It is quite possible to get homemade moonshine of excellent quality. Of course, if you have a moonshine still at home that allows you to make it. In order for the quality to be exactly high, careful cleaning and several distillations will be required. But all this can be achieved faster and easier, which requires constructing a distillation column for moonshine with your own hands.
Operating principle of a distillation column
First of all, it is worth understanding the term rectification of alcohol. Rectification is the separation of a multicomponent substance into fractions. That is, separately methyl, ethyl alcohol, aldehydes, fusel oils and more. This happens due to the evaporation of liquids and condensation of steam many times.
Distillation column diagram
Rectification, or bubbling, is possible due to the fact that the concentration of components in different phases is different, and the system tends to equilibrium. The liquid and vapor phases exchange components: the liquid receives highly volatile ones, and the vapor receives highly volatile ones. At the same time, heat exchange occurs between the two different phases.
Due to the different directions of movement of liquid and vapor, after the system reaches equilibrium at the top of the distillation column, pure components can be selected. In this case, as in a moonshine still, liquids with a low boiling point are first selected, then those with a high boiling point.
Bubbler column: device
A distillation column is a device for separating a liquid into components with different boiling points. It is made in the form of a cylinder, the cross-section of which can be either variable or constant, and contains special elements - contact plates, which are located inside the cylinder. In addition, most of these columns have special units for supplying raw alcohol and selecting pure fractions.
The distillation column has the following basic parameters:
- Materials and size. As a rule, all elements of home moonshine stills are made of stainless steel or another alloy that expands evenly at temperature, for example, copper. The dimensions of the column are from 120 cm in length, with a diameter of at least 30 mm.
- Heating system. The process requires precise control and the ability to quickly increase power, so the system is equipped with heating elements that are mounted in the lower part of the apparatus cube. It is not recommended to use heating from a gas stove due to the high inertia of the system.
- Process control. It is very difficult to control the rectification process without two devices - a thermometer and a barometer.
- Performance. Better cleaning occurs with a larger column and more plates inside. Also, the performance will be influenced by such a parameter as heating power, but it should not be too large so that the system does not choke.
- Pressure. For successful rectification it is necessary that the pressure at the top of the column is almost atmospheric. Otherwise, at lower pressures, the vapor density decreases and the system choke; At higher pressures, the evaporation rate decreases and the efficiency of the system decreases. To maintain the correct pressure, the column must be equipped with a communication tube with the atmosphere.
How realistic is it to assemble a speaker with your own hands? A device such as a distillation column is not too complicated. In practice, it is implemented by many craftsmen and quite successfully. However, this comes with some dangers. First of all, a person who wants to make such a column with his own hands must have knowledge in the field of physics and at least at some more advanced level understand how it should work. It is necessary to calculate all the structural components, select materials, manufacture and assemble everything so that it is safe.
Factory columns are tested, have quality certificates, and are supplied with instructions. The danger of a homemade device lies in the occurrence of an explosion or fire if there are errors in the design.
DIY distillation column
Assembling a distillation column also has its advantages. You are not so dependent on funds and with some skill you can make something of high quality while saving money. A self-made column for a moonshine still will cost two to three times less.
So, in order to make a distillation column, first of all we need a stainless steel pipe more than 120 cm long. It is better that its diameter is about 45 mm. A thermos with a volume of less than one liter is best suited for a reflux condenser. In addition, you will need adapters for joining pipes, unit containers and a reflux condenser. Ideally, all these parts should be made of stainless steel.
For good thermal insulation of the entire device, you should buy insulation. The supporting reinforcement washers are made of sheet steel. We will make thermometer bushings from fluoroplastic, and copper tubes with a diameter of about 5 mm are used to drain water. Before constructing the apparatus, it will also be necessary to make a drawing on paper in order to see what we are dealing with.
In addition, before you begin production itself, it is worth acquiring some necessary equipment. Some tools can be found at home, but the rest will have to be purchased or borrowed from someone:
- A flexible tube more than 100 mm long, preferably made of silicone. It does not deform and is temperature resistant.
- Thermometer.
- Adapters for taps.
- Soldering iron, at least 100 watts.
- Solder and flux.
- Emery machine.
- Drill.
- Pliers.
- File.
- Hammer.
- Burner.
All of these tools are the minimum required to create a speaker. It won't be possible to do it without them.
Creating a device.
After all the drawings have been drawn and the tools have been purchased, we begin work. It is worth noting in advance that it will be complex and responsible, in addition, it will require certain skills in working with certain tools, in particular, a soldering iron.
To begin, we cut off a piece of pipe, chamfer it and trim the edges. Next, we make an adapter; it will connect the pipe and the extraction unit. On the one hand, it should fit into the pipe as tightly as possible, and on the other, it should have a thread of about 2–2.5 mm. Thus, we will get automation at the stage of vapor condensation.
After this, we begin to create the washers. The size of the washers should be no more than 4 mm, and the diameter should be such that they subsequently fit confidently into the pipe. A pipe is inserted into one part of it, and an adapter is soldered into the other part. This place will connect the element to the distillation tank.
After this, the pipe is inserted into the adapter, and the joint is heated by a burner. We proceed to the manufacture of filler for the rectifier. We pour it into the pipe and shake it vigorously so that it is evenly distributed throughout it. In this case, it is worth making sure that the filler fills the column completely.
The other end of the pipe is inserted into a washer intended for attaching the nozzle. On the other side, the end of a copper tube is placed into it for collecting alcohol; it must first be tinned. All parts at that stage form one structure, the outer side of the pipe is thermally insulated.
The next stage is the process of creating a reflux condenser. We take a thermos and sand its bottom with sandpaper. We make a bracket from tin and loops from steel wire, which are inserted into the brackets and twisted using pliers.
The free end of the wire is clamped in a vice and attached to the wall of the thermos. The latter is shaken vigorously so that its bottom falls off. The seam connecting the lid of the thermos and the flask is sharpened, this is done until a small gap appears in its place. The inner rings are removed from the shell.
To make a reflux condenser, it is necessary to separate the bottom and vacuum lid from the thermos. In order for air to enter the reflux condenser, we make a hole along the back side of the inner flask. We process it with sandpaper and insert a tube, the hole of which is sealed. We make another hole in the bottom of the thermos and put the flask on the bottom of the container. We solder the junction of the flask and the bottom of the thermos. We insert the sampling tube into the neck and solder it.
Using a drill, make holes in the top and bottom of the flask. Tubes are inserted into them to drain water. Next, we drill a hole in the distillate sampling unit and place the thermometer sleeve there. It can be anything, but preferably plate-shaped, because under such conditions it is easier to monitor temperature fluctuations.
Using this simple algorithm, you can create a good distillation column. Of course, such a homemade distillation column is far from the quality of a production one, and in order to make it, you have to try, but this is already something. You will also need a moonshine still. Together they will make it possible to receive a high-quality product at home without much effort.
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.
Was this article helpful?
Thank you for your opinion!
Write in the comments what questions you have not received an answer to, we will definitely respond!
38
once already
helped
A distillation column is a special apparatus that is intended for separating liquids that have excellent properties. Such apparatuses are mainly used in industry, however, sometimes a distillation column is made with one’s own hands for home use.
The design is mainly used in the process of moonshine brewing. The principle of its operation is to separate pure alcohol or moonshine from the original liquid. It happens like this: raw materials are poured into the column tank and heated to a certain temperature. As the liquid boils, steam is released, which settles in the upper part of the device, condenses and collects in an additional vessel, and the unused liquid is returned back to the tank.
Naturally, in order to make a high-quality distillation column with your own hands, you need to choose the right material for manufacturing. If all elements are carefully selected, and the design of the apparatus is made without errors, then the result should be pure alcohol, free of impurities, odor and foam. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the manufacture of the device, its structure and circuit.
A do-it-yourself distillation column is made in accordance with the diagram. Moreover, it is much smaller in size than an industrial device, which can have a height of more than 20 meters. A home-made distillation column, the design of which cannot be called simple, consists of many elements. First of all, you need to purchase a steel pipe, the length of which is about 120-150 cm. A liter thermos can be used as a reflux condenser. You will also need adapters that will connect the pipe to the tanks, insulation for the nozzle part of the device, a stainless steel sheet for making support washers, a small tube used as a water drain and a refrigerator. It should also be noted that the steel must be safe for health, that is, it could be used in the food industry.
The tools you will need are a hammer, an electric drill with drills, pliers, a file, sandpaper, a soldering iron with solder or flux, tap adapters, small-diameter rubber tubes and a thermometer.
A homemade distillation column is manufactured using a certain technology. The pipe must have the required length, and its edges must be trimmed. A special adapter is used to connect the pipe and the distillate unit. The connection between the pipe and the cube must be soldered, and the soldering area subsequently requires cleaning. Next, you need to make steel nozzles, which are poured into the pipe to the very top.
Now a support washer is inserted into the pipe, into which the narrow end of the selection is inserted. The connection point is also soldered. The next step is to thermally insulate the pipe.
The thermos, which will be used as a reflux condenser, must be disassembled and the bottom removed. The inner flask should be pulled out from the outer one and the vacuum lid of the thermos should be removed. You need to make a hole in the flask in the center of the bottom of the element and in the central part of its back side. You need to insert a pipe into the top hole and solder it there. Next, the bottom is put on the flask. Holes are also made in the outer flask for water drainage and supply pipes. They are located in the upper and lower parts of the flask. The connections must be soldered. In the distillate sampling unit you need to make a hole for the thermometer sleeve.
A do-it-yourself distillation column is made with careful observance of safety rules. Naturally, during work, protective gloves, clothing, a mask and a respirator are used. After making the device, all soldering areas should be washed with a solution of water and soda and rinsed with running water.
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 released 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.
Column) is a device for the production of “under-rectified”, that is, strong and relatively pure moonshine. The resulting product is better than distillate, but does not reach the level of rectified product. You can read about its difference from a conventional moonshine and distillation apparatus here -.
Today we will consider the option of making a reinforcing column with our own hands. This work requires knowledge of its structure, and owning a welding machine and grinder. It is quite difficult to assemble something adequate from trash, but we will try to offer you the most budget-friendly and affordable option, which will yield a strong and relatively high-quality product.
There are not as many components as it might seem at first glance.
- Three pipes with a diameter of 32 mm made of stainless steel.
- Two nuts for connecting to the cube.
- Stainless steel refrigerator
- Sewer pipes, coupling and adapter for washing machine (dephlegmator).
- It is used as the basis of the distillation cube.
So how will we do solid column, then you will need a welding machine with electrodes and a grinder.
The design will not imply disassembly, and it will need to be washed directly with water.
Before starting work, I suggest studying the structure and operating principle of this device.
Did it most successfully Lucky on your Youtube channel. A lot of questions are closed in the comments, so also study this section.
Blueprints
Your base for the machine will probably not be the same as ours. For this reason, you will not be able to make an identical column, since your pipe and connection dimensions will be different.
That's why we have prepared for you selection of drawings, which you can use to navigate while working. Choose the best option for yourself, assemble all the parts and you can get to work. The video will be presented below.
Drawing with dimensions and names of parts. 
Made of copper. 
With a drawer of 22 mm. 
Visual diagram.
Step-by-step instructions for making a reinforcing column
It is very difficult to explain the practical part in words, so I suggest you watch 2 videos from the Youtube channel homemade PRODUCTION. These videos are considered the most popular, as they show a budget option for manufacturing a reinforcing column.
The whole process can be divided into several parts:
- Preparation of equipment and components of the apparatus.
- Connecting and welding pipes, that is, creating a sealed system.
- Testing and improving distillation (adding or working with a reflux condenser).
The result is a rather ugly, but working moonshine still. On it you can make moonshine with fortification, selecting most of the harmful fractions from the product.
Copper column
If stainless steel does not suit you for some reason, then the only alternative would be copper. The device will be more expensive, more efficient and better. This material is difficult to care for, but the results are always fantastic.
I propose to study the operation diagram of a copper reinforcing column and understand its main components. The author will talk about those parts of which it consists, so after watching the video you will have an objective picture of how it can be done.
