Going continuous? Contemplation of modification to distillation column

[PeteB]

There is a potential foam issue that I have solved very simply.

I constructed an automatic dosing system, sounds complicated but it is very simple.

Pure soap is a good antifoam agent,

I suspend a block of soap in a wire basket at the highest point the foam is allowed, if the foam touches the soap it dissolves a small amount then the foam bubbled break and it drops away immediately.

If no foam then only a very small amount of soap dissolves by steam contact

[Bolverk]

Interesting,  what kind of soap?

 

You're only running a stripping still right? No reflux or plates above your beer feed?

[PeteB]

Soap is made by my neighbor from olive oil and lye (caustic soda) no perfumes.

Until a couple of weeks ago it was a stripper only.

I am now adding a second column with plates so it should continuously do the cuts. I am altering the heat recovery system so most of the pre-heat is from bottoms.

[Bolverk]

So you're running the soap at the top of the stripper/analyzer? 

 

The soap is a clever idea, sadly dont think it'll work for what I'm building... I was going to try to have a small rectification section at the top of mine which would mean the reflux would be running down over the soap.