A Practical Handbook on the Distillation of Alcohol from Farm Products

by F. B. Wright

Fig. 39.—Twin Column Barbet Rectifier.

The vapors in this column are carried to the condensers D and F and from there to a refrigerator G. The fusel oils are extracted from the plates slightly below the center of the column and are carried to an oil concentrating apparatus H.

In the most complete forms of apparatus used to-day, there is a variation of this construction. The first runnings, middle runnings and the last runnings are each led off from the main column to separate coolers, condensers, etc., and the purified result from each of these columns is in turn led to a trunk rectifier common to all where the product is redistilled and entirely freed from impurities. This gives a very high grade of alcohol by a process practically continuous. At the same time the impurities are not returned to the first or main column to contaminate the vapors therein and add to the amount of fusel oils contained on the lower plates. In construction of this character there is a very large saving in the cost of the fuel and the result is much better in every way.

Fig. 40.—Gillaume’s Rectifier and Inclined Still.

Fig. 40.—Guillaume’s Direct Distillation-Rectification Apparatus for “Agricultural” Distillations.

A	Distilling Column.
a	Tank for Wash to be Distilled.
b	Cold Water Tank.
C	Rectification Column.
D	Final Purification Column.
I	Wash Heater.
K	Condenser.
K′	Refrigerator of Ethers.
O	Refrigerator for high-grade Alcohol and the First Runnings.
Q	Refrigerator for the Products of the Last Runnings.
R	Spent Wash Extractor.
r	Siphon Carrying off Spent Wash.
S	Steam Regulator.
s	Tap and Pipe for Carrying Wash to Distilling Column.
U	Water Regulator.
u	Taps for the Extraction of Intermediate Impurities.
V	Receiver Accumulator.
v	Tap for the Extraction of the Last Runnings.
X	Test Glass for the High-Grade Alcohol.
Y	Test Glass for First Runnings.
Y′	Test Glass for Last Runnings.
Z	Test Glass for Determining Degree of Exhaustion of Spent Wash.

In this apparatus the still proper is of the form heretofore described on page [78]. The liquid to be distilled enters at the top of the inclined column A and descends to the base thereof. The alcoholic vapor rises through the column and passes off from the head thereof into the rectifying column. At the head of the column A it has a strength of about 40° to 50° F. The column C is supported upon an accumulating reservoir V which acts to regulate the flow of the phlegm through the rectifying column and prevents too great an exhaustion of the plates of the column. It acts as a reservoir to contain any excess of phlegm or to supply an additional amount of phlegm to the plates when they have become nearly exhausted.