In industrial conditions, when producing alcohol, a special distillation column is used, which is necessary to separate vapors depending on the boiling point of liquids. This equipment is quite complex and is practically not used at home. Moonshine stills usually include a tool with a similar operating principle - a dephlegmator. Of course, the design of this device is much simpler than that of If you wish, you can make a reflux condenser with your own hands.

Precise definition

A reflux condenser is a device designed to separate ethyl alcohol from vapors.

The operating principle of this design is identical to the operating principle of a distillation column. The separation occurs due to the difference in oils. Homemade reflux condensers always have an elongated shape. Due to this, different temperatures are created inside the container at different heights. Since ethyl alcohol begins to boil at 78.4 C, the height is usually selected in such a way that suitable conditions are created in the neck area. Fusel oils settle back into the evaporator. The fact is that they boil at a lower temperature.

In what cases may a reflux condenser be needed?

There are a huge number of ways to make such a device at home. You can make a reflux condenser with your own hands using improvised materials. Given the questionable quality of today's wine and vodka products, many people prefer to make homemade moonshine stills. Using such designs, it is possible to obtain alcohol-containing drinks that are obviously free of various types of impurities harmful to health. Dephlegmators are used not only for moonshine brewing, but also for other purposes. Perhaps the methods for manufacturing simple devices of this type described below will be useful to someone.

Method one: using a glass jar

You can make a reflux condenser with your own hands even from an ordinary glass jar with a screw-on lid.

This design is suitable for a moonshine still made from an ordinary aluminum pan and coil. The operating principle of this device is as follows:

1. Steam at a high temperature leaves the pan and enters the reflux condenser, where it cools to 78-85 degrees;
2. Ethyl alcohol vapor passes further into the coil, and all impurities that have a high temperature settle on the bottom and walls of the container.

So, how to make a reflux condenser with your own hands? You will need to cut two holes in the lid of the jar (inlet and outlet). You can make hoses for connecting to the structure yourself. Fittings are ordered at the workshop. It is best if they are made of stainless steel. The inlet fitting must be shorter than the outlet fitting.

For a better seal in the lid of the jar, you can use FUM tape.

Method two: using a glass tube

In order to make such a reflux condenser with your own hands, you will need to prepare the following materials:

1. Glass tube with passage holes.
2. A thin section whose diameter matches the neck of a flask. This part fits onto the tube.
3. Broken glass. The pieces should have an oblong shape.
4. Two small round nets. You can purchase them at a store that specializes in selling smoking mixtures (parts intended for bongs).

One of the meshes will need to be glued to the bottom of the future reflux condenser.

To do this, you can use some kind of universal glue. Next, the tube is filled with pieces of broken glass (not too tightly). In this case, you need to ensure that they are located vertically. Then a second mesh is glued on top of the tube and a grinder is put on. The reflux condenser is ready. The structure is inserted into a flask with a heated liquid.

Method three: using a thermos

If desired, it is also not too difficult to make a reflux condenser. To do this, you will first need to disassemble it. The bottom is cleaned with sandpaper, a bracket is welded to it, a wire is passed through it, which is nailed to the wall. The thermos is pulled towards itself. The weld seam connecting the flask and the lid is ground until a gap appears around its entire perimeter. For this purpose, use a drill with a special attachment. After this, the inner flask can be removed from the housing. A hole is drilled in the center and a ventilation tube is soldered to it. Next, the flask is attached to the bottom with a drilled hole and a tube. A selection unit is soldered to the neck. A hole is drilled in the assembly itself and a tube is inserted. The sleeve is made of fluoroplastic. You also need to drill a hole in it into which to insert the tube. The device is ready. It will need to be screwed to a column assembled from pipes.

If you don’t want to waste time making an overly complex design, you can make a reflux condenser with your own hands from an ordinary can. However, a device made from a thermos will turn out to be more thorough and effective.

To obtain high-quality moonshine, you simply cannot do without a reflux condenser for a moonshine still. You can buy the necessary mechanism in a store or make it yourself. The shape and size of the device depends on the type of distiller, as well as the desired performance of the finished product.

So what is a reflux condenser in a moonshine still? A reflux condenser (also called a steam tank or settling tank) is a container in which toxic fusel oils and other harmful substances settle during the distillation process, i.e. it is a kind of filter. If the percentage of fusel milk in moonshine is higher than the permissible norm, then there is a high probability of poisoning the consumer with low-quality alcohol. Therefore, when distilling mash liquid, careful purification from toxic impurities is very important.

Dephlegmator device

A dephlegmator in its elementary form consists of two tubes of different diameters, fixed on a distillation cube in a vertical position. Cold water circulates in the jacket between these tubes, which performs the cooling function. The tube with a smaller diameter is designed to release steam containing alcohol.

Principle of operation

What is the operating principle of a reflux condenser? It is based on the fact that the distilled liquid consists of two parts that have unequal boiling points. This allows you to effectively divide the mash into fractions. This process is carried out as follows:

1. It is necessary to create the optimal temperature for cleaning, strengthening and condensation of alcohol vapors. To do this, you first need to run the cooling at maximum power. The distilled liquid condenses and flows back into the cube, where it heats up and partially evaporates again. This process is called “reevaporation”.
2. When the temperature in the reflux condenser reaches the boiling point of both fractions, two layers appear inside the device: the upper (with a low boiling t⁰) and the lower (with a high boiling t⁰).
3. Now you can start selecting the low-temperature fraction. Carefully change the cooling mode so that the evaporation point of the top layer is located next to the upper edge of the sump.
4. After the first fraction is selected, it is necessary to change the cooling mode again for optimal selection of the second component.

This method helps to easily separate the mixture into dissimilar fractions.

Based on the above, you can understand how reflux condensers work and what their main function is.

Types of reflux condensers

There are several most popular reflux condensers:

• Dimrota;
• Bunsen;
• Le Chatelier;
• Christmas tree;
• cylindrical settling tanks with packing.

They differ from each other in functions, designs, method of application, shapes and sizes. As a rule, the choice of a reflux condenser is determined by the characteristics of the moonshine still. Most often, settling tanks are made of glass, stainless steel tubes, and much less often of copper or titanium (due to the high price).

These refrigerators differ in design, but are similar in operating principle. There are two types of structures:

• direct flow;
• Dimroth refrigerator.

A direct-flow settling tank is made according to the “pipe-in-pipe” principle, and the Dimroth reflux condenser is a miniature version of a distillation column. It is made in the form of a pipe, in which there is another pipe in the shape of a spiral. Thanks to this spiral shape, the contact area between the vapor-liquid phases increases significantly, therefore, the process of separating fractions is more efficient. In addition, phase contact occurs in the center of the tube at maximum temperature, which contributes to more thorough purification of alcohol vapor. Experienced moonshiners choose the Dimroth reflux condenser, as it is the most functional.

Advantages of a reflux condenser

Experienced distillers should not skimp on purchasing a reflux condenser. The obvious advantages of its presence are the following factors:

1. Purification from toxic substances, as well as excess fusel oils, which significantly improves the quality of the resulting product.
2. Thanks to the sedimentation tank, there is no need to purify the alcoholic drink using mechanical or chemical methods.
3. The presence of a reflux condenser makes it possible to increase the strength and improve the taste of the resulting alcohol.
4. It is very important that the device will not allow the mash to get into the finished product and in which case you will not have to re-distill it.
5. The reflux condenser can also be used to flavor an alcoholic drink. To do this, you just need to put dried fruits, berries or zest inside.

The main thing is that the reflux condenser greatly simplifies the production of the drink at home. You no longer have to carry out two or three distillations of the mash liquid to achieve a high quality finished product.

DIY dephlegmator

How to assemble a reflux condenser at home with your own hands? This is not very difficult, but if there is no desire or time to tinker with assembling this device, then there are ready-made options on sale at quite reasonable prices. And the modern device already comes complete with a reflux condenser and. In addition, not every model of dephlegmator for a moonshine still can be made with your own hands; some types are assembled only in production.

You can make sedimentation tanks yourself from the following items:

• thermos;
• stainless steel;
• glass jar.

If a distillation column is used in a moonshine still, then the ideal option is a steamer from a thermos. It is difficult to do without special knowledge and skills, but with a strong desire you can learn everything. Be prepared to do some drilling and soldering, so equip yourself with the necessary tools right away.

The equipment manufacturing procedure is as follows:

1. After cleaning the bottom of the thermos, weld brackets to it, pass wires and fix it to the wall. Then you need to sharply pull the thermos. The pursued goal is to remove the bottom from the thermos flask. If you preheat the bottom with a burner, this will greatly facilitate the process.
2. Next, you need to grind the weld seam so that an unnoticeable gap is formed around the circumference. It is better to do this with a drill with a special attachment or an emery machine.
3. Remove the inner flask. To make it as easy as possible to remove the inside, you need to cut off the edge of the neck of the thermos.
4. We make a hole in the inner flask at the bottom, insert and weld a ventilation tube to it.
5. We cut and solder two pipes into the outer flask at the bottom and top for free circulation of cold water. It is important that the inner ends of the tubes protrude at a smaller distance relative to the gap between the flasks.

Now the thermos dephlegmator is ready for use. All that remains is to fix the device on the device with the neck down.

You can also make a steam tank from sections of stainless steel pipes (d = 38 mm and d = 52 mm). You can purchase pipe sections at low prices at a scrap metal collection point. First, two pipes are welded on the outside of the larger diameter tube at the ends. A tube with a smaller diameter must be inserted inside a larger one. To form a shirt between the parts, you need to weld the ends. The device is then attached to the hole in the lid of the cube. And water (cold) circulates in the resulting cavity.

Making such a steamer is a very difficult task. Plumbing skills and experience with a welding machine are required, as you will need to solder the tubes together. If you don’t have such skills, then it’s better to buy a stainless steel device and save time and nerves.

The easiest way to make a steamer at home is from a jar.

For this design you will need:

• a glass jar with a volume of at least one liter with a metal lid;
• fittings - 2 pcs.;
• awl;
• nuts - 2 pcs.;
• felt-tip pen;
• heat-resistant glue.

Manufacturing technology:

1. Mark the diameter of the holes at the connection points on the cover and outline the fittings with a felt-tip pen.
2. Make holes with a sharp awl.
3. Install the fittings and then secure with nuts.
4. For maximum sealing of the holes, it is necessary to treat them outside and inside with heat-resistant glue.

After the steamer is ready, all that remains is to connect it to the moonshine still. It is better to use silicone hoses, as rubber can affect the taste and smell of an alcoholic drink.

Parts can be ordered from a workshop, preferably made of stainless steel. It is important that the inlet fitting is shorter than the outlet fitting, this way you can protect the moonshine from getting mash into it.

The effectiveness of a self-made device depends on the assembly method, the materials used and on the correct calculation of the required parameters. It is best to pre-test it after production. Pour ordinary water into the cube, then start the device: this way you can check for sure the strength of the installation and the tightness of the sump.

Previously, it was believed that there was no need for a reflux condenser, without thinking about the quality of the alcoholic beverage. But in our time, people involved in moonshine brewing have come to the conclusion that such savings affect the quality of alcohol (harmful substances remain), and, therefore, are fraught with bad consequences for health. By drinking high quality alcohol, you can avoid dangerous intoxication of the body.

A dephlegmator for a moonshine still is a device that has several names; its necessity is still debated. But, despite such active discussions, no one even thinks of arguing for the merits of the reflux condenser.

Why you need a moonshine still is clear to everyone. Despite the fact that the design has a primitive structure, it can be modernized. Modernization will help to significantly improve the quality of the product: it will make the moonshine cleaner and rid it of unpleasant odors.

Location of the steamer in the moonshine still

A reflux condenser, or steam tank, is an integral part of the device, a kind of sump in which harmful fusel oils settle during distillation. It is fusel that spoils the quality of alcohol and can cause severe intoxication.

Moonshine stills come in different varieties, for example, with and without a steamer, but this does not mean that the devices work the same. The structure of the device has a direct impact on the quality of moonshine. If the device does not have a refrigerator, a steamer and a distillation cube, then it is difficult to classify it as a device for the production of alcohol-containing drinks at home.

Each part of the unit performs specific functions. If we talk about a reflux condenser (steam vaporizer, settling tank), then it helps:

• Significantly improve the taste of alcohol, eliminate unpleasant odor and even remove the aftertaste, and influence the strength of the drink.
• Avoid getting boiling mash into the container with the finished distillate. When the mash boils in the distillation cube, a small amount of it in the form of splashes can get into the container with the finished alcohol - this event will not have the best effect on the quality of the product. You can pour the moonshine back into the cube and start processing it again, since the concentration of fusel oils in the mash is high.
• The unique device of the reflux condenser helps to divide the moonshine into fractions: separate the “heads” from the “body” and select the “tails”, due to which the quality of the product will only benefit.
• The steamer is also used as a flavoring agent. Various components are placed in it (lemon or orange peels, herbs, spices and other substances) that can give the drink a pleasant smell and taste.

It is necessary to understand that some devices are equipped with several steam chambers. The presence of additional modules affects the quality of moonshine. In some cases, reflux condensers work so effectively that they make it possible to produce high-strength alcohol at home.

Many people think that only a moonshine still is equipped with a steamer, but a distillation column does not need such a device. In fact, this is not entirely true. The rectifier often has one or two settling tanks. It is these modules that help the device produce raw alcohol with a strength of up to 96 degrees.

How does a reflux condenser work:

1. Alcohol boils at a lower temperature than fusel oils and water.
2. When the vapor begins to evaporate, it passes through the steam chamber. Harmful fusel oils settle on the walls of the reflux condenser, as well as in the water contained in the sump. This blocks harmful substances from entering the finished product.
3. Partially, the alcohol vapor continues its movement, it enters the refrigerator, passes through the coil and turns into a fairly strong product.

At its core, a reflux condenser is a kind of filter that retains fusel oils, drops of mash, various impurities, etc. It allows you to improve the taste of the product, increase its strength and provide the moonshiner with high-quality moonshine.

Why do you need a second steamer in this case? The answer to this question is obvious: the second steam chamber, or reflux condenser, helps not only to clean the moonshine from fusel, but also to increase its strength. The design of the unit may have two or more steam chambers. One of them is used to add flavor to the drink, and the other cleans the moonshine from harmful impurities. The more steam chambers there are in the unit, the better the quality of alcohol it produces.

Designs with three steam chambers are used for the distillation of noble drinks, such as whiskey, cognac and even rum.

Main advantages of a reflux condenser

Understanding how a steamer works and why it is needed, it is worth noting that the device has several advantages. A moonshine still with a reflux condenser is a special device that has a number of positive characteristics. The presence of an additional module optimizes the operation of the device and helps:

1. Reduce the concentration of fusel oils in alcohol. If the reflux condenser is built into the distillation column, then it allows you to obtain high-purity alcohol. This product does not require re-distillation and is of high quality. A moonshine still, or a rectifier with a steamer, is a practical device. Compared to chemical cleaning methods, cleaning using a reflux condenser is more effective.
2. Increase the strength of the drink. This occurs due to the fact that phlegm returns back to the mash, which makes it possible to increase the strength of the drink.
3. Protect almost ready-to-drink alcohol from getting particles of boiling mash into it. This means that the device acts as a barrier element.
4. Give alcohol a pleasant smell and taste if you use aromatic substances during the distillation process.

But the main thing is that the reflux condenser simplifies the production of finished products; it allows you to produce high-quality moonshine without much effort, without carrying out a second or third distillation of the mash.

DIY dephlegmator

Making a steamer for a moonshine still is not so difficult; you will need some knowledge of the details of the structure of the unit and the functions of the additional module.

If you study the drawing, you will notice that the reflux condenser is a kind of container that is used as a sump. The container has certain structural features; based on them, you can make the module yourself. But if you do not have the skills to design and create moonshine stills or its parts, then it is better to purchase the device in a store.

How to make a steamer yourself:

• To create the device you will need a glass jar with a screw-on lid. You can also take a jar with a sealed tin lid that cannot be removed, but such a steamer cannot be washed and cleaned of fusel oils and mash residues.
• Two fittings and two nuts, as well as materials for sealing the structure. You can use regular superglue or epoxy.
• You will also need hoses and tools that will help you make two holes in the lid; it is advisable to take an awl.

When all the starting materials are ready, you can start making the module yourself.

Algorithm of actions when working with materials:

1. Markings are applied to the metal cover in the places where the fittings will be located. The markings can be made using a marker, the main thing is not to make a mistake with the diameter.
2. Once the markings are applied to the surface of the cover, you can make holes in the metal. This can be easily done using an awl.
3. After the holes are ready, it is worth treating them with glue or other means to seal the structure. The treatment is carried out immediately before assembly so that the glue does not dry out.
4. Then we screw in the fittings and secure them with nuts. The pipe for the entrance of alcohol-containing vapors should be located 1–1.5 cm below the outlet pipe. The pipe through which harmful oils escape is lowered into the sink.
5. We place the steamer between the refrigerator and the distillation cube. For installation we use silicone hoses, since rubber can affect the taste and smell of the drink.

Using such a system, several reflux condensers can be manufactured; in principle, the scheme is not particularly complicated. You can “screw” a sump tank to a ready-made unit or supplement it with a home-made moonshine still.

After the steamer is ready and installed in the structure of the device for the production of alcohol-containing drinks, it will need to be tested. It is worth pouring water into the distillation cube and starting the device - this will help check the tightness of the connections and correct installation.

Dry steamer for rectifier

The presence of a drawer in a device does not mean that it has a rectifier. The drawer is part of the distillation column, but not only this device is involved in the distillation of alcohol. So, how to strengthen the work of the drawer and turn the moonshine still into a real distillery? To do this, you can equip an existing device with an additional module - a dephlegmator.

How to make a steamer for a rectifier:

• To make a steamer, you should arm yourself with a thermos and disassemble it. To prevent damage to the device, it is necessary to clean the bottom of the thermos, remove the brackets and carefully disassemble the device.
• After the thermos is disassembled, you should start turning the front seam. The weld seam is ground until a gap appears.
• When the gap is ready, you need to pull out the inner capsule of the thermos and weld a ventilation tube to it.
• Then we fix the test tube to the bottom of the structure.
• Then we solder the neck to the gap assembly; a hole must be made in the neck, a tube will be mounted into it.
• We prepare a hole in the sleeve; the sleeve is made of fluoroplastic and serves to strengthen the tube.

The design of a reflux condenser for a distillation column is very complex; making such a device with your own hands is not at all easy. For this reason, you can buy a ready-made device, it will be easier.

It is worth noting that previously the steamer was considered an unnecessary element, equipment for making moonshine with a reflux condenser was not particularly popular, and the units were dismantled. The settling tanks were removed without thinking about the fact that they improve the quality of alcohol and its taste characteristics.

Making good homemade alcohol is not always very simple and you need to clearly understand the manufacturing process, as well as have additional equipment, and not just the machine. One of the important elements is the reflux condenser. Its shape and size vary, in addition, you can make it yourself at home, and if you don’t have the time or energy to make the device, you can buy it. The shapes and sizes directly depend on the type, the device itself, and of course, on the performance and requirements for the drink.

Functional features and operating principle

Many people often call a steam tank or sump tank a reflux condenser. Its essence lies in the following functions:

1. When alcohol-containing materials begin to boil or evaporate, they need a temperature lower than many fusel oils, as well as other particles that can spoil the alcohol.
2. Heavy particles remain in the reflux condenser, namely in the liquid that will be in it. Due to this, harmful impurities will not enter the final product.
3. The steam that has condensed will partially move on, but its temperature will be lower, but the alcohol concentration will be higher.

When considering a device such as a distillation column, but a non-standard apparatus, particles of alcohol vapor will again enter the device. Due to this, it will be possible to produce high-strength alcohol.

If you have a reflux condenser, its essence will be simple actions, namely collecting chemical particles that spoil alcohol. Thanks to the device, the quality of the final product increases several times. Another equipment can be called a specific refrigerator, which is used in the interval between distillations. Previously, such a device was almost never used and was optional, but today many moonshiners are trying to use a reflux condenser. You can build it yourself, you can turn to craftsmen, or buy a ready-made structure. You can also purchase or make a Dimroth refrigerator, which is better than a standard reflux condenser in terms of practicality and performance.

Visually, the Dimroth refrigerator resembles a device for laboratory research and is made using a glass flask and a coil. In addition to the Dimroth reflux condenser, there are other types of devices, but when choosing this or that equipment, you need to focus on your moonshine still, the productivity and scale of brewing moonshine.

If you make the equipment yourself, then for the sump you can use an ordinary glass jar, which requires preliminary preparation, namely the installation of fittings.

Advantages of a reflux condenser

Those who are just starting to prepare moonshine often refuse to use a sump, although such equipment can be very useful in the work in general. The obvious advantages of the reflux condenser are as follows:

1. Harmful impurities and fusel oils are reduced, so the drink will not have an unpleasant aroma or taste.
2. If you make the device correctly and competently, then thanks to the reflux condenser, the final product will not need to be cleaned by mechanical methods.
3. If the device is mounted in a distillation column, then the production of alcohol will be at the highest level and very practical. The resulting liquid will be well purified, and the strength can be 96%.
4. If you use a steamer, the cleaning will be stronger than using chemical methods.
5. You can easily increase the strength of the drink by distilling it several times.
6. The reflux condenser does not allow the mash to get into the final product, because if this happens, then the distillation must be carried out again.
7. The device is used to flavor the drink. To do this, put citrus peel or dried fruit inside.

All the described advantages only simplify the production of alcohol at home.

Types of reflux condensers

Today, any device for preparing alcohol at home is sold, so you can buy any part. Dephlegmators are often made of glass, this also applies to the Dimroth refrigerator. The tubes of the device can be made of stainless steel or titanium, but this is less common. As a rule, glass tubes are used to prepare moonshine.

The device can be called differently, it all depends on the parts used and the principle of operation. For example, Dimroth’s device works according to the standard principle, in other words, the condensed mixture is returned back to the container, and not to the container with ready-made alcohol. It is believed that Dimrot’s device is one of the most convenient and practical. Its body is made of glass, which can withstand high temperatures without breaking. In addition, glass does not spoil the taste of the drink. To work, you will need to have access to running water and additionally use a flask, for example, a Bunsen flask.

DIY dephlegmator

It’s very easy to make a steamer yourself, but if you don’t have time to assemble such a device, you can buy ready-made options. In addition, not all models of reflux condensers can be made with your own hands; many of the industrial types simply physically cannot be repeated.

The effectiveness of self-made equipment will depend on the calculation of all parameters, the material used and the assembly method. At home, the easiest way is to make a steamer from a can. Such a device additionally serves as a sump. With such equipment you can easily improve the moonshine still, as well as the resulting drink. In terms of practicality, of course, the equipment differs from professional equipment, but it is suitable for home distillation. The jar must be selected based on the power of the device. Often at home, a volume of about 750 ml or more is used. The main thing is that the lid of the jar can be screwed onto the neck to make using the steamer easier. To make it you will need a couple of fittings, several nuts and glue that will not lose its properties when exposed to high temperatures.

When all the materials are ready, you can begin assembly:

1. On the lid of the jar, you need to draw the outlines of the fittings; to do this, just attach them to the lid and draw along the diameter with a marker.
2. Now you can use an awl or drill to make holes to install the fittings.
3. The fittings are installed with glue, and then they are clamped with nuts. Experienced moonshiners advise placing the inlet tube slightly lower than the outlet tube, about 1.5 cm.
4. Next, the steamer is connected to the moonshine brewing apparatus itself; as a rule, such a homemade device is placed between the distillation tank and the refrigerator.

Such a device is not suitable for a distillation column, so a container in the form of a thermos or a thermos itself is used for a reflux condenser. Do-it-yourself assembly is several times more difficult, since you need to be able to grind welding seams, solder, and drill. In general, the procedure will be something like this:

1. Initially, the bottom of the thermos is cleaned, brackets are soldered into it, and then it is fixed on the wall. All these actions are necessary to produce a sharp push, because you need to pull the term.
2. The welding seam is ground down until a gap appears.
3. When the flask from the middle of the thermos remains, a tube for ventilation is mounted to it. This is done by conventional welding or a soldering iron.
4. Next, a test tube is fixed at the bottom.
5. The intake assembly is soldered to the neck itself, after which a small hole is made for installing the hoses.
6. Next, a hole is prepared in the sleeve, which is made of fluoroplastic, and then the tube is attached.

As you can see, it is difficult to make a reflux condenser from a thermos without certain skills and knowledge. But if there is a strong desire, then it will be possible to carry out work and improve the quality of the resulting alcohol at home.

All reflux condensers used in moonshine can be divided into two large classes: film and all the rest. The fundamental difference is that in the classical film design there are no additional elements: phlegm condenses on the walls of a vertical tube and evaporates from it. The main advantage is the simplicity of the design, the manufacture of which is possible with your own hands; the main disadvantage is the interaction of the phlegm with the peripheral region of the steam flow, and not with the central one.

“All the rest” are dephlegmators, into the internal cavity of which various elements are introduced: fillers with a developed surface area (plates, glass beads, etc.) made of inert material. Due to them, the efficiency of interaction between steam and reflux increases and the overall dimensions of the device are reduced. We list just some types of reflux condensers:

• Le Chatelier;
• Bunsen;
• Christmas tree;
• nozzles;
• Dimrota, etc.

In terms of product quality / dimensions / ease of manufacture / ease of adjustment of the operating mode - practicality, in a word, preference is given to the Dimroth design.

Some methods for making the simplest reflux condensers

1. Modernized steam tank. Strictly speaking, even a home-made primitive - a steamer from a glass jar - still performs some of the functions of a reflux condenser. But only some, and only if we say “very strictly”. In order for it to turn into an elementary uncontrolled reflux condenser, the design and its placement must be changed. This can be done easily and with your own hands.

• There is only one outlet pipe left at the top.
• The body is made of thin metal.
• A metal tube is soldered into the bottom, which is then connected to the lid of the distillation cube.
• This entire structure, unlike the classic steamer, is installed not on the side, but above the distillation tank with the initial mixture.

As a result, the reflux condensed on the walls of the housing flows down the tube back into the tank, meets the newly formed steam, is partially evaporated and goes to the selection. The strength and purity of the product increases slightly, but increases.

1. Do-it-yourself reflux condenser made of two tubes- the simplest film. On the outside of the large tube, two pipes are welded into the walls at the ends. A tube of smaller diameter is inserted inside the larger one. The ends are welded to form a cavity (jacket) between them. The entire structure is connected to the hole in the lid of the distillation cube. Cold water circulates in the resulting jacket.

Steam from the container rises inside the tube, condenses on its cold walls and flows down them back into the container. When interacting with a counter flow of steam, the phlegm is repeatedly evaporated and divided into fractions. By adjusting the cooling intensity, all components are sequentially separated from the feedstock, starting with the low-temperature component.

1. Dimroth reflux condenser. Two tubes. One of them serves as a housing; a spiral is rolled from the second so that it fits into the housing with a small gap. The structure is installed on the lid of the distillation tank; water circulates through a spiral tube. Unlike the film structure, here condensation and re-evaporation of reflux occurs on the surface of the spiral.

Let us separately consider a reflux condenser, which, if you can make it at home with your own hands, gives a very good result for the final product.

Dephlegmator made of a metal thermos

The basis of this design will be a thermos with a volume of 0.5-1 liters. Let's get started.

1. We disassemble the thermos, that is, remove the bottom so as not to damage the flask itself. To do this, we clean the area on the bottom and solder a metal bracket to it. We fasten a wire or steel cable to the bracket. We securely fix the second end of the wire and firmly pull the thermos towards ourselves. The bottom should be removed from the thermos flask. To facilitate the process, you can preheat it with a burner.
2. Next, you need to grind off the rib along which the partition is connected to the outer flask so that an almost indistinguishable uniform gap appears around the entire circumference. For this, it is best to use a drill with an attachment or, if you have access, an emery machine. After this, the thermos partition is easily separated from the outer flask.
3. In order to remove the inside of the flask, you must also carefully grind off the rib on the neck of the thermos. As a result, the inner part is easily removed from the outer one.
4. We drill a hole in the bottom of the inner flask, insert a tube into it for communication with the atmosphere and tin the junction.
5. We cut and solder two pipes into the wall of the outer flask at the top and bottom to organize the circulation of cooling water. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the ends of these tubes protrude inside the flask at a distance less than the gap between the flasks.
6. We assemble the flask: carefully solder the gaps made earlier, drill a hole in the bottom and partition for the tube and put them in place.

In principle, our do-it-yourself reflux condenser, as far as the thermos itself is concerned, is ready. Its working position is on the moonshine still with the neck down. But it does not yet have the most important node, which is why everything started: the node for selecting the finished product.

Selection unit

It will be connected to the neck of the thermos. Its design and position in the moonshine still are shown schematically in the figure below.

Dephlegmator operation diagram

It is made from a piece of pipe with two adapters: the top one to the neck of the thermos, the bottom one to the tube connecting the reflux condenser to the distillation cube. A wide washer with a low side (8-10 mm) along the edge of the central hole is welded inside the tube. If you have the skill, then you can install the washer yourself; if not, then go to a workshop. Just above the bottom formed along the wall of the bowl pipe, a hole is drilled for the pipe through which the finished product will come out.

Not shown in the diagram, but to accurately adjust the operating mode of the device, you also need a thermometer or temperature sensor. To install it, just above the upper side of the washer, drill a hole in the pipe wall for the sleeve to install the thermometer.

So, the reflux condenser is assembled. It can be connected through a tube (50-80 cm long) to the lid of the distillation container and begin to obtain the finished product. But if we want to get really high-quality alcohol, then we should think about replacing the tube with a full-fledged distillation column.