Following last year’s “Distilling – Alambique” post, this year I made a video of the distilling process.
The distiller is composed of 1 boiler, 2 columns and 2 condensers.
The distiller uses 2 columns simultaneously or on a flip-flop system – while one column is in use the other one is being discharged and reloaded. To facilitate the task of discharging, each column includes a flip-flop axle to turn the column onto its side.
Boiler: The advantage of a copper tubular construction for the boiler is that boiling point is achieved in a shorter period of time. To save on energy the boiler includes a steam chamber. Any excess steam is discharged into this chamber which means that there is no loss of steam should the security valve be activated. Boiler includes all the necessary manometers/indicators to provide the distiller with total control and indications of temperature readings, pressure and water level when distilling. The boiler has a cast iron door.
Column: The boiler generates the steam which travels through the piping into the bottom of the column, where the steam is evenly dispersed by means of a copper steam disperser. Columns may be packed to full capacity as the copper lid includes an internal bowl shaped sieve which will not permit the passage of material into the copper piping, obstructing vapor passage. However for wine distillation, the column may only be filled up to 50% of its capacity to function correctly. To facilitate opening and closing of the lid, the column includes a solid brass exterior ring with locking devices and gasket to insure that no pressure is lost. To ease the lifting of the lid (quite heavy) there’s a pulley with a counterweight.
Condenser: The steam rises and enters the copper tubular condenser directly into the copper refining plates located at the top of the condenser. These copper plates will refine the distillate before this enters the tubular condensing tubes. The condenser has a chiller water supply.
This text was adapted from www.copper-alembic.com , where you can find more info and photos.
