Hello IDavid,
Thank you for a very interesting challenge. I was unable to locate a
freely available illustrated encyclopedia at U of M. If you have a
link for that particular encyclopedia and would like me to search it
for an illustration of a batch reflux device, please post it in a
clarification and I will be glad to do so.
However, in lieu of that, what I have found are diagrams and
illustrations for a number of batch reflux devices, ranging from a
home distillation apparatus (with reflux) to equipment for farm and
home production of alcohol fuels to distillation apparatus to complex
petrochemical distilling plants. As I?m sure you already know, this
is no simple topic, nor is there any such thing as a generic batch
reflux device. Therefore, I am including links to a variety of
batch-reflux devices and distillation apparatuses.
This might come the closest to a simple device. This link is to a .
pdf file for a document entitled, ?Building a Home Distillation
Apparatus: A Step by Step Guide.? Chapter 4 (page 14 ff) of this
document is on ?Reflux Stills? and ?Batch Distillation,? and includes
an overview of the history and development of these devices, as well
as some illustrations that may be of
to you. http://www.moonshine-still.com/still.pdf
This site ( http://www.geocities.com/windvaneproducts/reflux.html )
sells illustrated (with color pictures and diagrams) instructions for
building a home reflux distillation apparatus (reflux still) for $4.97
plus $2.95 s/h. It?s a little confusing. At first it seems they
might have something unique. But then, scrolling down their page, one
runs into an illustration very similar to that contained in the page
linked to above. Couldn?t hurt to look.
Here?s an excerpt of their copy: ?Basically, the reflux still is a
structure that allows the distillate vapors from a boiler to rise up a
column to the top where the vapors are condensed. The condensed liquid
is then allowed to run back down through the rising vapors to a point
where the temperatures become hot enough that it boils again. This
process is called refluxing. As this cycle continues, the mixture
inside the tower is effectively re-distilled. In the process, the
components of the mixture separate into discrete layers within the
column based on their boiling points.? ?At the time of this writing,
there is only one like it.? This is the same way it is done in
industry, except their stills allow them to draw off the multiple
layers, or different chemical components, at once!?
This page on distilling alcohol has links to drawings of stills and
more links to other related sites: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~
azamith/page5.
Chapter 11 from ?The Manual for the Home and Farm Production of
Alcohol Fuel? is on distillation theory with illustrations of a reflux
column among other still components, and links to other information:
http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_manual/manual11.html
This page on ?Batch Distillation? includes a number of illustrations:
http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/mvigeant/field_guide/hodges/template.
This ?Distillation Handbook? has explication and illustration of a
number of distillation apparatuses, including an illustration of an
industrial batch apparatus with reflux:
http://www.research.umbc.edu/~dfrey1/ench445/apv_distill.pdf
?The Distillation Group, Inc.? has a great deal of information on a
variety of distillation equipment, including that used in batch
distillation with reflux, as well as links to more. They have a link
to a photo gallery that unfortunately seems to be down currently,
although it may be resurrected. An email might yield some assistance
there.
http://www.distillationgroup.com/distill.htm
http://www.distillationgroup.com/links.htm
This company, Garg Scientific Glass Industries, has illustrations of a
number of distillation devices, including a batch distillation reflux
column: http://gargscientific.com/distillation.
This illustration of a distillation packed column appears to be used
as an instructional aid that can be applied to either batch or
steady-state (continuous) distillation: http://www.ddpsinc.com/
TeachingUnits/qts1.
I hope these photos and illustrations will meet your needs. But if
not, or I have misunderstood what you?re looking for, please do ask
for clarification before rating and closing the question, so I might
have the opportunity to be sure you?re satisfied with the information
given. Also, if you need something other than I?ve provided here,
please post a clarification stating more specifically exactly what
type of picture or illustration you?re looking for and I will be happy
to search further to help you find what you need.
Best regards,
Byrd
Search terms used:
batch reflux distillation apparatus OR device OR equipment
"beverage industry" batch reflux
alcohol batch reflux distillation apparatus OR device OR equipment |
Request for Answer Clarification by
idavid-ga
on
22 Nov 2003 05:05 PST
Many thanks for a thorough answer.
I haven't read and checked the whole of it yet, but the first
para. Can you please check:
http://www.engin.umich.edu/labs/mel/
Thanks again, Idavid
|
Clarification of Answer by
byrd-ga
on
22 Nov 2003 10:01 PST
Hello Idavid,
Many thanks for the link. I did go and check it out, and though on
the surface it looks like an online encyclopedia, unfortunately on
closer inspection turns out it?s an ad for a CD-ROM called ?Visual
Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Equipment.? Here?s the main page
about it: http://www.engin.umich.edu/labs/mel/equip.html and you can
view an online brochure, here: http://www.engin.umich.edu/labs/mel/
equipflyer/equip.
Now, if you are a student at U of M, it seems possible that this
encyclopedia is available through the ?Multimedia Educational
Laboratory? there. But if not, and/or it?s not possible for you
otherwise to make use of this study aid in person, here is the info
for ordering the CD:
To order the following CDs:
Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Equipment
Material and Energy Balances
Engineering Fundamentals in Biological Systems.
Please contact the CACHE Corporation:
CACHE Corporation
P.O. Box 7939
Austin, TX 78713
(512) 471-4933
cache@uts.cc.utexas.edu
Each CD costs $25 and works on both Macintosh and Windows 95/NT
computers. The CD can be installed on educational computer networks
for student access.
For any other information regarding the Multimedia Education
Laboratory, please contact:
Dr. Susan Montgomery
Chemical Engineering Department
University of Michigan
3094 Dow Building
2300 Hayward St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136
phone: (734) 936-1890
fax: (734) 763-0459
smontgom@umich.edu
If you do decide to place an order with Cache Corp., you might want to
check out their other offerings, such as a dedicated batch
distillation course on 2 PC diskettes, entitled, ?MultiBatchDS
Educational Version 2.0,? though this one is a bit pricey at around $
100. Here?s a link to it:
http://www.che.utexas.edu/cache/multibatch.html
================================================================================
Although it doesn?t appear that UM link is going to yield a free
illustration (though for the price I have to say it looks very
promising) I did do a little further research and came up with several
more links to illustrations of batch distillation equipment for you.
Here?s a great illustration of a batch distillation unit from the U of
Florida Chemical Engineering Dept:
http://unit-ops.che.ufl.edu/experiments/distillation_batch/apparatus.html
This commercial site from ?De Dietrich Process Systems? has some good
illustrations, including a batch distillation reflux column. You?ll
need to scroll down about three-quarters of the page:
http://www.ddpsinc.com/distillation.htm
Here is a .pdf document for a lab exercise on batch distillation,
which includes a schematic of such equipment with a packed column (vs.
a tray column):
http://www.engr.pitt.edu/chemical/undergrad/lab_manuals/packed_bed_rev_jan02.pdf
This company, Artisan Industries, has an illustration of batch
distillation apparatus with the tray type of column (you?ll need to
scroll down about halfway): http://www.artisanind.com/sol-chem/psh_08.
Here?s an interesting discussion on vapor-liquid separation, with
drawings:
http://www.engr.uconn.edu/~suzy/cheg%20224/Vapor-Liq%20separation%20notes.pdf
And this explanation of multi-stage batch (reflux) distillation also
has some good illustrations:
http://www.engr.pitt.edu/chemical/undergrad/lab_manuals/trayed_distillation.pdf
This student-prepared proposal, entitled ?Batch and Continuous Column
Distillation Optimazation and Design Project,? contains a schematic of
distillation equipment for both operations, and may be helpful:
http://csserver.evansville.edu/~mupec2003/proceedings/papers/Tri-State-DistillationProject.pdf
================================================================================
I hope with this additional information, together with that provided
previously, you might be able to locate a depiction of this kind of
equipment that will suit your needs. Please let me know if there is
anything further I can do to help you. Thank you, and best wishes.
Regards,
Byrd
Further search terms used:
["batch distillation" equipment reflux apparatus diagram OR
illustration OR drawing OR depiction]
["batch distillation" apparatus diagram OR illustration OR drawing OR
depiction]
["batch distillation" reflux apparatus diagram OR illustration OR
drawing OR depiction]
These were run both with and without the added qualifier: [ site:.edu ]
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
idavid-ga
on
23 Nov 2003 03:23 PST
Many thanks again.
I would be obliged if you could ask umich if the encyclopedia
contains what i ask (or look more closely in the
ad than i could ). in this case i'll purchase the cd.
I appreciate very much your efforts so far, they are definitely
helpful.
idavid
|
Clarification of Answer by
byrd-ga
on
23 Nov 2003 07:08 PST
Hello Idavid,
The description in the brochure for the "Visual Encyclopedia for
Chemical Engineering Equipment" CD lists a "distillation column." But
that could, of course, be for a continuous distillation device rather
than batch. I've emailed both the U. of M. contact and sent an
inquiry to Cache Corp. asking if the encyclopedia contains
specifically an illustration of a batch reflux distillation device
with reflux. I also asked whether it was available online, or for
download, or only on CD. It will likely not be immediately, since
today is Sunday, but I'll let you know what they say as soon as I
receive a reply.
Regards,
Byrd
|
Clarification of Answer by
byrd-ga
on
24 Nov 2003 07:53 PST
Hello Idavid,
This morning I received a reply to my inquiry from Dr. Susan
Montgomery, listed above as the contact for UM Chemical Engineering
Dept. Regarding the "Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering
Equipment, she said, "We do not have it, and it?s not available
online." She made no reference to my question as to whether this
resource actually contained the illustration you are looking for.
I am still waiting for a reply from Cache Corporation.
Regards,
Byrd
|
Clarification of Answer by
byrd-ga
on
25 Nov 2003 07:42 PST
Hello Idavid,
Here is the latest report on progress on locating information about
that CD: After receiving a mail delivery failure notification on the
email sent to Cache Corp. yesterday, I phoned them this morning.
Fortunately it was a local call for me since they don't list a
toll-free number. It rang through to the Chemical Engineering
Department at University of Texas, where the phone was answered by a
person who merely handles incoming calls, and is different than the
person who handles the orders for Cache Corp. This person told me
first, that the email address is valid, but they sometimes have
trouble with it, so the message may yet make it through.
Secondly, she said they have no idea what is on the CD as they only
sell it. She referred me back to Dr. Susan Montgomery at U. of
Michigan as the person who produced the CD. So I have emailed her a
second time asking if the illustration you are looking for is on the
CD or not, and am currently awaiting a reply. Hopefully I will
receive one. I'll wait a few days, but if no reply is forthcoming,
you may have no recourse but to purchase the CD if you're determined
to see what's on it, or else avail yourself of one or more of the
other illustrations available online. I'll keep you advised.
Cheers,
Byrd
|
Clarification of Answer by
byrd-ga
on
25 Nov 2003 08:50 PST
Hi Idavid,
Well I received a reply sooner than expected from Dr. Montgomery.
Here's what she said: "I?m sorry, my ?we do not have it? referred to
the fact that we don?t cover batch reflux devices. My apologies for
not being clearer on that matter."
So. That settles it - the University of Michigan "Visual Encyclopedia
of Chemical Engineering Equipment" does NOT have the illustration
you're looking for. Again, I hope at least one of the links previoudly
provided will lead you to a visual depiction that will meet your
needs.
Thank you again for the opportunity to assist you, and of course, let
me know if there is anything else you don't understand that I can
further clarify for you.
Kindest regards,
Byrd
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