What is heating element in a moonshine still? Heating element for a moonshine still: which one to choose and how to install. Smooth heating adjustment

Having suffered with heat moonshine still on gas, it was decided to switch it to “electric traction”. This is what will be discussed in this material.

A 1.5 kW stainless steel heating element was purchased on the market. It also came with nuts, washers and gaskets.

I chose the location for the insertion so that the heating element and its leads would not create inconvenience during operation. After this, carefully mark the holes and drill. I didn’t have a drill of a suitable diameter, so I drilled with a smaller one, and then expanded it with the side of the drill at high speeds of the drill to the desired size.

Having made and expanded both holes, you need to process their edges from burrs and burrs. I carefully cut off all the excess with a knife, and then cleaned it with fine sandpaper.

It's Teng's turn. We take fluoroplastic plumbing tape and wind a decent layer on the thread. When the nuts are tightened, this layer will be tightly pressed between the wall of the moonshine tank and the limiters on the heating element and will create an excellent seal.

We insert the heating element into the prepared holes and, if it is not possible to immediately put the washer under the nut, tighten the nuts without washers to “pull out” enough threads. Then we unscrew the nut, wind a little more fluoroplastic between the tank wall and the washer, and now with the washer we tighten the nuts tightly.

This is what it looks like now:

All that remains is to connect the heating element and you can test the moonshine still using electricity. To connect to the network I took a copper one multi-core cable cross section 1.5 mm2. We clean it, connect the plug at one end, and connect the other to the heating element. In this case, to connect the heating element, the stripped ends of the cable are rolled into rings, which are placed between two washers on the heating element.

All that remains is to securely insulate the connections with blue electrical tape, check for any breakdowns in the case, and you can connect the electric moonshine still to the network.

In conclusion, I would like to add that 1.5 kW is not enough, the output dropped by 1/3 compared to working on three gas burners. In the future I plan to supply 2 kW + 0.5 kW for.

You can get acquainted with the designs of moonshine stills, and you will find recipes alcoholic drinks based on good moonshine

There are many ways to heat mash in a still. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Many people use direct heating using a burner gas stove, however, this method carries a risk of fire. Induction and electric furnaces are also popular, but the built-in electric heater still holds the lead. Which heating element is suitable for a moonshine still and how to install it?

Heating element for moonshine still

The name TEN stands for tubular electric heater. It is a relatively simple device that is used to convert electrical energy to thermal. It consists of a tube that is bent in a certain way and has a heating coil inside.

To increase heat conductivity properties, the space inside the tube is filled with some substance, for example, magnesium oxide. The spiral is made of nickel and chromium alloy wire, which ensures reliable operation of the heating element for a long time.

What are the main advantages of heating elements? Due to the fact that its design is closed, the device provides a high level of safety and is not afraid of vibration, shock and contact with liquid. However, it is worth noting that heating elements come in two main types, air and water. Only the latter are suitable for a moonshine still, but there is one restrictive condition for them: during operation they must always be in contact with liquid, otherwise they will burn.

However, practicality, reliability and safety classify it as a device that is most often used as a heater in a moonshine still. What is the main advantage of heating elements? The point is that you can use the moonshine still without the use of additional devices.

How to choose the right heating element?

Not every heating element is suitable for insertion into the device. A large number of heaters quickly fail upon contact with mash. This occurs due to oxidation and corrosion processes, which can not only damage the device, but also negatively affect the mash and the moonshine itself. Therefore, a heater for a moonshine still is better suited to be made of stainless steel.

How to choose the power of such a device? There is a generally accepted formula for this.

P=0.0011V(tk-tn)/T

In this formula, P means power, V is volume, T is the time required to heat the mash (measured in hours), tn and tk are the initial and final temperatures.

In fact, the process of choosing a heater for a moonshine still is a piece of cake; the procedure for its implementation will be much more difficult. Therefore, you first need to assess your capabilities, and then make a decision about installing and purchasing a heating element. However, if you still spend time and effort, you will get universal equipment with its own heater, which can be transported and used in any room where there is an outlet, and be self-sufficient.

Another interesting point: If you are going to use a device, you also need to think about how it will be connected. The fact is that heating elements are sold with different connection voltages, 220 volts and 380.

Of course, there is always the option of buying a ready-made moonshine still with a thermostat and heating element. Such a device will help not only not to use additional heating elements, but also to more correctly organize the process of preparing moonshine. Such a ready-made moonshine still is well suited for beginners and for those who doubt their ability to correctly connect and embed a heating element.

What is important to pay attention to when purchasing?

When purchasing, you need to evaluate some parameters. The first thing we do is check the heating element for a short circuit. This is usually done with a device called a multimeter, or tester. We apply the multimeter probes to the heating element contact and ground. It is worth immediately noting that the multimeter must have a dialing function. If at the same time it emits a characteristic signal, it means that a short circuit may occur; if it does not, then everything is fine.

Next, you need to check the heating element for external damage and corrosion, and make sure, if possible, that it is really made of stainless steel. As an option, you can use a copper heating element. It is also necessary to check the resistance. For example, for a 3 kW heating element, the resistance should be about 16–19 Ohms. The resistance of a heating element with a power of 2 kilowatts should be about 25 Ohms and so on. In order to determine what it should be, simply divide the square of the voltage by the power value in watts.

Another parameter that can be checked is ground leakage. However, this should not be done; it can be life-threatening. For this you need a megohmmeter, but if you don’t have one, then buying it just to check one heating element is impractical.

Therefore there is another way. To do this, you need a container that does not have grounding, for example, a 20 liter bottle. We fill it with water and insert the heating element there, connecting directly to the outlet. We simply bring an indicator screwdriver to it: here you can see that voltage is present at ground, which means that the heating element is broken and it is unsafe to operate it.

Installation of heating elements in a distillation cube

Usually, when purchasing a heating element, the package includes washers, gaskets and nuts. If you don't have them, you need to purchase them. The heating element must be selected depending on the volume of the tank. Typically, approximately 1.5–2 kW is preferred.

Next, you should choose a suitable location for installation so that installation and operation are not associated with additional, unnecessary difficulties. First we make markings on the wall of the tank and drill holes of the appropriate diameter. We process the edges of the hole, eliminating burrs and defects. To do this, it is convenient to use a needle file, sandpaper or other similar tools.

To ensure that the connections are airtight, we use fluoroplastic plumbing thread. It is designed to work with high temperatures and chemically neutral. If you have difficulty installing the washer, you must first tighten the nut, which will free the necessary threads. To connect to the electrical network, you must use a copper wire of the appropriate cross-section. For example, for a 1.5 kW heating element, a wire with a cross-section of 1.5 square millimeters is suitable. We isolate all connections; for power supply, we insert circuit breakers that are triggered during power surges in the network.

It should be noted that in order to embed the heating element into the tank, it must have a large neck through which it could be inserted so that later there is no need for additional procedures for sealing the distillation cube. If you do not want to engage in cutting in and connecting a device, which, in fact, is dangerous if it is connected incorrectly and malfunctions (the consequence may be a fire), buy a ready-made device. It will be manufactured in a factory and will be absolutely safe for some time, although it will cost much more.

Hi all!

Today I would like to talk about ways to heat the distillation cube of a moonshine still. There are several of these methods and you need to know about them. This knowledge is especially important for beginners who are just planning to purchase moonshine equipment.

Otherwise, it may turn out that a person wanted to make whiskey, but bought a cube unsuitable for this purpose. Or, on the contrary, he unnecessarily overpaid for equipment on which he intended to distill only sugar moonshine.

What influences the method of heating the distillation cube?

It is necessary to select a heating method depending on what kind of drink you want to get in the end. Or rather, on the raw materials you are going to use. For example, in one way you can very quickly distill sugar moonshine, but it is not suitable for distilling mash from grain or fruit.

The thing is that mash is made from grain, flour, grapes, etc. are the so-called “gentle” mashes. They are very thick and contain various inclusions and suspensions. So, with some methods of intense heating, the mash begins to burn, which has an extremely negative effect on the taste and aroma of the final product.

Conversely, in some cases you can use very effective methods that can significantly reduce distillation time and save you and me time.

Gas heating

Probably the most common heating method. There’s not much to say, so I’ll briefly list the pros and cons.

Pros:

• Easily accessible. There is one in almost every home.
• The heating method can be used on a cube of almost any design.
• It does not waste time on heating the burner and immediately heats the container (unlike electric stoves).
• Can be used for “delicate” mash. The mash practically does not burn, especially if the cube has a thick bottom.
• Gas is quite cheap.

Minuses:

• Very low efficiency (from 30% to 60%), and therefore the heating rate. The power of gas burners is on average 1.5-2 kW. With this efficiency, at best 1.2 kW will be delivered to the cube
• Not safe. We should never forget that we are dealing with a highly flammable liquid and its vapor. And you need to be very careful when boiling alcohol over an open fire. Especially if you work on low-quality and poorly sealed equipment.
• Limited space. Very often there are cases when a moonshiner buys equipment, but it does not fit the height of the stove - the hood on top is in the way. Of course, try installing at least such a thing.

But this one is weak?

Heating on heating elements

The toughest, but very effective method. Heating elements are built directly into the cube. Abbreviated as TEN. They work from the network. Depending on the design, one or more heating elements are installed. Power varies from 0.5 to 10 or more kW. The temperature of the heater walls reaches 300 degrees, the liquid on them boils and burns.

Inside the cube:

Pros:

• 100% efficiency. All heat is transferred inside the cube, which ensures high speed operation.
• Due to its high power and efficiency, it is practically indispensable for large volumes of moonshine.
• Some manufacturers offer cubes in which the heating element can be easily replaced with a steam bubbler (read about the bubbler below).

Minuses:

• The mash is burning mercilessly. The temperature of the heater walls reaches 300 degrees, causing the liquid on them to boil and burn. Even sugar mash can burn, especially if it is not clarified.
• To be able to change the heating power, you need to purchase a special regulator.
• If the liquid level drops below the heating element level, the latter will burn out. Just like a regular boiler. Therefore, an irreducible liquid residue must always be present in the cube.
• The presence of heating elements increases the cost of the equipment. Although they are relatively inexpensive.

Heating on an induction hob

Induction hob heats metal cookware using high frequency magnetic field. Powered by mains electricity. The most common models are 1.8 and 2 kW. Convenient as gas and more efficient. Can only be used with cubes that have a special bottom.

Pros:

• Safe. No open fire. When you remove the dishes from it, it turns off automatically.
• High efficiency - approximately 90%. Does not require heating - immediately heats the container.
• Provides uniform heating of the bottom, thanks to which it is “gentle” with the mash. Even “more gentle” than gas.
• Allows you to adjust power. The one in the photo has a range from 0.4 to 2 kW

Minuses:

• You need a cube specially designed for this heating with a bottom made of ferromagnetic material. Such dishes are marked special sign. It is worth noting that such cubes are also suitable for heating with gas.
• You need to purchase the tile itself. At the time of writing average price A 2 kW stove costs 2000-3000 rubles.

Steam heating

The most gentle way. Heating is carried out by supplying water vapor directly into the cube. The steam temperature (100 degrees) is, in principle, not capable of worsening the organoleptic properties of the final product. Steam is supplied from the steam generator through a special pipe with holes - a bubbler (pictured below).

Installation

Pros:

• Very gentle heat. Absolutely does not harm the taste and aromatic qualities of moonshine. Allows you to get the most delicious product.
• Some manufacturers offer cubes in which a heating element can be installed in place of the bubbler. Thus, the same container can be used both for hard and fast heating and for the most gentle heating.

Minuses:

• Significantly increases distillation time, because you have to first warm up the steam generator system itself.
• Necessary optional equipment- second cube, steam line, etc. This greatly complicates and increases the cost of the process.

That's all. I have listed the main heating methods. I hope today's article was interesting and useful for you.

Maybe I forgot something? If so, correct me in the comments.

All the best and see you soon.

An interesting solution is to equip the distiller with a tubular electric heater (TEN). The device is quite quickly distills mash And does not require installation on a stove or oven. True, electricity generates money, and the re-equipment itself will also force you to spend a little money.

Let's figure out what kind of heating element we need and how to properly install it into the distillation cube. Of course, you can purchase a ready-made one, but its price will be noticeably higher. In this case, you can try to do everything on your own.

A heating element with a BUILT-IN thermostat (from 300 to 2000 rubles) is best suited.

Best fit Heating element with stainless steel thermostat. Depending on the power, they cost from 300 rubles and more. Decent ones can be purchased for 2 thousand rubles, which will serve you faithfully for quite a long time.

Each volume of mash requires its own power:

The shape of the heater does not matter. The main thing is that it screws into the tank.

• Up to 10 liters – 1 kW.
• Up to 20 liters – 2 kW.
• Up to 30 liters – 3 kW.
• Up to 40 liters – 4 kW.

Roughly speaking, for every 10 liters of mash you need 1 kW of power. For large cubes, you can install two heaters at once.

Moreover, during heating both work, and after the temperature of the start of evaporation (63 degrees) we turn on only one.

A detailed video about the types of heating elements and their operation can be viewed on the Youtube channel Hootch Moonshine. Even though the guys advertise their products, they still tell a decent amount of information and share their experience with other moonshiners.

How to properly install a heating element in a moonshine still

With welding

This is the method most often used. It does not require the purchase of additional equipment, although welding skills are required. The method is considered not entirely reliable for the reason that due to welding, the seam near the bottom of the cube is broken, as a result of which it can burst and leak.

Therefore, at your own peril and risk take a welder and weld the clamp two inches into a similar hole, which must be cut in advance (a drill bit costs 250 rubles). Then the heating element will be quietly screwed in there, and after distillation it will be removed back.

This process is clearly shown in the video from the channel Steel Jet, where the author of the video shows the conversion of a Luxstal distillation cube.

No welding

An innovative solution was invented by the guys from the online store moonshine-i-vodka.ru, who caught the moment with negative impact welding on distillation stills. It was decided to insert the heaters without welding. For this we only need special nut And sealing ring for heating element(native will not work).

The work looks like this:

Screwed-in heating element without welding.

1. Using a drill with a crown, a hole is drilled for the heating element. This is usually two inches, but varies depending on the size and power of the heater.
2. The original ring is removed from the heater and a special one is put on (Where can I get it? More on that later).
3. A heating element is inserted into the hole, and a special nut is screwed onto it from the inside, which firmly attaches the heater to the container.

As a result, the ring follows the contours of the container, and the nut tightens everything. As a result, no welding and unnecessary work.

This set is sold in a specialized store, which I mentioned a little earlier. I didn't find a price for the nut, but the ring costs only 70 rubles. In any case, this matter will not be very expensive, because the nut, although unique, is quite simple. You can see all this in the video below.

Pros and cons of using heating elements

The main advantages are simplicity And speed distillation. There is no need to put the container on the fire, you can choose any room or even distill moonshine on the street. Heating occurs quickly.

However, not everything is so rosy. We are losing money, and the quality of distillation may be impaired if we do not buy a thermostat and a thermometer.

The heating element must always be immersed in water. Otherwise it will burn out.

• Heating element costs money. You won’t be able to do everything yourself for free, and a ready-made cube with a heater will cost even more.
• Electricity. All heating elements consume relatively a lot of energy, so this cost can be immediately included in the cost of one bottle of moonshine.
• Thermostat required. In villages they drink it without it, but sometimes the mash burns and the taste of the drink becomes clearly worse. In order not to take risks and adequately control the process, you will need to overpay for a temperature thermostat.

Is the game worth the candle? In our opinion, it's very worth it.

For all the re-equipment, we don’t pay so much money that we have to strain our backs and drag the cube onto the stove.

Heating with a heating element is the safest heating method. The heating elements are made entirely of AISI 304 stainless steel. Huge service life. The most convenient way to attach the heating element to the distillation cube has been implemented. In a few seconds, you can disconnect the heating element and calmly wash the distillation cube without fear of flooding the electrical contacts. Unlike brass heating elements, AISI 304 stainless steel does not react with mash and raw alcohol and does not release harmful impurities into the drink.