeah, usually it's the higher pressure in the pot holding back the condensate draining.  The pressure drops as you move higher in the column.  Typically you might see something like a P trap and a dip tube on the boiler to ensure the drain is submerged.

 

[whiskeytango]

It has a dip tube that is fully submerged at least a couple feet.   

If I have both drain valves closed and open them each just a crack I dont get the suck from column one to column 2.  but if I open both It will suck the liquid out of the bottom of the short column one and into the bottom of column two.   

[SlickFloss]

Let me summon some continuous column gods for you.....

 

-Calling CaptainKB! Calling Captain KB! Come in Captain KB

 

 

-Dr Paul Hall. Paging Dr Hall!

 

 

And we all know we need a witness. I need a witness. CAN I GET A WITNESS FORM THE CONGREGATION. JOSEPH DEHNER! BEAR WITNESS UNTO ME!

 

 

 

(these are the people I think can help you, Silk city is also another person but he already commented and doesn't think I am that funny so I left it at that)

 

 

[kleclerc77]

What I've found is running your steam pressure very low prevents anything charged in the kettle from pushing up into the second column. There is a definite PSI point for us where it starts to happen, so we keep it well below that. That being said, I'm still struggling to get a consistent 190+ for a whole run because we can't hold our steam pressure at a steady PSI.