Glycol Loop Material

[indyspirits]

When our mechanical contractor installed our glycol loop we were informed it was a thermostable / high temp plastic. It is not. Looking to see what others who have an open loop system (that is, the glycol is returned to a reservoir tank at atmospheric pressure).  If you'd like, please complete this very short poll.

 

What is your glycol loop made of?

https://goo.gl/forms/zP0BQhlTe81Tqiqy1

 

[Glenlyon]

Our loop consists of copper within the building and 400' of 1" plastic water pipe submerged in the cooling pond. Although we designed the system originally for glycol, in the end we used water mixed with about 15-20% denatured ethanol. This has proven to be a very efficient system that's easy to disconnect and modify. Even if some of the water escapes, we have an automatic pressure tank to re-fill the system as required. With this system we can run two stills and our heat exchange/cooler at the same time without any problems. Also, we have the hot water return running through the floor of the tasting room which in turn serves to use some of that waste heat on heating the room in the winter. Works great!

[indyspirits]

3 hours ago, Glenlyon said:

water mixed with about 15-20% denatured ethanol

Are you concerned at all about contamination into your product. With PG & water, at least it's foodsafe.  Probably worried about something with a .001% incident rate.

 

 

[Glenlyon]

I was quite concerned about that up front and had a number of discussions with the plumber and associated inspectors around the topic. However, it has proven to be an excellent system and it is completely closed. It would take a (no doubt predictable), series of unfortunate events to get the cooling water to mix with the product and if that happened, I would consider human error as the prime suspect.

[AK2]

Schedule 40 steel pipe (still under construction, told it was going to be threaded pipe, haven't seen it yet).

[starcat]

The Easiest thing to run for average smaller systems is Type-L Copper.

[indyspirits]

Our story: mechanical contractor told us it was schedule 80 cpvc. We were on a budget.   Clearly it's PVC not CPVC. We've had leaks, deflection, it's a mess. We're in the midst of replacing it now. We've had quotes for copper, cpvc, and black pipe w/ grooved (victaulic specifically) fittings.  Bottom line:  trust but verify the first time!

[Hudson bay distillers]

pex is still the easiest to run and way cheaper than copper , temp rated to 180 f and ethyl alcohol compatible , seems like a no brainer lol 

tim 

[Glenlyon]

Pex is perfect - but, the copper looks way cooler when mounted

[Hudson bay distillers]

https://mrpexsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MrPEX-Chemical-Resistance-Chart.pdf

 

here some info on pex

[Hudson bay distillers]

ya thats true ours is in the walls and in cement or under ground . 

tim 

[indyspirits]

I've never seen 3" pex.