OVENS FOR STILLS OF 2 LITERS

In relation to the oven for a 2-litre alembic, we can use, with advantage, a smaller electric frying cooker following the same norms of assembly as the oven for of 6-litre alembic.

When you acquire the electric frying cooker, take a 2-litre balloon or Erlenmeyer to verify that it enters easily in the cooker. 

You can also opt for the following solution. Acquire a pot of thick aluminium with an inner diameter of 17 cm and 15 cm of height. Acquire, also in a store, a 1 kW small portable electric stove without temperature selector, that is, in preference of the old model, with leg support. The round metallic box where the refractory ceramic mould is installed with the resistance should not have more than 13 cm of diameter.

In this stove model, after the upper metallic part that contains the refractory ceramic mould with the resistance has been dismounted, it is separated from the metallic support that is the base of the stove. The referred boxes are fastened together by a screw and nut.

Before dismounting it, disconnect the resistance wires from the connection terminal, marking its position.

With an electric drill, bore a hole in the bottom centre of the pot with enough diameters to allow the screw to pass loose.

Then, place the metallic box in the pot, introducing the screw in the suitable hole and mark the place where the wires will go through the metallic box that contains the resistance and there, make two holes in the pot so that those two wires can pass through.

Again, place the box in the pot, in order to introduce the screw in the central hole and in the metallic support, then take care of passing the resistance wires through the opened holes in the pot.

Holding with one hand the metallic box with the refractory and the resistance, place a washer on the screw and tighten the screw to the suitable nut. Be sure to verify if the wires of the resistance are in position to be tighten to the screw of the connection plate.

Tighten the nut in that position. Check that the wires coming out of the metallic box are well insulated, that is, that the insulation covers the wires completely and have not been damaged.

Wrap the wire’s end to the suitable screws as they were previously and tighten the nuts. Verify that the wires are not leaning against the support or the pot. Verify, also, if the electric cable that came with the stove is connected in the same place as it was previously.

Place the lower cover on the metallic support and tighten the fixation screw. The oven will be ready to work.

Pay attention that none of the wires make any accidental contact with the pot or with the metallic support, because if that happens, you can get an electric shock from it when you connect the oven.

If you can get only the ceramic mould with the suitable resistance in a store of the specialty, it will be so much better because it will be cheaper for you, but that implies also that you have the suitable knowledge to install it in the pot.

In the image you have an oven of that type where one can see the refractory ceramic plate with the resistance.

In this case, as the resistance is without the metallic protection as in the ovens, it will be necessary you to use a Ceran Shott 135 x 135 mm plate which you will have the corners cut at a glass master so that it can enter the pot and be applied over the ceramic mould. This plate will protect the cucurbit of the direct contact with the incandescent metal of the resistance.

In these ovens the bathing of sand won't be allowed because it would deteriorate the resistance.

This oven cannot be connected directly to the 110 or 220V power supply, but through an electronic regulator as it was already referred to.

Those that don't want to do this work can buy an electrical "blanket" used by the chemistry laboratory, which will allow regulating the temperature in each case.

The alembic to use with this oven, for the distillations and rectification’s of acid spirits, can be constituted by two cucurbits: one made of good Pyrex glass plane bottom, and the other will be a conic (Erlenmeyer) of 2 litres, with a IN45mm female joint. The helm can be of 1 or 1,5 litre, with a IN45mm male joint and a 30 cm straight tubular (horn) with a male IN19mm joint at the beak. The recipient can be a 2 litre spherical balloon with capillary air hole in the belly and a IN29mm female joint. Just as previously, the adapter of the recipient for the helm will be a reducer of IN19mm female to a IN29mm male joint with leak.

To make the circulation, a blind helm should be used, made with a 1 or 1,5 litre spherical balloon of 1 or 1,5 litres, with a IN45mm male joint and with a capillary air hole in the top.

We recommended to always covering the exposed part of the cucurbit that is standing out of the oven with aluminium foil, not only to improve the distillation, but also to avoid the fact that cool air could break it. Also, it will be always convenient to apply silicon on all joints every time that you use the alembic.

Rubellus Petrinus