Production alcoholic beverages at home is a very popular activity for many people. However, distillation requires not only special knowledge, but also equipment. Practically everyone involved in this business knows that there are harmful impurities in the composition of the mash used for distillation. They must be disposed of, otherwise drinking a drink with these impurities can harm your health. Their removal is carried out using a simple device placed in alcohol mashine. AT this case we are talking about the Panchenkov nozzle, which is just one of the varieties of such devices. What is it and how does it function?
Description of the Panchenkov nozzle
In order to understand the principle of operation of this nozzle, it is first necessary to describe the purification procedure itself - rectification. This procedure is necessary, as it allows you to remove unnecessary impurities (wood alcohol) from raw alcohol during distillation. They are detrimental to humans, therefore their ingestion into the body is unacceptable.
To purify raw alcohol, it is first poured into the cavity of the distillation cube, then the container is put on fire (on any heat source) and brought to a certain temperature. When the desired temperature is reached, the liquid will turn into steam, it will begin to circulate through a special distillation column, after which it will enter the reflux condenser cavity. Then the condensate will flow down the walls of the column and dephlegmator. It is the distillation column that is equipped with a Panchenkov packing. In distillation equipment, it is used in conjunction with stainless steel shavings. This element of the moonshine still cleans the final product without compromising the strength.
The Panchenkov nozzle device was invented at Tupolev OJSC, it is officially patented. This wire mesh was originally intended for the purification of crude oil, which was required for its further use as fuel for aircraft. The mesh nozzle itself is made of copper, since it is this metal that absorbs well the sulfur contained in the oil, which does not return to the purified product and remains on the nozzle. Also, copper is a good conductor of heat, so it quickly heats up and cools down.
However, today the Panchenkov nozzle is actively used in light industry. Most premium moonshine stills are initially equipped with this grid. It looks like a coiled copper wire. It differs from the usual mesh in a special weave, thanks to which it is conveniently located inside the device. Nozzle parameters can be adjusted independently. And since it is quite easy to remove from the column, it can be removed and cleaned if necessary.
Disadvantages of using
Many distillers do not want to use this additional filter. And although the principle of operation of the Panchenkov nozzle allows you to remove harmful impurities from the drink, because of it, the flow rate in the moonshine is noticeably reduced. However, the majority uses it, as they are ready to sacrifice distillation time, ultimately obtaining a higher quality and purified alcohol.
Actually, the increase in distillation time is the only drawback that can hardly be called serious.
How it works?
It is believed that the regular wire nozzle Panchenkova is justified for its application, the principle of operation of the apparatus does not change, but the passage of steam in the cavity is lengthened. Alcohol vapors when passing through this nozzle necessarily come into contact with the metal. At the same time, they give off their heat in the form of fusel oils, cool down, condense on the walls and then return back to the mash. The alcohol continues to move towards the nozzle.
In this case, the phlegm moves to the upper layers of the container, where it again passes through this grid and returns. This prevents impurities from getting back into the moonshine.
Here is such an uncomplicated principle of operation of the Panchenkov nozzle.
Advantages
The use of this grid allows you to expand the functionality of the moonshine still. It has certain advantages:
- It can be removed and installed in any other (even the simplest) moonshine still.
- The use of this nozzle makes it possible to combine two processes at once - distillation and purification of moonshine.
- The nozzle is easy to clean, and if necessary, you can simply replace it with a new one.
Varieties
There are various "household" inventions that people use in the absence of the Panchenkov nozzle itself. The most popular of them is the usual metal washcloth, which is sold in almost any household store and costs a penny. True, before use, it must be tested for resistance to corrosion. This can be done as follows: first you need to cut it into fragments, wrap them in a damp cloth and sprinkle with salt. If within two or three days the washcloth is not covered with rust, then it can be safely replaced with Panchenkov's mesh.
The second "analogue" is Raschig's ceramic rings. It is recommended to use rough rings. Also, the mesh can be replaced by spiral-prismatic nozzles, which are no worse than Panchenkov's meshes in terms of efficiency.
Prices
These nets are sold in many stores in this direction, they are not expensive, so the purchase will not hit the distiller's pocket. One such grid costs an average of 500-700 rubles. However, the price depends on the parameters. They are included by default, which once again confirms the need for their use.
However, if there are problems finding this mesh or buying it, then you can use a regular household steel sponge. Its efficiency is not lower, and it filters just as well fusel oils.
Conclusion
Now you know what the Panchenkov nozzle is, the advantages of using it, and the cost. If you are already distilling moonshine at home, then be sure to use this grid. This simple and primitive device really helps to clean moonshine from harmful fusel oils, the ingestion of which is sure to harm health.
To a large extent from right choice nozzles depends on the efficiency of the beer or distillation column. Most beginner distillers prefer the Panchenkov nozzle. In this material, we will consider the design features, the principle of operation and the application of this product in practice.
Panchenkov nozzle(regular wire nozzle) - is a thin wire made of copper or stainless steel of a special weave, twisted into a roll and inserted into the side (pipe) of a household distillation or beer column.
Advantages of RPN:
- relatively high efficiency of separation of alcohol-containing mixtures into separate fractions (good purification);
- increases the strength of moonshine;
- ease of operation (cleaning and replacement) at home;
- durability, low cost and availability.
Flaws: a regular wire nozzle works effectively with a pipe diameter of no more than 30 cm, therefore, it can only be used in household installations of low and medium power.
Technical characteristics of the on-load tap-changer:
- thread thickness - 0.13 mm;
- gaps between the threads - no more than 1 mm;
- type of weaving - zigzag ("kulirnaya surface");
- weight - 45-55 grams (with a length of 40 cm and a width of 10 cm);
- permissible inner diameter of the pipe (tsargi) - 3-30 mm.
Regular wire nozzle in expanded form History reference. Panchenkov's mesh nozzle was developed by Tupolev Design Bureau in 1981 (USSR patent No. SU 827136 (A1), IPC B01D 53/20 of 05/07/1981). According to the project, the product was intended to increase the degree of purification of petroleum feedstock in the production of aviation fuel. Copper wire was used to make the woven mesh, since copper has a high thermal conductivity and absorbs sulfur contained in oil well.
In practice, Panchenkova's on-load tap-changer has shown high efficiency in home distillers with drawers and domestic distillation columns Oh. It is the second in terms of cleaning degree (after SPN Selivanenko) and the easiest nozzle to use.
Principle of operation. After heating in the cube of the moonshine still, alcohol-containing vapors rise into the pipe (string), where they come into contact not only with the walls, as in classical distillation, but also with the surface of the nozzle, giving some of the heat to the wire. As a result, fusel oils and other impurities with a high boiling point condense and flow back into the cube along the walls of the tsarga in the form of phlegm (liquid), and the alcohol vapors, purified from part of the harmful impurities, continue to move to the cooler, where they condense and fall into the receiving container in the form of moonshine .
During distillation, the Panchenkov nozzle reduces the steam flow rate in the drawer side, slowing down the entire process. Compared to a conventional moonshine still, it takes more time to distill the same amount of home brew, but the output is cleaner.
In the case of rectification, the RPN performs the same function as any other plate or nozzle, providing a simultaneous heat and mass transfer process.
Tsarga stuffed with RPN Materials. Stainless steel has become the main wire material for beer and distillation columns, as this reduces the cost of the apparatus, simplifies operation and cleaning. There are also Panchenkov copper nozzles for premium quality equipment on sale, but they are more expensive and require constant care - washing after each use.
Do-it-yourself manufacturing. Theoretically, it is realistic to make a Panchenkov nozzle at home, but in practice it is economically unprofitable, since in addition to the wire itself, winding equipment is required, strict adherence to standards and tolerances, which significantly increases the cost of manufacturing.
It is easier and cheaper to buy a ready-made on-load tap-changer. On the ethical side, the organization of handicraft production is a violation of the patent of JSC Tupolev. If you want to save money, it’s easier to fill the drawer side with stainless steel washcloths.
Installing and cleaning the Panchenkov nozzle
Often the mesh is supplied in rolls 5 or 10 cm wide and 40-100 cm long. It is easier to work with a narrow nozzle (5 cm), if desired, the mesh can be cut. The length and density of packing the tube with packing depends on the design of the apparatus or column. These parameters must be specified by the manufacturer.
If the packing is too tight, alcohol vapor may not pass well through the nozzle, which creates a risk of overpressure inside the system and an explosion.
There are two methods for installing (stuffing) a regular wire nozzle into a drawer side. The first is to fold the mesh in half, then twist it into a wad and insert it into the tube, turning it slightly. The second is to simply roll the wire nozzle from one end to the other without double folding (the density will be slightly higher). Experiments have shown that there is no fundamental difference between the described methods. To remove, just pick up the end of the wire with tweezers or a finger and gently pull towards you.
The choice of filling method is not of fundamental importance. Panchenkov's stainless steel nozzle requires cleaning in rare cases when the mash got into the drawer or burned. To wash stainless wire, it is permissible to use any means and even digestion.
Copper regular wire nozzles should be cleaned constantly, preferably after each use.
Technology:
- Fill pot with water and bring to a boil.
- Add citric acid (10 grams per liter of water), mix.
- Strain the decoction and rinse the nozzle well under running water to remove any acid residue.
Everyone knows that when something new and interesting falls into their hands, they want to try it as soon as possible. But, as a rule, nothing good comes of it. Any device must be properly prepared before use. Using the Rodnik moonshine as an example, we will tell you how to properly prepare your home distiller and related equipment, in particular Panchenkov nozzles, for work.
In order to prepare the apparatus for water, we should carry out a test distillation on water in order to wash off all residues of production, clean the apparatus and check all its circuits for integrity.
The same with Panchenkov's nozzles - we need to boil them for some time in a solution citric acid to clean it completely from contaminants that may have remained on the nozzle during its production.
Preparation of the moonshine still and Panchenkov nozzles step by step
- 1. For greater practicality, we combine 2 processes and boil the Panchenkov nozzle directly in the tank. To do this, pour 4-5 liters of water into the distillation cube, pour 1 sachet of citric acid into it and throw the nozzles inside.
- 2. We assemble the device, connect the cooling hoses and start heating. Heating can be carried out at maximum speed, in this case it does not play a special role.
- 3. After the first drops of water have gone, we slightly reduce the heating and boil in this state for another 15 minutes. After that, turn off the heating, remove the nozzles from the cube and wait until the device cools down.
- 4. We rinse the boiled nozzle again with clean water, and if no defects were found in the apparatus during the first distillation, insert the nozzle into the column and proceed to the first distillation of the mash.
And a few more useful tips for beginner moonshiners. In order to avoid trouble when working with the device, we recommend that you carefully read them:
Try not to leave the device unattended, especially at first;
Carefully monitor the amount of mash in the cube, if it has completely boiled away, heating the cube must be urgently stopped
It is very important to constantly ensure that right amount water leaked into the refrigerator to cool
When distilling on stoves with an open fire, be careful, as strong moonshine tends to burn
Rinse the distiller with warm water after each distillation.
At home, you can get alcohol during the first distillation of not the highest strength and not the best quality, if you do not use auxiliary devices. One of them is the Panchenkov nozzle, the principle of which is to screen out unwanted impurities during distillation.
Each consumer evaluates the quality of moonshine according to his own criteria, but the main ones are the strength of the drink and the almost complete absence of fusel oils and unwanted odors in the composition. Both characteristics are the responsibility of the product manufacturer, who directly controls the process.
Rectification procedure
This operation allows you to ensure high-quality cleaning of the expelled moonshine. The principle of operation of the moonshine still in this situation is multiple distillation. In the tank, the resulting steam is divided into several fractions. The process takes place in the designs of rectifiers.
To perform the distillation, raw alcohol is poured into the cube. The container is placed on a heat source and slowly begins to heat up. At this time, the liquid gradually gains temperature and forms steam above the surface. He, in turn, moves through the cavity of the distillation column and there enters the cavity of the dephlegmator. The formed condensate itself is called phlegm.
Further, it flows down along the inner surface of the distillation column and the reflux condenser. The cavity of the column has a filler called the "Panchenkov mesh", in a moonshine still it usually alternates with portions of stainless steel chips.
A collision of phlegm and vapor occurs in the cavity. This procedure has its own term - "heat and mass transfer". During rectification, the distillate is repeatedly distilled. For this, a different principle of operation of moonshine stills is used, using special nozzles, a food mesh or plates in the design. The result will be obtaining almost pure alcohol up to 97% of the fortress.
reference Information
Adjustable wire nozzle, on-load tap-changer is a scientific development of OAO Tupolev, confirmed by a patent for an invention. It was originally developed to increase the efficiency factor for the purification of crude oil for subsequent use as fuel for aircraft. Copper was used for the manufacture, designed to improve the absorption of sulfur and prevent it from entering the already purified product. Due to its physical properties, copper acts as a catalyst for the operation of the apparatus, increasing the rate of heating and cooling and reducing the interval between these processes.
To date, the on-load tap-changer is used not only in the flight industry, but also in the production of alcohol-containing products. In everyday life, it is used for the manufacture of premium moonshine stills, like Grinalko and others.
Structurally, it is a rolled copper wire with a special weave, which is convenient to insert into the column. It is easy to adjust the size, density and length on your own, it is also easy to pull it out and clean it from absorption products.
Practical use
The use of an improving nozzle can be considered in such a unit as Favorit moonshine still. It has a dephlegmator column, which is connected to a wave adapter with a flow type cooler. The column also contains a pre-cooler, which can be switched off.
The package includes a Panchenkov nozzle. The installed hinged structure is collapsible and, if necessary, is modified. This requires the purchase of additional items.
Novice moonshiners claim that the Panchenkov nozzle significantly reduces the flow rate. This is true, but in the end, a pure product is obtained faster and better, since no distillation or rectification is required.
Although there is a slight decrease in issuance, but this is compensated by more pure product in the exclusive Favorit moonshine still and other similar units. In cases where a regular Panchenkov nozzle (RPN) is used, the design of the apparatus can be reduced without compromising the quality of the finished product.
This solution is beneficial for small-sized products, where an important place is given to external dimensions. Since a superstructure a meter or more high will look overly bulky even in a large kitchen.
The moonshine still using a nozzle, the basic principle of operation remains the same as with the classic layout. The difference is only in the lengthening of the passage of vapors in the cavity. Passing through a pipe with a filler (nozzle), alcohol vapors containing impurities have the opportunity to come into contact with a larger metal surface than during the passage through an empty pipe. Giving off heat, fusel oils cool down, condense and return to the cavity to the mash. At the same time, the alcohol continues to move further to the outlet.
Phlegm particles can be picked up again and moved to the upper layers of the container, where, once again passing through the tap changer, they will return again. Thus, it is possible to prevent unwanted liquids from entering the finished alcohol or moonshine.
The pipe, as well as its filler, do not fall into temperature regime to the level of condensation of alcohol vapors, which provides them with passage to the refrigerator. The role of the nozzle is a condensation filter for household moonshine stills. It was first used for large industrial units involved in the distillation of oil, alcohols, gas, etc.
Product Benefits
Main positive traits, which the Panchenkov nozzle possesses, are as follows:
- with the simplicity of the design, it is possible to achieve maximum cleaning results;
- the terms of purification with a nozzle are significantly reduced, since the process goes in parallel with the production of alcohol;
- it can be placed / taken out inside the tsargi in a rolled form;
- can be adjusted according to the degree of filling in the pipe, creating a flow of the required power;
- the material is stainless steel, which can be used for many years;
- if necessary, it can be purchased separately to the one in the kit.
VIDEO: How to properly clean the Panchenkov nozzle
Varieties of nozzles
In addition to this type, other analogues can be used inside the cavity:
- Metal washcloths sold in the housekeeping department. Their availability and budgetary cost makes the product popular among experienced moonshiners. When choosing such a product, it is worth paying attention to a sufficient degree of corrosion resistance. Before using a particular brand, you need to conduct a small test. To do this, wrap the cut washcloth in a damp cloth, before that, it is necessary to salt the product abundantly table salt. If after a few days corrosion does not appear, then the washcloth is allowed for use. It is necessary to take them about 250 g per liter of capacity.
- Raschig rings, ceramics. It is desirable to select a material with a rough surface. In addition to ceramics, glass is used. This solution shows good results.
- Spiral prismatic nozzles. Many experts recognized such fillers as one of the most effective. The conclusions are based on numerous experimental results.
- Homemade nozzles. To make them, you will need a machine or a drill, as well as a stainless steel bar.
The use of any type of nozzles is the personal choice of each manufacturer of homemade alcohol.
What nozzles do you use? We are waiting for your comments and evaluations of the effectiveness of certain packings in distillation columns.
VIDEO: Making a copper nozzle for a distiller
When heating the mash in the tank for distillation of raw materials, steam with high content alcohol rise along the tsarga (pipe). This steam condenses not only on the walls of the pipe, but also on the Panchenkov nozzle, giving it part of the heat. At the same time, impurities and fusel oils that have a high boiling point do not pass further and flow down the pipe back into the tank. Alcohol vapor that has passed through the nozzle continues to go to the cooler.
Such a nozzle has significant minuses and pluses, and it is up to you to use it or not. The downside is the fact that the nozzle during distillation significantly reduces the throughput in the drawer, thereby slowing down the entire process. A clear advantage of using such a nozzle will be cleaner moonshine. If the quality of the product is more important to you than the speed of distillation of raw materials, then we advise you to purchase it.
Read our other articles on how to clean moonshine from impurities:
How to clean moonshine with potassium permanganate -
How to use a steamer to clean moonshine -
Panchenkov's nozzle is a corrugated metal mesh rolled into a roll, knitted in four additions using the “kulular surface” method. Designed for mass transfer devices to perform the function of reducing hydraulic resistance.
Nozzle Advantages:
- Easy to install allows you to achieve significant cleaning results of moonshine.
- Reducing the cleaning time of moonshine. The process takes place together with the distillation of the mash.
- This nozzle is easy to use, durable.
Disadvantages: The Panchenkov nozzle can be effectively used only in household moonshine stills, since with a tsarga diameter of more than 30 cm, its effectiveness decreases.
What material is the nozzle?
The basis of the material for the Panchenkov nozzle is stainless steel. This option will be the most economical. You can also find copper nozzles. The price will be a little higher.
Analogues
Ordinary dishwasher metal sponges. Ideal a budget option. Can be found at any hardware store. The nozzle made of sponges has high anti-corrosion qualities.
Copper wire wrapped in a spiral. It's easy to do it yourself. Watch the video below.
How to make a pipe nozzle yourself - video
How to install and clean the Panchenkov nozzle
When installing the nozzle in the pipe, the main thing is not to overdo it. If the nozzle is too tightly seated in the pipe, the steam will not be able to pass through it and an explosion may occur. It is usually sold in strips 5-10 cm wide and 40-100 cm long.
There are two ways to install a nozzle in a pipe:
1- Take the nozzle, fold it in half and twist it into a tube. Then place in the drawer side, twisting slightly for easier installation.
2- Take the nozzle and simply roll it from beginning to end. This method will have a denser structure at the nozzle, although there is not much difference in practical application.
Panchenkov's copper nozzle needs to be cleaned after each use. Do not use strong chemicals when cleaning. This can say badly on the quality of moonshine. Conversely, a stainless steel nozzle can be washed only if it has got mash.
Copper nozzle cleaning technology:
1- Boil the nozzle for 5-10 minutes
2- Add citric acid 10 gr and mix
3- Boil for another 5-10 minutes
4- Drain everything and rinse the nozzle under running water
