We all treat with great pride and love what is grown and produced with our own hands, calling these products environmentally friendly. I did not stay away from the attraction to naturalness and purity.
The product is certainly of high quality and, in reasonable quantities, healthy. However, the question still remains acute for the masters of making strong drinks: on ridding the product of harmful impurities.
Do you know how to clean moonshine? After all, fusel oils are certainly contained even in a “clean as a tear” liquid, flowing thinly from the tube of an ordinary one, which does not have a distillation column, into a substitute jar.
Ready-made vodka, which we all periodically buy in stores, is free of harmful substances, primarily fusel oils. And the secret is quite simple.
In factories producing alcoholic beverages, they do not use distillation (as in moonshine), but rectification, a fundamentally different method.
Therefore, the “breech” is free of impurities and usually has a milder effect on the body. Naturally, we are talking about high-quality vodka.
Let's look at what a distillation column is and why a moonshine dock needs it. First of all, this is a kind of superstructure over the distillation tank, serving as a filter in which they settle. A detailed diagram of the distillation column is shown below.
The basic principle of operation of the column is mechanical purification of moonshine from various impurities still at the production stage.
During ordinary distillation (distillation), all alcohol, as well as other vapors, are released from the mash during heating, mixed with each other in order to escape together through the outlet tube into the refrigerator, and then 
The separation of these vapors into alcohol and fusel vapors is difficult under ordinary household conditions.
Only partially can the result be achieved by temperature control, and separation of "heads" from "tails".
And here’s how a distillation column works: during rectification, mixed vapors, rising upward, are converted into liquid, which flows into special “plates” that are equipped with the rectification and purification column of the distillation apparatus.
In phlegm (liquid in plates) highly volatile compounds remain (boiling at fairly low temperatures), and higher, in the cooling system, difficultly volatile compounds rise, where they turn into an alcohol-containing liquid - purified moonshine.
Fusel oils and other harmful compounds remain in the phlegm, and the alcohol freely condenses into and flows into the placed container.
For home-made devices, the principle of operation of the distillation column remains the same, but the function of delaying reflux is performed not by plates, but by multiple small springs made of kitchen sponges made of stainless steel.
How to do it at home?
There are ready-made moonshine stills with a distillation column that can be purchased online. As a rule, they are convenient and of fairly high quality, but the prices of rectifiers stop many even in their desire to produce exceptionally high-quality moonshine.
So, should we give up and use “old-fashioned” methods for cleaning the product: cotton wool, activated carbon, coffee filters? Of course not, folk craftsmen found a way out of this situation.
We will teach you how to make a distillation column yourself, literally from scrap materials. But before you start implementing your idea, carefully weigh the pros and cons of this device.
pros rectification:
- Almost perfect purification of moonshine from harmful impurities.
- Using moonshine obtained from a device equipped with a do-it-yourself moonshine purification column, you can prepare very high-quality various drinks with a high alcohol content.
- The quality of the resulting product will comply with GOST standards for industrial production.
- Only with the help of a distillation column can one obtain really clean and high quality final product. With ordinary distillation, even such a result cannot be achieved.
Minuses:
- According to many seasoned moonshiners, after passing through a distillation column, the final product is “emasculated”, losing not only fusel, but also most of the aromatic component (for example, the taste of jam that you added to it).
- The process of manufacturing the final product is more time-consuming, which means it requires more energy (electricity, gas, firewood).
- You need the column itself, which you need to either buy or make yourself.
To make a distillation column with your own hands, it is necessary, having understood the principle of operation, to make one 
device.
Remember that the distillation column for a moonshine still requires quality raw materials so that it can fulfill its main purpose.
You will need:
- stainless pipe with a diameter of 30 to 50 mm and a height of 1.3 - 1.4 meters. It is advisable to maintain exactly this diameter in order to achieve the most correct operation of the equipment. Stainless steel is a chemically inert material, it is not subject to corrosion, does not emit foreign odors or chemical impurities;
- many believe that it is even better to make a distillation column made of copper, but this is at your discretion and capabilities;
- connecting elements, as well as silicone and/or copper tubes;
- insulation(a piece of foam rubber will do);
- clamp from a medical IV (not necessary, but adds convenience);
- 2 metal mesh clips– along the inner diameter of the pipe and thrust washers for them;
- contact elements, which will purify alcohol vapors from impurities. Small glass beads are simply excellent in this regard, but the question is where to get them in the right quantity (they should fill the inside of the column by 2/3, or at least half). Therefore, a replacement was found - metal sponges for cleaning dishes in the amount of 30 - 40 pieces.
The selection of metal spring sponges is the most important stage in the manufacture of a rectifier. You can go shopping only with magnet. Food grade stainless steel (which is approved for use in the food industry) IS NOT MAGNETIC!
Otherwise, you can buy a sponge that will rust inside the column, or one made of technical stainless steel that releases harmful compounds.
That, in fact, is all the additional equipment, taking into account that you already have a moonshine still, including a cube and a refrigerator.
Manufacturing process
What your own distillation column will be like is up to you to decide. The assembly principle also provides several possible solutions:
- Cut the selected pipe into two parts (the upper one is 0.5 – 1/3 of the total height).
- After chamfering, join the edges. You can use an adapter or a threaded connection.
- A metal mesh must be installed at the bottom of the pipe to prevent filler particles from falling into the cube. With this part, a homemade distillation column will be installed on the distillation cube.
- Cut your existing stainless steel sponges into small pieces of about half a centimeter. Fill the bottom part (remember, it should be at least 0.5 of the total height of the rectifier, but no more than 2/3) with pieces of metal sponge. After this, cover the pipe with a mesh and secure with a thrust washer.
- Connect the lower part of the pipe directly to the tank and insulate the connection.
- The general design of the distillation column provides for the presence of a water jacket, so a water casing with two pipes for inlet and outlet of water for cooling is hermetically soldered onto the upper part of the pipe.
- The top of the pipe must be closed with a lid or soldered, making a hole for the atmospheric tube.
- Above the junction with the lower pipe, 1.5-2 cm, make a hole for the pipe through which the distillate (moonshine) is discharged. Attach a plate under it on which condensation will collect - phlegm.
- Connect the pipe sections together. Here is a column designed for cleaning moonshine with your own hands and it’s ready.
Important! The pipe connection must be sealed, but collapsible. If you put it on a sealant, it will no longer be possible to wash the internal filling, and also, if necessary, replace it.
It is important that the pieces of springs do not intertwine with each other, but compactly compacted. Do not force the filler in; it is better to shake and tap the pipe, filling the entire section.
The final stage is connecting to the refrigerator already in the moonshine still. This can be done conveniently using a silicone tube with a drip clamp installed in it. This way you can adjust the speed of liquid movement at any time.
Useful videos on the device and making it yourself
Operating principle of the distillation column:
New rectification column "Prima", the principle of a quick-release connection, look:
Practical work on the column from the moment of pouring raw alcohol to separating the tails:
Having looked at the drawing of the distillation column, you will understand how to assemble it correctly. And after checking it in action, you will understand that now you are making strong and perfectly purified moonshine. Share the information with your friends on social networks!
In order to understand the essence of the processes occurring inside the distillation column, we recommend that you refer to alcohol columns. It reveals the theory of producing ethanol, the quality of which is close to maximum.
Today we will talk about the design of a home rectifier and how this device can be made with your own hands.
Before you begin creating a distillation (packed) column (RC), you need to purchase suitable material. It should be noted right away that all kinds of non-ferrous metals should be deliberately excluded from the design of the device: no copper alloys, no food-grade aluminum and similar materials. Only stainless steel is a chemically inert alloy that is not subject to corrosion and does not emit toxic impurities during the rectification process.
On the pages of FORUMHOUSE you can find a lot of advice regarding the use of copper in the design of rectifiers and distillers. But if you read, you can find even more people who disagree with such opinions. The explanation is quite simple: hot alcohol is a very strong solvent. Therefore, contact of hot alcohol-containing liquids with any non-ferrous metals is extremely undesirable and even dangerous to health.
beutiflet User FORUMHOUSE
Only glass, silicone and stainless steel.
Working scheme of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The figure shows a diagram of a standard RK, once you understand it, you can assemble a home rectifier yourself.
Let's look at the main design elements in more detail.
Alembic
Any metal container made of stainless steel and having a suitable volume can be used as a distillation cube.
As for volume: some people use a regular pressure cooker (with built-in heating), while others have slightly higher requirements. In general, everyone focuses on their own needs.
viktor50 User FORUMHOUSE
The pressure cooker is too small, you need a capacity of at least 15-20 liters. The rectification process takes quite a long time and getting a liter in half a day is not kosher.
As for heating the column: the simplest (but not very practical) option is to install the distillation cube on an electric or gas stove. The fact is that the column has a relatively large height, so it will be better if the distillation cube stands on the floor (rather than on the stove).
Electric heating allows you to install the cube directly on the floor, which makes the design of the RK less cumbersome and the entire installation as convenient to use as possible.
Timothy1
We need to switch from gas to electricity - it’s easier to regulate, and the height is added! I cut the heating elements into the flask, connected the voltage regulator from the TV and off we went.
Be that as it may, when heating the feedstock, smooth adjustment of the power of the heating element must be ensured. Otherwise, the whole idea will be doomed to failure.
Many users, in an attempt to improve the design of the RK, equip the device with automatic control systems, as well as complex regulators. But if you are used to controlling the process yourself (and in the case of a homemade distillation column at first you will not be able to do otherwise), then installing an automatic control system is not an extreme necessity. Until you have sufficient experience in the field of home rectification, a simple power regulator included in the circuit of one of the existing electric heaters will be quite sufficient.
Timothy1
I have three heating elements from a Soviet kettle - 1.25 sq. LATR, shown in the photo, perfectly regulates one heating element.
The rectification process in this case is carried out using one (adjustable) heating element. The remaining 2 are needed exclusively for heating.
If you have already had time to thoroughly enjoy the visual perception of the process, and lack of time does not allow you to constantly be near a working RK, then the automation system integrated into the design of the device will allow you to control the process, requiring minimal human intervention. Automation allows you to select the contents of the distillation cube, preventing tail fractions from entering the “body” of the product. There are ready-made technical solutions that can be purchased in specialized stores. Such systems, reacting to temperature changes, at the right moment shut off the distillate selection unit or, conversely, open access to cold water to the dephlegmator.
Rectification drawer
The rectification frame includes several components:
- Pipe with insulation and nozzle.
- Dephlegmator with distillate selection unit, water jacket and thermometer.
- Connection for communication with the atmosphere.
Considering that alcohol vapor is very flammable, the hole for communication with the atmosphere (which is necessarily created at the top of the distillation column) must be equipped with a fitting and a rubber tube. The end of the tube should be lowered into a container of water. This will help prevent the spread of vapors indoors and their ignition.
Let's consider the design of the listed nodes.
Pipe (packed column)
The process of heat and mass transfer occurs in the lower pipe of the distillation column. A special filler is placed in its internal space, increasing the contact area between hot steam and cooling phlegm. When making a column yourself, it is easiest to use dishwashing sponges made of stainless steel as a filler (nozzle). Sometimes a special twisted wire (also made of stainless steel) is used.
If you use metal wool as a filler, then the quality of their manufacture should first be checked. To do this, you need to cut off a piece of a washcloth and boil it in a solution of table salt. If the washcloths contain another alloy instead of stainless steel, the products will not be able to withstand such a test and will quickly rust. It is imperative to cut the washcloth. After all, if it has a protective coating, then only in this way can its internal structure be exposed.
The packing density should correspond to the indicator - 250-280 g of packing per liter of internal volume of the packed column.
The quality of separation of boiling fractions directly depends on the size of the packed pipe. Having considered the practical experience of FORUMHOUSE users, we can conclude that the minimum pipe diameter should be 32 mm. In general, the higher the pipe, the better the separation of fractions. The optimal pipe height should correspond to 40-60 of its diameters (minimum 20). The outside of the pipe should be insulated with a layer of protective material.
belor44 User FORUMHOUSE
A metal mesh is installed in the inner cavity of the pipe (top and bottom) to hold the filler.
belor44
In my column for NDRF, the filler is washcloths. At the same time, there are nets from a tea strainer. The pressure is stable. A meter-long column with a diameter of 35 mm produces an under-rectified product with a strength of 96% at a rate of 950 ml per hour. There are no choke points.
The bottom and top of the distillation pipe are usually equipped with threads, which allow the unit to be connected to the distillation cube and to the reflux condenser.
Dephlegmator
The main purpose of a reflux condenser is the condensation and separation of light fractions that have a lower boiling point (relative to reflux). In practice, the reflux condenser can have different designs. The simplest to manufacture is a direct-flow (jacket) type reflux condenser, or, as it is also called, a refrigerator-condenser. It consists of two pipes of different diameters, between which there is a cooling jacket with running water.
In essence, a direct-flow dephlegmator is a stainless steel pipe that is welded into another pipe made of the same material (only of a larger diameter). Externally, the device looks like in the image.
The photo shows that the reflux condenser has two fittings (for supplying and discharging coolant) and a tube for communicating with the atmosphere (above). At the same time, at the bottom of the reflux condenser there is a fitting for selecting distillate.
To avoid the appearance of foreign impurities and odors in the final product, it is recommended to use only silicone tubes for sampling the distillate.
The reflux condenser body can be made from stainless steel pipes or from an ordinary food thermos and an additional inner pipe. The diameter of the inner pipe is usually equal to the diameter of the packed column. If you do not have access to argon welding, then you can fasten structural elements using an ordinary soldering iron.
The distillate selection unit, located at the very bottom of the reflux condenser, is a shaped washer welded into the inner tube of the device.
In the sampling unit, it is necessary to make holes in advance for the thermometer (if you plan to use it) and for the sampling tube.
The need to introduce thermometers into the design of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a controversial issue. “Experienced” people often do without thermometers at all. At the same time, there are distillers who, on the contrary, measure the temperature where it needs to be done, and where it is not at all necessary. For example, installing a thermometer in the body of the distillation cube only allows you to monitor the heating process. That is, by watching it, you can roughly figure out how much time is left before the column boils.
But there are two structural units in the Republic of Kazakhstan where temperature control brings tangible practical benefits. This is the outlet pipe of the reflux condenser and the reflux condenser sampling unit (instead of the reflux condenser sampling unit, you can use the space between the packed column and the reflux condenser to install a thermometer).
If the temperature of the running water drops below 45°C at the outlet of the reflux condenser, then the separation of fractions will not occur very effectively (due to supercooling of the reflux). If the temperature is above 55°C, then during the selection of the “body”, “tails” will break into the selection tube.
Monitoring the temperature in the selection unit allows you to determine the temperature of the steam at the outlet of the packed column, and at the same time gives an understanding of which fraction is being separated at the current time. For example, if the steam temperature in the selection unit is in the range of – 77.5-81.5 ° C (depending on atmospheric pressure), then only the “body” of the product will enter the distillate selection tube.
Siberiafish User FORUMHOUSE
The temperature during the distillation process was kept in the range of 78.8-81.3. Before finishing, she began to jump.
The inner end of the thermometer tube, soldered into the column, must be plugged.
In order for the reflux condenser to be cooled evenly on all sides, a screw spiral can be soldered into the cooling jacket, which will set the correct direction of the cooling flow.
And here is the design of the reflux condenser suggested by one of the users of our portal.
Timothy1 User FORUMHOUSE
I wound two meters of corrugation into the def - it removes 3 liters per hour!
The design of this device is as follows.
In most cases, the corrugation, which allows running water to pass through, is wrapped around the inner pipe of the reflux condenser (it is not shown in the figure). But this approach does not always allow achieving effective heat transfer. The feasibility of introducing such a design can only be determined by practical means.
In practice, you can find dephlegmators of a wide variety of designs (including horizontal devices). We have described only the most common ones.
Dephlegmator dimensions
The main quantity that determines the dimensions of the device is the area of contact of the steam with the cooled surface. This value is often determined empirically. It depends on the power supplied to the column and on the temperature of the coolant.
Timothy1
The distillation column I made two weeks ago produces 1200 ml of alcohol per hour. More is possible, but cooling is not enough! Input power during acceleration is 3.5 kW, during hauling – 1.25 kW.
The product output is always proportional to the input power. For example, if the power supplied to the cube (during the rectification process) is 700 W, then the maximum productivity of the column will be 700 ml/hour (in practice, with such power we have 300-500 ml/hour). The area of the reflux condenser with such productivity should be equal to 200-300 cm². This area is possessed by the internal pipe of the reflux condenser, which has a length of 300 mm and a thickness of 32 mm.
Doobik User FORUMHOUSE
The speed of distillation primarily depends on the heating force. If the stove can boil 1 liter of mash per hour, then no matter what the device is, you will never get 2 liters per hour. The purer and stronger the product, the slower the distillation. The device itself can slow down the process only in one case - low power of the dephlegmator, i.e. when it is necessary to reduce the heating for normal operation of the device. The larger the diameter, the larger the heat transfer area, and the better the heat removal.
From all of the above, we can conclude that it is better to have a reflux condenser with dimensions exceeding the calculated ones. After all, excess cooling area will never lead to the cessation of condensate formation, and, consequently, to the cessation of rectification.
By the way, on the Internet you can find a calculator for calculating a dephlegmator, which will help you navigate the dimensions of the device being manufactured.
Fridge
As a refrigerator for the sample distillate, you can use a laboratory cooler, which is usually purchased at a laboratory glassware store.
In this case, the device can be made independently - according to the principle of a shirt-type reflux condenser (only the refrigerator will be much smaller in size). To do this, again, you should use stainless steel tubes of small diameter. The length of the refrigerator should be approximately equal to the length of the reflux condenser.
In order to regulate the rate of distillate selection or stop (start) selection in a timely manner, the distillate selection tube should be equipped with a tap or clamp (for example, from a dropper). The location of the clamp is indicated on the general diagram of the RK.
The cooling cavities of the refrigerator and reflux condenser are connected to each other in the following sequence: bottom of the refrigerator - refrigerator - top of the refrigerator - top of the reflux condenser - reflux condenser - bottom of the reflux condenser - sewerage. Simply put, a series connection of pipes is used, and water is supplied to the reflux condenser already slightly heated.
The temperature of the cooling water in the reflux condenser, as we already know, must correspond to certain values (approximately 45-55°C). And additional taps for regulating the water flow will help us achieve the required indicators. The valve from the gas welding torch regulates the flow most subtly.
Sequence of distillate distillation
Let's consider the sequence of work with our distillation column. First of all, we dilute the raw alcohol (obtained after preliminary distillation of the mash) with tap water to a strength of 30%...40% (there is no consensus on this indicator, but the lower it is, the less the likelihood of an accidental fire). Then we pour it into the distillation cube, assemble the distillation column and attach it to the distillation tank.
The column, under no circumstances, should deviate from the vertical level. Otherwise, the quality of the final product will noticeably suffer.
After the RK is installed, you can begin heating the contents of the cube. The distillate tap must be closed. At the moment when the temperature of the steam in the dephlegmator begins to rise sharply, it is necessary to reduce the power supplied to the column to a minimum (the temperature at this moment can quickly reach 70-78 ° C, which is associated with a sharp rise of vapor through the packed part of the column). The device should be left in this position for 30 minutes. This is necessary for the RC to warm up and for the process of heat and mass transfer to begin inside it. The temperature in the upper part of the Republic of Kazakhstan may drop.
After the specified time, we turn on the water supply to the refrigerator (and to the reflux condenser) and begin selecting the “heads”. We repeat once again that you cannot drink “heads”!
The end of the selection of “heads” can be determined by several signs: temperature stabilization around 78°C and a change in the organoleptic characteristics of the selected distillate (the distillate begins to smell like alcohol).
After selecting the “heads”, you can begin selecting the “body”: increase the power of the column and adjust the temperature of the water in the reflux condenser (45°C - 55°C).
We enjoy the process until the “tails” are cut off. The beginning of condensation of the tail fractions can be judged by the increase in temperature in the reflux condenser (to approximately 85°C) and the appearance of fusel odor in the sampled distillate. At this point we will consider the rectification process complete. The tailing fractions can be selected for use in subsequent distillations, or they can simply be disposed of. It's up to you to decide.
If you are familiar with in practice, then we invite you to take part in the discussion of issues related to this fascinating topic. If you are used to eating equally sophisticated snacks along with exquisite drinks, then this article will teach you how to endlessly surprise your guests with the unusual taste of the prepared dishes.
Manufacturers of homemade moonshine strive to ensure that their drink is clean from harmful fusel oils and without an unpleasant odor. To do this, they distill the product several times, as a result of which it is purified. And yet, the best way to produce alcohol and alcohol-containing drinks is to use a device with a distillation column. The principle of its operation and the possibility of self-production will be discussed in the article.
Like a moonshine still, a distillation column produces moonshine, only of a higher quality, purified. But first of all, it is intended for the production of pure alcohol 96%, which is used as a base in the preparation of various alcoholic beverages. 
Alcohol is a product of rectification, during which the alcohol-containing mixture (mash, raw alcohol) is separated into separate fractions (methyl and ethyl alcohols, fusel oil, aldehydes) with different boiling points as a result of repeated evaporation of the original liquid and condensation of steam.
The distillation cube filled with alcohol-containing liquid is heated. During the boiling process, steam is intensively formed, which rises up the column. There a reflux condenser awaits him, in which the steam is cooled and condensed.
Did you know? The largest distillation columns reach 90 m in height and have a diameter of 16 m. They are used in the oil refining industry.
Drops of condensate (reflux) flow down into a column filled with steam. The cooled reflux flows through special nozzles where it meets hot steam. Heat and mass transfer occurs between them, which is repeated many times and is the essence of rectification.
As a result, pure vaporous alcohol collects at the “head” of the column. For final condensation, it is taken to the refrigerator, from which the distillate, that is, the finished product, comes out.
Video: distillation column and the principle of its operation
Construction of a home distillery
The distillation column device consists of different parts, the dimensions of which must be accurately calculated. For this design you need:
- distillation cube, or container with alcohol-containing liquid;
- tsarga, or pipe, which will be the body of the column;
- a reflux condenser in which steam is cooled and condensed;
- nozzles with which to stuff the drawer;
- distillate selection unit;
- water refrigerator;
- smaller parts for connecting parts of the structure and for monitoring its operation (thermometers, automation).
Let's consider each component part of the device separately.
The basis of the entire structure is the distillation cube. This is a container for alcohol-containing raw materials.
It can be any vessel made of copper, enameled or stainless steel. Some moonshiners use a pressure cooker for this if a small alcohol yield is expected.
Or you can independently weld a suitable container from stainless steel sheets.
Video: how to make a distillation cube with your own hands The main requirements that the cube must meet:
- absolute tightness: when boiling, the vessel should not allow steam or liquid to pass through, and the lid should not be torn off due to growing pressure;
- a hole for steam to escape, which will appear if you cut a fitting into the lid.
If you buy a ready-made distillation cube, it already meets these criteria. 
It is very important that the volume of the cube matches the dimensions of the column. For a pipe 1.5 m high and 50 mm in diameter you need to take a container that holds 40-80 liters, for a 40 mm drawer a 30-50 liter container is suitable, for 32 mm you need at least 20-30 liters, and for a diameter of 28 mm it’s excellent A pressure cooker will do.
Important! The distillation cube must be filled with mash no more than 2/3 of its volume, otherwise the column will “choke” when boiling».
The pipe in which rectification occurs is called the drawer. This is a cylinder with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm and a diameter of 30-50 mm. The effectiveness of the drawer depends on its height: the higher the pipe, the slower the harmful fractions are separated and the purer the alcohol is.
The optimal height of the tsar is 1-1.5 m. If it is shorter, then there will be no room in it for the separated fusel oils, and they will end up in the distillate. If the pipe is longer, the rectification time will increase, but this will not affect the efficiency. 
Drawer of a distillation column with a nozzle There are ready-made drawers for moonshine stills with a length of 15 cm or more on sale. You can buy 2-3 tubes and connect them into one. Or you can make the drawer of the required length yourself. For this you will need a stainless pipe.
Video: how to make a drawer for a distillation column yourself You need to cut threads at the top and bottom so that the bottom part is attached to the cube, and the reflux condenser is attached to the top part.
You also need to attach a mesh to the bottom to hold the nozzles with which the drawer will be filled. Some home experts wrap the pipe with insulation, such as foam rubber.
Did you know? The Panchenkov nozzle was invented in the USSR in 1981 not for the production of alcohol, but to improve the purification of crude oil for aviation fuel.
Filling the drawer with nozzles is a prerequisite for rectification. If the pipe is hollow, only the distillation process is possible in it, the result of which will be moonshine, but not pure alcohol. The purpose of the filler is to increase the surface area over which reflux flows.
Thus, heavy harmful components are deposited and cannot enter the final product, and the light vapor of pure alcohol is selected. The filling should completely fill the tube.
The nozzle can be any filler made of inert stainless material:
- glass or ceramic balls;
- stainless steel kitchen sponges, finely chopped (they need to be changed from time to time, as the material deteriorates);
- Panchenkov nozzle (the best option), which is specially woven from copper or stainless steel. Its advantages: it settles phlegm well and does not fail over time.
Panchenkov nozzle
Important! The sponge attachment should be made of stainless steel. You can check it with a magnet: it attracts stainless steel.
The selection unit is a small piece of pipe between the drawer and the reflux condenser. Its purpose is to collect phlegm: first the “heads” come out, that is, the harmful alcohol fractions, then the “body” comes out, or alcohol without taste and unpleasant odor. 
Everyone makes a homemade selection unit differently, but according to the same principle. Eg:
- to the outer pipe, the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the drawer, a tube of a smaller diameter is welded from the inside so that a pocket is formed between them along the circumference, where part of the reflux will be collected;
- Instead of a tube, a stainless plate is welded inside, corresponding to the inner diameter of the pipe, with a round hole inside: part of the reflux will collect on the plate, and part will fall through the hole back into the drawer.
Video: do-it-yourself selection unit Outside, two holes are made in the pipe for two fittings: a tap is attached to one to remove reflux, and a thermometer is inserted into the other (smaller) to measure the temperature of the steam.
The top of the structure is the reflux condenser. Here the steam cools, condenses and is directed downwards in the form of droplets. 
You can make several options for reflux condensers with your own hands:
- Jacket or direct-flow dephlegmator made from two pipes of different diameters. Running water circulates between them, and inside the smaller pipe the steam turns into condensate. The outer pipe can easily be replaced by a thermos body, the neck of which is screwed to the extraction unit. In the bottom of the thermos, you must make a hole for the TCA, that is, a communication tube with the atmosphere, through which light unnecessary vapors will escape.
Video: operating principle of a direct-flow dephlegmator
- Dimroth reflux condenser more efficient than the previous model. The body is a pipe of the same diameter as the drawer. Inside it is a thin tube, twisted into a spiral, in which cold water moves. If the diameter of the drawer is 50 mm, then the spiral needs to be twisted from a tube with a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 3 m. Then the length of the reflux condenser will be 25-35 cm.
Video: assembly of a distillation column with a Dimroth reflux condenser
- Shell and tube dephlegmator consists of several pipes: small ones are attached inside the large one, in which steam condensation occurs. This model has several advantages: water is used economically and steam is quickly cooled. In addition, this structure can be attached to the column at an angle, which reduces its height.
Video: operating principle of a shell-and-tube reflux condenser
Fridge
A small refrigerator, or aftercooler, is needed to reduce the temperature of the ethylene flowing from the extraction unit. It is made according to the principle of a jacket reflux condenser, but from tubes of a smaller diameter.
It also has two passages for water: cold liquid enters the lower one, it leaves the upper one and is directed through silicone tubes up to the dephlegmator for the same purpose.
The water speed is controlled by the tap.
Video: how to make a refrigerator for a distillation column with your own hands
The pasteurization drawer is not a mandatory element of the column. On the one hand, it complicates the main design. But on the other hand, it improves it, since it more thoroughly purifies alcohol from the main fractions throughout the entire rectification.
This is a smaller drawer (30 cm) with an additional selection unit. It complements the main drawer. “Heads”, as usual, come out of the reflux condenser, but not only at the beginning, but constantly.
The alcohol is collected from the lower selection of a small drawer. This ensures maximum purity of the alcohol. 
Automation
The long rectification process can last for hours. At the same time, it must be constantly monitored so that the “heads” and “tails” do not accidentally mix with the “body”. It will not be so tedious if you install good automation to control rectification. The BUR (distillation control unit) is designed for this purpose. The block can do the following:
- turn on the cooling water at a certain temperature;
- reduce power during reflux extraction;
- stop selection at the end of the process;
- turn off the water and heating after finishing sampling the tail section.
You can automate the process by installing a “start-stop” valve: when the temperature rises, it stops the selection, when it stabilizes, it resumes the selection.
You can do without automation, but it is much easier with it.
Video: automation for a distillation column
Advantages:
- the finished product is pure alcohol 96% without harmful impurities;
- in the distillation mode, you can make moonshine with the desired organoleptic properties;
- ethyl alcohol can become the basis of any alcoholic drink;
- You can design a device for this yourself.
Flaws:
- ethylene does not have the organoleptic properties of the original product;
- the rectification process is very long: in an hour you can get no more than 1 liter of distillate;
- ready-made structures are very expensive.
Which material is preferable
Rectification is intended for maximum purification of alcohol from various impurities. The parts that make up the column should not affect the quality or taste of the product. Therefore, the material must be chemically inert, not susceptible to rust and not affecting the taste and smell of the distillate.
Food-grade stainless steel, that is, chromium-nickel stainless steel, is best suited. It is chemically neutral and does not affect the composition of the product in any way.
The distillation column can be called a new generation moonshine still, because it produces better quality alcohol. Making this device with your own hands is quite difficult. But if you make an effort, the festive table will always be topped by a natural and tasty homemade alcoholic drink.
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More and more people are coming to the understanding that store-bought alcohol is not worth the money they ask for it: the quality is low and the prices are too high. For this reason, more and more “moonshiners” are appearing in our country. They start with primitive moonshine stills, but quite quickly come to the idea of creating a full-fledged distillation column with their own hands. But doing it is not as easy as it seems at first glance.
The distillation column has a complex structure. In order for it to work well in the future, its parameters must be accurately calculated. Only in this case will it be possible to count on creating a truly balanced system for home use.
Before making a distillation column for a moonshine still with your own hands, you need to carefully calculate the parameters of each of its elements, and then purchase all the necessary components that correspond to the calculations.
Characteristics of the drawer and nozzle
In fact, this is the main element of the distillation column. All other parameters of the column will depend on the pipe parameters.
When creating an alcohol column with your own hands, it is best to use a chromium-nickel steel pipe. This is the so-called food grade stainless steel. Due to the fact that this alloy is completely neutral in chemical terms, it will not add any impurities to the final product. This is very important, because the main task of rectification is to obtain a pure product without impurities, and not at all to change its taste and aromatic properties.
Some experts advise using a copper drawer for distillation. Under no circumstances should this be done. The fact is that copper can change the chemical composition of alcohol. The maximum where copper can be used is a distiller or a mash column.
The drawer must have a wall thickness of at least 1 and no more than 1.5 mm. Thicker pipe walls do not provide any advantages during distillation, but at the same time make the entire structure much heavier. This is unacceptable for a home distillation system.
The drawer must be calculated together with the nozzle. At home, it is customary to use nozzles whose total contact surface area does not exceed 4 m 2 /liter. Of course, you can use nozzles with a larger contact area, but this will only increase the separation capacity of the column, however, it will reduce the overall productivity.
Spiral-prismatic in size the nozzle should be 12 times smaller than the column diameter.
Experienced moonshiners recommend keeping attachments with different characteristics ready to use depending on the situation. So, to obtain fortified moonshine, it is best to place copper rings up to 10 mm high in the column. In this case, copper will effectively remove sulfur compounds from alcohol.
When selecting a frame, you should remember that even a minimal change in the diameter of the column will seriously affect the performance parameters.
Regarding the pipe height, then it should fit within the parameters of 1 to 1.5 m. The height will be less, then fusel oils will penetrate into the selection. At the same time, as the height of the pipe increases, the transfer time increases, but not the separating capacity of the system. That is, it makes no sense to increase the height of the rectifier.
To increase the selection of high-quality alcohol and prevent the tsar from overflowing with fusel, raw alcohol should be poured into the cube no more than 20 volumes of nozzle. On average, the cube is filled to 2/3 of the volume. This means that with a drawer diameter of 50 mm, you need to use a cube with a volume of 40 to 80 liters. If the pipe diameter is 40 mm, then a cube with a volume of 30 to 50 liters is sufficient.
Heat source calculation
Many people think, that if a moonshine still can be heated on a gas or conventional electric stove, then it can also be used to heat a distillation column. This is far from true. The fact is that rectification is very different from the usual distillation process. If the process of obtaining a distillate allows for heat surges, then during rectification the heating power must be properly regulated. Therefore, neither a gas, nor an electric, nor an induction cooker will work.
Ideal option: installing a heating element of the required power inside the distillation device with an output voltage regulator for precise adjustment.
As for the power of the heating element, to heat a 50 liter cube you need 4 kW of energy, for 40 liters 3 kW, for 30 liters 2 kW.
The heating element must be installed correctly in the cube so that its heating does not cause the mash and raw alcohol to boil. The higher the heating element is, the less power it requires to cause the contents of the cube to boil. As the depth of immersion increases, the power required to boil increases.
Dephlegmator calculation
The power of the reflux condenser is largely determined by the type of distillation column. If you plan to build a column with liquid extraction, then the power of the dephlegmator must correspond to the rated power of the entire column. Most often, this design uses a Dimroth refrigerator, whose utilization power is 5 watts per 1 cm 2 of area.
When creating a distillation column with a fence installed above the dephlegmator, then the power of the latter should not exceed 2/3 of the power of the column. In this case, you can abandon Dimrot and use a “shirt maker”, whose utilization power does not exceed 2 Watts per cm 2.
Calculation of a once-through refrigerator
If the direct-flow unit will be used as additional cooling, then you should choose the simplest and smallest option. Its power should not exceed 30% on the power of the distillation column.
A straight-through refrigerator looks like a straight tube between the drawer jacket and the inner pipe. The length of the tube usually does not exceed 30 cm.
If the same direct-flow refrigerator will be used not only for distillation, but also for rectification, then the maximum heating during distillation, rather than the rated power of the column, should be taken into account.
The minimum tube diameter is determined by the minimum speed and the maximum kinematic viscosity of the vapor.
- With a power of 1.5 kW, the minimum diameter is 8 and the maximum is 9 mm.
- With a power of 2 kW, the minimum pipe diameter is 9 and the maximum is 12 mm.
- With a power of 3 kW, the minimum diameter is 10.5 and the maximum is 18 mm.
So, we have in hand all the necessary calculations with the drawing, and therefore we can begin assembling the distillation column.
It is necessary to prepare the following elements of the distillation apparatus:
- Frame.
- Dephlegmator.
- Nozzle. It can be dish-shaped or spiral.
- Thermal insulation.
- Thermometers.
The tank for raw alcohol can be used from a moonshine still. You also don't have to make a new coil. It can be taken from the same distiller. A correctly calculated and assembled column can be installed on any moonshine still. The main thing is that the tank volume is more than 20 liters. If the volume is smaller, the distillation column will not work.
How to make a king with your own hands?
It is best to make it from a stainless pipe. Ideal option – food grade steel.
Experts advise doing it with several joints. At the very bottom of the drawer, a flange is welded, through which it will be attached to the lid of the distillation tank. The flange connection must be airtight, so a gasket must be used. Preferably silicone. Plastic gaskets change shape when exposed to temperature.
The flange must be welded so that the column stands strictly vertical. A deviation of just half a degree will change the quality of the output product.
Individual parts of the column are better connect with clamps. This way, it will be easier to assemble and disassemble the column.
The two lower parts of the drawer are just pipes. They will have nozzles installed to increase the area of contact between the liquid and the steam. But the upper part is quite complicated. It must have the following structural elements:
- Flow refrigerator.
- Outlet pipe.
- Connector for installing a thermometer.
- Air valve.
The flow cooler accounts for half of the top of the column The simplest option is to wrap the pipe with a copper coil, but it is not very effective. The ideal option is to place a Dimroth cooler inside the pipe. In this case, the reflux condenser will turn the condensate into steam until it reaches the air valve at the highest point of the distillation column.
The outlet pipe should be installed lower refrigerator by a couple of centimeters.
Nozzle
This is one of the most important parts of the column. It comes in 3 types: plate-shaped, sieve and spiral. The first option is much more effective. Many novice moonshiners make a disc nozzle from parts that are freely sold on the Internet.
A sieve attachment is much easier to make. All you need: a drill, disks, and small-diameter drills, stainless steel partitions. We drill holes of different diameters in the partitions and install them inside the pipe.
You can’t make a spiral nozzle yourself, but you can easily buy it in a specialized store.
Some thematic forums and websites advise using dishwashing mesh to create a spiral attachment, but you shouldn’t do this. the fact is that no one knows for certain what alloys they are made of. This means that no one can predict what kind of compounds will be obtained when the mesh material comes into contact with hot alcohol vapor.
Thermal insulation
When assembling the column you must remember to protect it from heat loss at least to the lower limit of the dephlegmator. As insulation, you can use materials such as polyurethane foam, penoizol, foil insulation, etc.
Actually, all that remains is to put all the parts together and test run a homemade distillation column.
Conclusion
Now the reader knows how to make a column for home rectification. All that remains is to put this knowledge into practice and enjoy the purest product.
Even the simplest distillation column, despite the low distillation speed, will allow you to obtain a sufficient amount of alcohol both for consumption in its pure form and for the production of more noble drinks based on it.
Also, do not forget that using a distillation column as a moonshine still to produce moonshine will allow you to obtain 30% more product than from a conventional distiller. In addition, the quality of moonshine will be much better.
From the school course we know that the rectification process is the process of separating complex mixtures into components through repeated evaporation and condensation of the constituent parts. The results are ideally pure components, the temperatures of transitions to different states of aggregation of which are, accordingly, different.
This simple process is used in the production of gasoline, kerosene, pure oxygen and nitrogen. Rectification also helps separate fusel oils and aldehyde fractions to produce ethanol, or ethyl alcohol.
This process is carried out in distillation columns, the design of which allows the creation of a product with a purity of up to 96%. You can create a homemade moonshine still with straight hands, minimal knowledge of organic chemistry and the desire to enjoy high-quality alcohol of your own production.
Nowadays you can simply buy a rectification chamber, but we will go a different route. We will assemble a miniature distillery with our own hands.
From the name of the process that gave the column its name, it is clear that constant rectification occurs inside, and the column itself is made of materials that do not react with the components of the process.
The working liquid, mash infused with grain, berries, fruits, etc., is poured into the distillation cube. and bring to boiling temperature. As the working fluid boils, alcohol-containing vapor is released, which is lighter than the liquid and due to this rises up the pipe, where it cools.
Cooling, the heated steam falls into condensate on the walls of the column and rushes back into the distillation cube in the form of a liquid, but along the way it encounters a new portion of heated steam. Components whose boiling point is below the working fluid evaporate again, among such components is ethyl alcohol.
The essence of the process is that substances are distributed along a vertical column, in accordance with the level of their evaporation and condensation points. At approximately a height of 75% from the distillation cube, ethyl alcohol vapors are collected - a pipe is installed here to discharge these same vapors into the container with the final product.
Higher up the column, toxic volatile vapors of aldehydes and dimethyl ketone are concentrated and discharged into the atmosphere through an outlet pipe; below the formation of the concentration of ethyl spirit vapor, fusel oils and other fractions accumulate, whose boiling point exceeds the boiling point of ethanol.