Distillation,

also known as classical distillation, is the process of selectively boiling and

condensation to separate components or substances from a liquid mixture. Dry

distillation is a process of heating of solid materials to create gaseous products.

ALAQUA is a US company that is a distillation equipment supplier along

with other processing equipment suppliers. Distillation can produce a nearly full

separation or a partial separation that raises the concentration of specific

components in a mixture. The method, in either scenario, takes advantage of

variations in the relative volatility of the mixture’s constituents. Distillation

is a unit operation with almost universal importance in industrial applications,

however, it is a physical separation process rather than a chemical reaction.

However, there appears to be a lot of misunderstanding and uncertainty about the

benefits of continuous distillation, how it works, how expensive it is, and so on,

but it is much less complicated than one might expect. The constant tag denotes that

the equipment is never turned off. That also entails working a second or third shift

merely to keep the machine running. However, this is to be expected when a

distillery is ramping up output. Selecting the proper distillation method is very

important. Making this decision without adequate information can be challenging if

you are unfamiliar with the two types of distillation procedures. Usually, there are

two types of distillation equipment to select is between batch and continuous

distillation techniques. Because both of these approaches have their own set of

advantages and disadvantages, it’s critical to learn more about each one before

deciding which is best for you. Basically, Batch and continuous distillation vary as

batch distillation is done in batches, whereas continuous distillation is done

continuously. The quality of the alcohol will be enhanced by using a still

configuration. Because there is a bigger surface area for the vapour to form, a

fractionating column on top of the distillation flask improves the alcohol

significantly. Small subsystems in certain distillation apparatus will hold boiling

liquid mixtures in separate plates. The process of steam distillation is used to

make heat-sensitive chemicals. Thanks to the steam control valve, the temperature of

the steam allow for a fast rate of heat transfer without a high heat transfer. Some

of the target compounds will vaporize, and the resulting vapour will be cooled and

condensed. Steam distillation is a common method for those who want to make their

own essential oils because the vapour usually has a coating of water and oil in it.


POT STILL DISTILLATION: HOW A POT STILL

Time for a thought experiment: a time machine has been built. Naturally, a

whiskey-crazed connoisseur uses it to bring back a famous distiller such as John

Jameson or Elijah Craig to the present day. Of course, they’d be asked to distill

some whiskey, perhaps at a local craft distillery. Think they could do it? The

answer is “most likely” and they could probably do it without too much trouble.

The reason is that despite the proliferation of smartphones, genetic engineering,

and putting people in space, the human species has yet to markedly improve on the

technology of pot still distillation. Except for the continuous still invented in

the late 1700s, the basic pot

still design used by so many distillers across the globe would be fairly

recognizable to distillers from centuries ago. Pot stills are used to make many

of the world’s great spirit styles, such as single malt scotch, cognac, many rums,

and most mezcal. Conversely, large industrial column stills make the bulk of the

alcohol produced on Earth. But the rudimentarily reliable pot still remains king in

some important circles. The function of the pot still starts fittingly enough

inside the pot. The pot is the large tub-like base that the rest of the components

of the still attach themselves to. This is where the liquid to be distilled starts

its transformative journey. The pot may be heated through a variety of means. This

includes a steam jacket lining the outside walls of the pot or even a steam coil

inside the pot itself. Traditionally, a direct flame from a burner is placed

underneath the pot. This is common in cognac production and some scotch distillers

stand by this method. Minor mechanical advances aside, the components described

above have been in use with pot still distillation for generations. Improvements on

the design of the pot still have been iterative at best and there’s good reason for

that: pot stills make good spirits rather easily. Don’t mess with success as they

say.


ADVANTAGES OF CLEAN-IN-PLACE (CIP) SYSTEMS

Clean-in-Place (CIP) is a

process allowing a complete system to be cleaned without dismantling it or the

manual involvement of the operator. It includes several activities that

combine to properly clean all or part of a process system without having to take the

system apart. CIP systems pump cleaning, rinsing, and sanitizing solutions through

the same piping path as the product to eliminate product soil from internal

surfaces. CIP systems vary widely in configuration, capacity, quality, and level

of automation. They also vary by industry. Differences in product characteristics

and regulatory considerations between various industries impact the design of

a CIP system. The number of CIP applications for food, dairy, and beverage

process systems has grown significantly in recent years. In most food, dairy and

beverage systems, the surface finish for product contact areas tends to be the

standard sanitary surface finish of 32Ra minimum. This is rougher than the finishes

required in the pharmaceutical world, but it is smooth enough to allow most product

residues to release easily. Some of the main economic benefits of installing a CIP

system


More Production Time: Less production time lost to cleaning, more time spent

making product.


Product Quality: Reliable and repeatable cleaning leads to sustainable product

quality and consistency, fewer product recalls, and higher brand confidence.


Employee Efficiency: More labor time spent on productive, profitable

activities.

Utility Savings: Water and energy usage reduced through repeatable cycle

control.


Lower Water Treatment Costs: Less effluent down the drain.



3 Advantages of Packaged Process Steam Boiler Systems


Almost every major industrial process these days requires steam systems. A

variety of manufacturing processes, heating and sterilization, distillation,

moisturization, humidification, and propulsion drive applications require steam.

Steam generation dates back to the first simple steam engine designed by the

mathematician Hero around A.D. 75. The first water-tube boiler was patented by John

Blakey in 1766. In short, steam has been around for ages and we're becoming

more and more capable of harnessing its power. To the uninitiated, the usage of

steam systems can be intimidating at best. To others familiar with



steam systems, complacency can be a danger. However, there are a series of

advantages in purchasing and installing a packaged process steam boiler system.


Great for tight spaces. Packaged feedwater, water treatment and blowdown

equipment are all of the necessary support components needed to supply your steam

boiler in just one compact skid. This is especially helpful for retrofit

applications where you can’t just blow out a wall of a mechanical room but,

instead, need to fit all of your equipment into an existing space.


Reduced site installation time and costs. Utilizing a packaged system

decreases the need for expert labor in the field. There has been an increasing

shortage in skilled labor over the past decade. According to Associated General

Contractors of America, 52% of companies are struggling to fill openings for

laborers, carpenters, and equipment operators. Additionally, since no coordination

of complex accessory components is needed, it saves valuable job site time.


Increased reliability. Packaged steam systems offer critical factory-tested

functionality before the skid ever reaches your job site. Our manufacturing partner,

CERTUSS, will completely assemble and test your package on the manufacturing floor

before it ever arrives to your job site. Testing is a crucial part of a steam system

install to prevent any unexpected issues post-installation.




Advantages of copper stills

The copper still is the spirit of

tradition because initially stills were made of this metal. The first to use copper

for production of such apparatuses were Arabs. The metal could assume any form and

size, had high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. After a while people

began to use copper for still production in Europe too. The French made a great

contribution having started production of copper alembics. Copper stills are used

worldwide for production of essential oils in large and small enterprises until now.

The copper stills become hot quickly that contributes to uniform heating and

acceleration of distillation process. As a result, useful substances and aromatic

compounds are extracted from raw material at once. Consequently, you will get

natural odor of herbal preparations and blooms preserved in your oil or hydrolat.

One more considerable advantage of copper is its antibacterial properties. That is

why hydrolats and essential oils produced with copper equipment will have a long

shelf life without addition of preservatives. It is also important to note that

the copper stills are hardwearing and have long useful life. They are easy repaired

with the use of food tableware alloys. It is possible to dismantle the still

easily in hot state as well as in cold state due to the clamp, and it is unnecessary

to wait when it cools. That type of connection also provides the leak-proofness

of the apparatus in the process of distillation. As a result, vapor doesn’t outflow

on joints. It is issue of safety and cost effectiveness Distilling equipment made

of copper is beautiful not only when it is new and polished.Over time the still gets

natural coating i.e. patina. It creates some charm of refinement. Therefore, it

doesn’t matter when you acquired the copper apparatus. It will be always beautiful

and refined addition of you interior.