Coolers for moonshine still. Types and capabilities of refrigerators for moonshine still

Alcohol mashine in classic version consists of two main parts: alembic and a cooler with a coil.

In this module of the apparatus, the alcohol evaporated from the cube turns into a distillate: the vapors are cooled, condensed and drained into the receiving container with ready-made homemade strong alcohol. Without a good refrigerator, getting moonshine is associated with certain difficulties:

• part of the non-condensed alcohol is lost, leaving in the state of steam;
• the organoleptic properties of the final product (its aroma and taste) deteriorate;
• there is a danger of fire and explosion, since alcohol is a highly flammable substance.

The "appearance" and functionality of the cooler is somewhat different depending on the type.

Device and principle of operation

We will not consider the air cooler - it is unproductive and all the works of the inventors in this direction do not yet give a stable result. And chillers, in which the function of condensation is taken over by cold water, work in approximately the same way, although they differ in their design.

Here are the main details:

1. Sealed enclosure- cylindrical in a flow-through cooler. The supply of cold water and the removal of heated waste water have been well thought out. The lower connection is for cold water.

Attention. The cylinder of the flow-through cooler is installed vertically or at an angle of at least 45 °. Only straight-through ones are allowed to be installed almost horizontally with a slight slope from the cube to the receiving tank. This rule is associated with the accumulation of alcohol in the coil during distillation. Not being able to drain freely, it accumulates in the lower part of the coil turns. This is fraught with an explosion.

1. Internal filling depends on the species. This could be:

• spiral wound coil;
• straight pipe;
• connection of several tubes inside the housing.

1. Connecting tubes... For water supply, silicone or PVC pipes are used. With a distillation still, the cooler is usually attached with a stainless tube.

Views

Do you still remember the "old-fashioned" cooler, consisting of a coil wound (sometimes - literally from a clamshell pipe), located in a trough with cold water? Other designs have replaced the "archival" copies:

1. Classic flowing... This is a closed container-cylinder, inside which there is a coil.
2. Direct-flow flowing... Instead of a coil inside, there is a straight tube.
3. Impervious... Modern coolers of this type are produced in two varieties:

• with a tank for cold water, in which a coil is built;
• without capacity. It is placed in a bucket, saucepan, etc. of a suitable volume.

1. Shell-and-tube... A more complex design, but providing additional cleaning and strengthening of the moonshine.

Which is better?

The selection of a refrigerator depends on specific conditions. In a city apartment or a private house, if there is water supply, the flow-through design of the type of your choice will be the best choice. The most productive is considered shell-and-tube.

For summer cottages and areas where water supply is unstable or absent, a non-flowing one is perfect.

How to make a refrigerator at home?

Craftsmen create moonshine stills in home workshops that are not inferior to factory samples. And we have developed several options for coolers.

Material selection

When creating a refrigerator, you will need materials:

1. Case options:

• sheet stainless steel;
• stainless steel pipe;
• plumbing pipe.

1. For supply and drainage of water - fittings or welded-in thin tubes.
2. Choose the inner filling from the following options:

• coil made of stainless steel or copper;
• one straight copper or stainless steel tube;
• multiple tubes with shell-and-tube design.

Important. If the material does not really matter for the refrigerator body, then only food-grade stainless steel or copper should be taken for the inner tube. Food grade stainless steel does not react with components, and copper selects sulfur compounds, which is especially important during distillation grain mash.

1. Caps on the body with the ability to connect a steam pipe.

Making a direct-flow

Consists of a straight tube and a water jacket around it. At first glance, this design seems "wrong", since the coil is more familiar. In fact, the straight-through has several advantages over it:

• Higher efficiency, since the chiller responds quickly and responsively to an increase or decrease in water pressure.
• The possibility of splashing is excluded. This is explained physical properties constructions. When using a coil, condensate slugs may occur, which leads to sudden changes in pressure in the cube. As a result, foam is ejected.
• Simplicity of design.

The tube needs 2-3 cm in diameter and 30 cm long.

It may be easier, but far from safe. Polyvinyl chloride is permissible only where contact with cold water occurs.

Here we are dealing with hot steam with a temperature above 80 ° C and it is not known what will get into the distillate after the “hot” contact of steam and PVC.

Creating a coil type

To create a cooler of this type, it is necessary to wind a coil that fits into the casing. But so that the coils do not touch each other and there is a gap of at least 5 mm between the cooler wall and the coil, so that the water can circulate freely.

The coil needs a stainless steel, copper or brass tube. Length - about 2 m, inner diameter - 8-12 mm, wall thickness - 1-1.1 mm.

For the case - 80 mm plumbing pipe.

1. With all the materials in hand, craft a coil.

Advice. To prevent the tube from flattening during winding, first fill it with sand and clamp the ends so that the sand does not spill out, or install wooden plugs.

Now feel free to start winding the coil. When finished, open the tube ends and rinse thoroughly.

1. Fit the PVC pipe with two fittings for water inlet and outlet.
2. Install the coil into the body.
3. Guide the ends of the coil through the prepared holes in the plugs.
4. Plug the refrigerator, seal the coil connections using super glue or sealant.

Before connecting to the device, check the refrigerator for leaks. Use silicone or stainless steel tubes to connect the coil to the cube. PVC hoses are also suitable for water supply.

Shell and tube for moonshine still

The shell-and-tube type is the most common type of refrigerator in the industry. Combines the advantages of a direct flow and a coil.

Design and features of work

Shell and tube refrigerator is also called a kind of once-through cooler... Only instead of one pipe inside the casing - several. Also, partitions are often installed inside, which distribute the coolant (water) in the cooler body over the steps.

They are equal to the radius of the tubes and are designed to direct the condensed reflux flows horizontally. This significantly increases the heat exchange power and efficiency. In addition, the partitions increase the rigidity of the entire structure.

Important. If the shell-and-tube cooler has an odd number of baffles, the inlet and outlet pipes for water supply / discharge are installed on one side of the casing. With an even number of partitions - from different sides.

The heat exchangers in this design are internal pipes, where alcohol vapors heated in the distillation still enter. Cold water circulates in the remaining space of the casing.

The shell and tube cooler is installed vertically in the system. Alcohol vapors, getting into the pipes, are cooled and partially strengthened, sending fusel oils and excess water back into the cube. Only pure alcohol vapors break through the selection.

Reflux condensers of this type, with their small size, provide an excellent cooling rate and, accordingly, distillation. Moreover, the number fusel oils in the final product will be minimal.

Reflux irrigation occurs simultaneously through all tubes (there are from three to seven), and this gives high strength and purity of the final product.

Application

Shell and tube refrigerators have found application in conventional moonshine stills, as well as in and rectification columns.

In the first place in autonomous cooling systems is the shell and tube, since it has reduced requirements for water pressure. To ensure high-quality operation, a Chinese-made aquarium pump is sufficient. With a high heating power, there is no alternative to shell-and-tube cooling at all.

Recreation at home requires not only the skills of a locksmith and welder, but also accurate calculations depending on the materials available and the desired performance.

A little mistaken with the calculations that take into account the heating power, steam speed, tube cross-section and other parameters, you run the risk of creating an inoperative installation. One mistake will lead to choking and reduce all attempts to clean the moonshine during the ferry to nothing.

Therefore, with insufficient experience, doubts about the correctness of the calculation, it is better and cheaper to buy a ready-made shell-and-tube refrigerator.

Without a well-functioning cooler, it is impossible to obtain high quality moonshine without fusel oils and essential compounds. Therefore, approach its manufacture or purchase responsibly.

This is the main element of the distillation system, helping to obtain an excellent organoleptic distillate. If the article was useful to you - like and comment.

The moonshine coil is an integral part of it. Condensation of vapors of an alcohol-containing liquid occurs in the coil, and both the performance of the apparatus and the quality depend on its normal operation.

Purpose of the device

The home brewing process is distillation. It consists of two main stages:

• evaporation;
• condensation.

The evaporator in the design of the apparatus is a distillation cube. It is poured into it, after which the cube is heated with the help of heating elements or on fire. The alcohol contained in the wash has more low temperature boiling, so it begins to evaporate earlier than water. Alcohol vapors enter a coil, which is connected by a sealed tube to a distillation cube. In such a scheme for distilling mash, the coil is a refrigerator, in which the alcohol vapors are cooled and condensed. The condensate, or distillate, is collected in a separate container.

Making a coil for a moonshine still with your own hands is not particularly difficult. In its classic form, it is a copper tube, twisted in a spiral and placed in a tank of cold water. The designs, materials and versions of the coils can be different, the main thing is that they cope with their immediate task, i.e. vapors of an alcohol-containing liquid were cooled as efficiently as possible.

The best materials

Alcohol vapors heated to high temperatures are corrosive, since alcohol is a strong solvent. Therefore, for the manufacture of the cooler, it is necessary to use materials that are resistant to such harmful effects... Best suited for this purpose:

• copper;
• stainless steel;
• glass.

The copper coil is the easiest to manufacture. It is made from a tube with a diameter of 8-10 mm, which is coiled at 5-6 turns and placed vertically in a tank with water. This arrangement will allow the condensate to drain off by gravity.

A stainless steel coil cooler is more difficult to make only because stainless steel is a tougher material than copper. It bends poorly, there is a high risk of jamming or breaking the tube. In addition, it is much more difficult to solder it. It is preferable to use stainless steel in the manufacture of once-through refrigerators.

You cannot make a glass coil with your own hands, unless the master has the capabilities of a glass blower. Therefore, if you use glass, then it is more expedient to take a laboratory ball or spiral refrigerator as a cooler. In addition to being absolutely inert to alcohol vapors, glass distiller allows you to monitor the process of vapor condensation.

Coil manufacturing technology

Before you make a refrigerator for a moonshine still with a spiral coil, you need to determine what its design will be. It should be selected depending on the availability of water and the possibility of its connection. If it is not possible to connect running water to the cooler, its size must be increased in order to ensure high-quality cooling and steam condensation.

In the absence of running water, it is easiest to make a cooler for a moonshine still with your own hands from a tank with a capacity of 25-30 liters and copper tube... It is wound in a spiral, slightly smaller in size than the inner diameter of the tank. The outlet of the coil tube is made at the bottom through the tank wall, the hole at the outlet is sealed.

During the operation of the device, the tank is filled with cold water. In the process of distillation, the temperature of the water in the tank will rise, this will reduce the cooling efficiency. Therefore, the water from the tank will need to be periodically removed, adding cold water instead.

If it is possible to connect running water, it is better to make the refrigerator as compact as possible. In this case, the coil of the coil can be wound with smaller and denser coils, which will not affect the quality of cooling. For the cooling jacket, you can use, for example, a piece of polyethylene plumbing pipe.

Consider how to make a coil for a moonshine still with a flow-through refrigerator. For winding the coil, a copper tube with a diameter of 10-12 mm and a thickness of 1 mm is suitable, it will take about 1.5-2 m. The spiral must be wound on a mandrel with a diameter of 20 mm, leaving a gap between the turns of 3-5 mm. At both ends of the spiral, you need to leave straight tube lengths of 60-80 mm. Now you can take a piece of polyethylene plumbing pipe with a diameter of 55 mm. Its length is selected in such a way that the coil is completely in the pipe, and the spiral tubes come out.

At the ends, the cooler pipe is closed with plugs. Holes are made in them along the diameter of the coil. To supply running water, two fittings are cut in from the ends of the cooling jacket. It is possible to make a cooler for such a design from a stainless tube, but it is much more difficult to wind a stainless steel, and especially a thin-walled one.

Which is better - a coil or a straight-through

There is no unequivocal answer to the question of which coil design is better, spiral or direct-flow. The straight-through coil is good in that its resistance to steam is less than that of a spiral cooler, especially with a small bore diameter.

The spiral coil, especially horizontally or obliquely located, due to steam-water plugs creates pressure fluctuations in the system, which can lead to a sharp foaming of the mash and throw it into the refrigerator. The resistance of the spiral cooler increases the pressure inside the distillation cube, and this leads to an increase in temperature and increased evaporation of not only water, but also heavy fractions, which deteriorates the quality and strength of the final product.

The once-through cooler is free from these disadvantages. It practically does not create back pressure and allows you to avoid sharp foaming of the mash. With all the virtues direct-flow refrigerator for a moonshine still has a significant drawback - size.

To provide effective cooling, the refrigerator must be either long or thick due to the fact that the steam passes through several parallel pipes. However, such a refrigerator is much more difficult to manufacture, since the design must provide the ability to separate the steam flow through the tubes of the cooler, and then collect the condensate again in one tube.

Stainless tubes for the moonshine still, from which the cooler is traditionally made, are difficult to solder; stainless steel processing gives many problems due to its rigidity. It is impossible to weld such a straight-through machine without special equipment and materials. It is easier to make a moonshine still with a copper tube coil with your own hands.

Distillation without refrigerator

Coil manufacturing - difficult process... When distilling, you can do without a cooler. The distillation process is a continuous heat and mass exchange, and the vapor evaporated in the distillation still carries with it a certain amount of thermal energy. He must give up this heat in order to condense and turn into a liquid. In order for the steam to release heat and condense, the distillation device must have a long, once-through refrigerator that would have time to transfer heat to the surrounding air. Such a scheme is feasible, for example, if you place the refrigerator outside the window, and do the distillation in winter.

A structure designed for cooling and condensation of alcohol vapors due to water or air in its walls is called moonshine refrigerator... Making it with your own hands is quite simple, despite the seeming complexity. It works autonomously directly during the distillation of the moonshine itself.

Steam from the mash from the distillation still goes through a tube to the cooler. It cools in it, condensing pure alcohol at the outlet. Therefore, a distillation refrigerator is one of the most important parts of it. The speed of the process and the quality of the resulting drink depend on the performance of the structure. Making a cooler for a moonshine still is easy. Before you start manufacturing, you need to understand the differences between existing structures and choose the one that suits you.

There are many designs that provide autonomous cooling of alcohol vapors for a moonshine still. Among the simple ones for home use, there are 2 designs: direct-flow refrigerator and . Despite the same principle of operation and method of steam cooling, their design is slightly different.

The direct-flow refrigerator consists of 2 tubes made of copper or stainless steel. They have different diameters and are tightly connected to each other. Alcohol steam itself passes through the inside directly. There is water in the space between the outer and inner tubes. There are 2 holes on the casing for cooling water inlet and outlet. Alcohol vapor, being cooled by the water flowing in the casing, condenses on the tube walls and comes out in the form of alcohol.

The coil is also a copper tube, only it is made in the form of a spiral. It is placed in a housing through which cold water circulates. Steam from the boiling mash flows along the coil and, similarly to the previous case, condenses at the outlet into pure alcohol.

Which is better: coil or direct flow?

Coolers for moonshine still, despite their similarity in principle of operation, have differences in characteristics. It is worth highlighting the advantages of each design separately.

The direct-flow refrigerator has a high efficiency. This reduces the amount of water used for cooling. It is easier to adjust the temperature in it than in a coil, as the response is much faster. The main advantage of a once-through cooler is that the steam-permeable tube is wide enough to prevent plugging. Because of them, pressure surges occur in the distillation cube, provoking a sharp boiling of the mash and a violation of the process technology.

In addition to the once-through cooler, you can make a home-made cooling coil. The surface area of ​​its inner tube is higher than that of the forward flow due to the spiral design. This allows the steam to cool down faster. The dimensions of such a device are more compact, and it is easier to install.

It is impossible to say for sure which refrigerator is better. Each has its own pros and cons. Moonshiners select the design according to their characteristics of the apparatus. The choice is influenced by the power, the volume of the drink and the tasks assigned to the device.

How to make a straight-through refrigerator for a moonshine still

A direct-flow refrigerator for a moonshine still is easy enough to make with your own hands. Moreover, the cost of parts does not exceed thousands of rubles. The inner part of the shell-and-tube refrigerator is made of copper, and the outer part is made of a sewer pipe. The main components of the structure:

• Copper and polypropylene tubes of different diameters - 1 meter each.
• Tee - 2 pieces.
• Couplings with plugs - 2 pieces each.
• Fittings - 2 pieces.
• FUM tape for bond strength.

The outer and inner tubes are selected with such a diameter that there is a gap of about 1.5 - 2 millimeters between them. It is in it that cold water will flow. Cut a piece about 60 centimeters long from the polypropylene tube. It will become the outer casing of the entire structure. Tees are put on the ends. The best connection method is soldering. It is simpler and more reliable, but requires a soldering iron. If it is absent, heating can be applied. The tees are kept for 3-4 minutes in boiling water and immediately put on the ends of the tube. With this method, there is a chance of getting burned, so you need to be extremely careful.

When the tees are installed, the transition sleeves are put on. The connection is carried out by soldering or by the method indicated above. In this case, only one edge of the structure will have to be lowered into the pan, and the second one will constantly hold. After that, a hole of such a diameter is drilled in the plugs so that a copper tube passes through it. It is important that it fits very tightly, without wide gaps. Plugs with holes are driven into the couplings, and fittings are inserted into the free holes of the tees. The threaded connection is sealed with FUM tape.

It remains to install the core. To do this, measure and cut off the copper tube so that it protrudes 2 to 3 centimeters from each edge of the casing. The resulting segment is inserted through the holes of the plugs. The last step is to seal the tube-to-body connection. You can use silicone sealant or all-purpose adhesive for this. After the connection dries, the structure is considered ready. A rubber tube is used to connect the refrigerator to the distillation cube. The connection depends on the direction of movement of water in the casing. Liquid with steam must move towards each other.

It is possible to manufacture a structure without using transition couplings. In this case, it is necessary to take a copper and polypropylene tube of smaller diameters than in the previous version. Then the plugs are driven directly into the tees, and the connection of the copper tube to the casing is also performed with a sealant.

How to make a coil for a moonshine still

A coil for a moonshine still, as well as a straight-through, can be made with your own hands. Unlike the first design, its design is a little more complicated for homemade due to the fact that the copper tube will need to be bent into a spiral.

What to make a coil for a moonshine still? To make it you will need:

• Annealed copper tube - 1.5 meters.
• Spiral winding mandrel - 1 piece.
• Fine sand
• Body (bucket or bottle) - 1 piece.

The first stage is the choice of the tube diameter and the length of the coil for the moonshine still. A fairly compact and powerful refrigerator is obtained from a segment of 120 - 150 centimeters. The core diameter is taken to be about 10 millimeters. Another important parameter is the wall thickness of the tube. This criterion fluctuates around 0.8 - 1 millimeter. If you take a tube with a wall thickness less than indicated, then there is a great chance of damaging it when bending. If you exceed the value, then it will be difficult to bend the spiral.

The selected tube must be plugged tightly at one end and filled with sand. It falls asleep very tightly, periodically tapping for even distribution. The other end of the filled tube is also plugged with a stopper. This prevents the tube from flattening when coiled onto a mandrel. Soda can be an alternative to sand as a filler. The main thing is to tamp it as tightly as possible.

After that, you need to choose a base for bending the spiral. The mandrel diameter should be larger than the tube diameter and depends on the intended size of the structure. For these purposes, a pipe 35 millimeters in diameter is suitable, which must be clamped in a vice. A copper tube is wound onto the prepared mandrel, through which the alcohol vapor will flow. A small step of 6 - 7 millimeters must be left between the turns. To do this, you can wind a wire next to the tube. It is better to leave the beginning and end of the coil long. The excess will then be cut off.

The bent tube is uncorked and freed from the sand and installed in the housing. For this, holes are made in the bottle in advance for the entrance and exit of the coil, as well as for the circulation of water, if it is provided. If you wish, you can make the structure of the case from a plastic pipe used in plumbing, and if you have the skills, from metal.

To do this, you need to make 4 holes. 2 of them, one at the top and one at the bottom for the coil, which is located vertically in the cylindrical casing, and 2 in the side part for water supply and discharge. The spiral structure is assembled, cooling pipes are inserted, and all connections are sealed and sealed. Such a cooler is installed on the distillation cube in the same way as a direct-flow one, with the help of rubber tubes.

Often stainless steel is used for the manufacture of coils. It is quite durable and does not react. Less commonly used are aluminum and glass. The first material has a low lifespan, while the second is not suitable for home making. In any case, the choice is yours alone, and watching the video will help make it.

There are two types of capacitors: coil and direct flow.

A serpentine is a tube coiled into a spiral. Due to its considerable length, the steam passing through it has time to cool down to the condensation temperature. The effectiveness of this design directly depends on the length of the tube used to create the coil.

The direct flow is easiest to imagine as a tube through which steam flows, inserted into a tube with a cooler. There are many different variations: a tube with several nubs along its entire length, a straight tube, a tube curved in a zigzag, and so on. But the essence remains the same: it is important that the area of ​​the inner tube is as large as possible. Then it will turn out to give more energy (heat) to transfer from the steam to the cooler.

Refrigerator materials

A moonshine refrigerator is made from a variety of materials. But the most popular are four:

1. Stainless steel;
2. Copper;
3. Aluminum;
4. Glass.

The first material is found on almost every factory-assembled moonshine still. It was chosen for its price and ease of cleaning.

Copper is found in more expensive models. It has a much higher thermal conductivity. In order to condense the same amount of alcohol from steam, all other things being equal, much less copper tube is needed. Through it, heat is more efficiently removed, due to which the alcohol passes from a gaseous to a liquid state earlier.

Aluminum is a folk material. Almost any homemade moonshine cooler consists of it. And all thanks to adequate thermal conductivity, low price and easy availability of aluminum tubes.

Glass. Excellent heat conduction. In addition, it is also transparent, thanks to which the condensation process can be controlled. It is unrealistic to do it yourself. Sold in chemical stores.

How to make a refrigerator for a moonshine still

To begin with, we propose to decide what we need: autonomy or efficiency. It will not be possible to get the golden mean here. The only exceptions are the Kulibins' homemade products, when the coil plunges into the river, which provides cold running water. But this option is too complicated, so we will not consider it. Our task is to make a copy of the refrigerator with the minimum expenditure of time, effort and money.

Autonomous cooling for moonshine still

An autonomous cooling system is not that difficult to manufacture. We need a coil, already curved with a spiral, a bucket, fum tape, plasticine, a drill and a drill for metal. The drill diameter is equal to the coil tube diameter.

First, we insert the coil into the bucket and try on where its lower end will come out. We make a mark on the bucket and drill a hole in this place. Now we insert the coil into the seat, connect it to the moonshine still and only after that we isolate the place where the coil exits from the drilled hole. For insulation, fum tape is ideal, wound in several layers with a wedge in the place where the tube comes out of the bucket. If this did not seem enough to you, then you can additionally coat the junction with plasticine. And only after completing all of the above operations, you can pour water into the bucket. Now periodically try the water in the bucket with your finger. As soon as it heats up, you need to cool it right there. To do this, simply select the heated one and fill in the cold one. The system is simple and straightforward.

A small improvement can be made: in the side of the bucket, drill another hole and insert a drain cock into it. You won't need a lot of time and money, but it will save you nerves and efforts!

Stationary system

Now we will make a flow-through cooler for the moonshine still. And we will have to spend only on a pipe and electricity. Everything else can be obtained for free. So, we need:

• 1 meter silicone tube;
• 1 liter plastic bottle;
• Autogenous gas lighter (turbo lighter);
• Scissors.

So let's get started. To begin with, we make a hole in the bottom of the bottle along the diameter of the silicone tube. By the way, you need to use a silicone tube. Rubber and others like it can affect the taste or health of the end product.

Now we start a third of the hose through the neck and bring out its small end on the other side. By the way, the withdrawn end can already be fixed by melting the hose and plastic together. Now the end that comes out of the neck, we begin to rotate around the longitudinal axis. Under the action of twisting forces, the hose will begin to twist into a spiral. Now, continuing to twist, we gradually put the hose into the bottle. Ideally, it should remain in the form of a spiral even after fixing both ends. After that, we wind the fum tape on the remaining end with a layer sufficient to make a cork that can plug the neck of the bottle.

The next step is to burn out two holes in the side of the bottle. One is at a distance of 5 cm from the neck, and the second is at a similar distance from the bottom. In both resulting holes we insert along the pipe through which the coolant will flow.

Conclusion

According to the above schemes, you can make a refrigerator for a moonshine still with your own hands in a matter of minutes. It will take no more than an hour to make each of them. And they will function no worse than purchased samples for tens of thousands of rubles.

As for the calculations for the refrigerator, they are not needed. The main thing is that the diameter of the tube is at least 10 mm, and its total length is at least 1 meter. If the coolant is flowing, then this is enough. For a system with a bucket, you will have to take a longer tube - 2 meters and it is important that it is made of metal.

The Russians learned how to prepare a fiery drink even at the peak of "dry law". During all this time, the skill was perfected, changes were made to the recipe, and the moonshine still improved. Today, neither buy nor produce alcohol for home use already nobody forbids, but the quality of the store vodka leaves much to be desired. That is why the present time can be called the heyday of home brewing. We have already written how to make and even, but now it's time to tell you how to make a refrigerator for a moonshine still with your own hands.

Despite the fact that ready-made moonshine stills are available in free trade, many people prefer to assemble it on their own. Moreover, in fact, there is nothing fundamentally complicated in this. At the end of the article, we will give the recommendations of experts, and also tell you how to make moonshine in winter, even without an apparatus.

No matter how harsh the assembled unit looks, its device is very simple, which includes the following mandatory elements:

• Distillation cube- a sealed container where the wash is poured and from where the production of an alcohol-containing product begins. In home-made devices, a pressure cooker acts as a distillation cube, where the raw materials are heated to a certain temperature.
• Coil- a spiral copper (glass, aluminum or stainless steel) pipe through which alcohol-containing steam passes, part of it settles in the form of condensate on the walls, and the alcohol flows into a prepared tank.
• - a tank with circulating cold water with a submerged coil, where the process of vapor fragmentation into alcohol and condensate takes place. As in the distillation still, a relatively constant temperature must be maintained here, sufficient for the appearance of condensation.

During the operation of the moonshine still, the water in the refrigerator heats up and the final product is less. In order for the water temperature to be at the same mark all the time, it is necessary to ensure its constant temperature. For this, taps for draining and supplying water are made in the tank.

The tap for supplying water should always be at the bottom of the container - cold water, rising when heated, tends towards moonshine, due to intensive separation of steam.

• Hoses or tubes required to connect all elements into one circuit.
• Sukhoparnik- an additional element that is used for additional purification of the final product.

How to make a refrigerator for a moonshine still with your own hands

For the case, take a stainless steel pipe with a diameter of 76-78 mm. Above and below, make 2 holes for the supply and output of water and connect the pipes for convenience. On the covers, make holes already for the coil, based on its diameter.

Insert the coil and branch pipes into the pipe, weld all holes tightly so that water does not flow out.

After the entire refrigerator is assembled, be sure to check it for leaks.

Weld an external threaded nipple onto the supply coil pipe.

This completes the manufacture of the refrigerator.

For reference. The standard length of the coil is 1800-2000 mm, this is enough to get 3 liters of moonshine per hour. It is not recommended to increase the speed - if the mash begins to boil strongly, it will splash into the finished product, which will ruin the taste and aroma.

When connecting the refrigerator, ensure the outlet of the waste (warm water) from the top, and the supply of cold water from the bottom. If this is not foreseen, at the exit from 10 liters of mash you will receive only 1.5-2 liters of moonshine, that is, almost 2 times less than the planned volume.

Examples of moonshine stills with different refrigerators

1. To begin with, consider the scheme of a moonshine still according to the principle of isothermal distillation

This scheme cannot be called fundamentally new, but it is worth noting the receiving funnel, which allows you to collect the finished product without removing the refrigerator. It is best to place the funnel on a small tripod, but you can also attach it with wire.

What is different about such a scheme? The presence of a flow-through system directly from the water tap, which allows you to constantly cool the water and make the device more efficient.

It is recommended to cover the junction of the evaporator and the refrigerator with ordinary salt dough... Firstly, such a connection compensates for excess pressure, in fact, the dough acts as a safety valve. Secondly, when heated in the room, there will be the aroma of fresh baked goods, and not fuselage, as is often the case. This is a small thing, but also very important.

1. Standard unit diagram

This is the most popular type of home-made moonshine and refrigerator.

Take the container, close it hermetically with a lid, into which you insert the thermometer and the outlet tube with a tap. Connect a coil to this tube. He, in turn, is immersed in a container of cold water.

Pour the mash into the distillation cube by no more than 2/3 of the volume. Bring gradually to a temperature of 75-780C, then control the boil - it should be very slow and not boiling. If you boil quickly or allow a violent boil, drops of mash will clog the tube, you will have to disassemble and rinse the entire system.

1. This is an example with a standard refrigerator, but an additional capacity, which additionally cleans the finished product (this is not a dry steamer).

In a container with water (in Fig. 6), the temperature should be constantly at 80C.

How to use it correctly

Pour mash on 2/3 of the volume of the distillation cube, heat to a temperature of 75-78C and keep a calm boil. After the process is started, the fractions of alcohol and water pass through the container (in Fig. 6), where the water settles, and concentrated alcohol vapors pass into the refrigerator. Here, the standard separation of condensate from alcohol begins, settling on the walls and the exit of the finished product into a receiving container, which is installed on a water bath.

When passing a container with warm water, some of the alcohol also settles, therefore, at the end of the distillation, it is recommended to pour water from the container into the distillation cube (in Fig. 6) and re-run the entire system.

How to make the simplest refrigerator for a moonshine still with your own hands - video

1. After the moonshine is already prepared, throw in a pinch (3 liters at the tip of a knife) of potassium permanganate. After a day, strain through a cotton filter.
2. In order for the product to turn out clean and without fusel odors, when preparing the mash, you must wait until it becomes transparent. Then carefully, without mixing with the sediment, drain and run through the apparatus. There will be no smell at all, but in the morning the state of health is perfect!
3. The simplest mash recipe is 4.5 liters of water + 1 kg of sugar + 100 grams of pressed (live) yeast. Under a water seal in a warm, dark place for a week and a half.

How to make moonshine without a moonshine still

This recipe is popular in the north and is only prepared in winter at a temperature of -2º - -3ºC.

So, make a wash, pour it into a regular heating pad or medical gloves. Leave it on the street for a day (we closely monitor the neighbors). After a day, drain the almost finished product. Throw in it a pinch of potassium permanganate and a few tablets of activated carbon and after another day filter through a cotton filter.