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It is of critical importance that we should all be aware of the dangers
involved in distilling alcohol.
The fundamental safety rules for operating a still are listed below.
 Read
the guidelines BEFORE you start playing
around
with your still!!
-
Don't distill in a
closed room. Try and keep some through-draught (e.g. both a window
and door open)
-
If your still leaks
(liquid or steam) - fix it instead of using it
-
Collect the alcohol
securely - don't put yourself in a position where its easy to knock
over the collection vessel etc, or bump the tube out of it. This
means having enough space to work in, well lit, tidy.
-
Keep a fire extinguisher
with you (and on your side of whatever is going to catch fire)
-
If using electrical
heating, have an RCD on the line (residual current device - a fancy
circuit breaker)
-
Check your still with
water-only the first time you use it, to make sure your condenser
is up to the job. You don't want vapor coming out of the collection
tube.
-
Be sober - its not
a time to be making drunken mistakes.
-
Pay attention to the
still - check it regularly (cooling water still flowing, no leaks,
collecting nicely, all temperatures OK)
-
Do the math - don't
boil the still dry
-
Make sure the outlet
tube is free flowing - not crimped or blocked in any way.
-
Make sure the still
design is such that you can't pressurize the still - it should always
be able to vent somehow to atmosphere. There shouldn't be valves
such that you can fully close the column off
-
Don't smoke - you don't
want ignition sources around a liquid as flammable as gasoline fire
The next greatest risk to distillers is that of
fire
You're producing a
liquid, which is on a par with gasoline with flammability, yet doing
so around heating elements (or even gas flames).
The primary danger is that of explosion
or burning of the alcohol. Most distillers immediately recognize
the potential explosion or fire dangers of distilling a petroleum
fraction to produce gasoline. Alcohol and gasoline fuels share these
common risks-a primary reason they are such excellent fuel sources
for spark ignition engines, which actually use a controlled explosion
to produce power the table below lists some characteristics of both
fuels.
Characteristics of Ethanol and Gasoline.
Characteristic Ethanol Gasoline
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Flash point 55 F -44 F
Ignition temperature 689 F 536 F
Vapor flammability limit 3.3-19 1.4-7 6
(% by volume)
Specific gravity 0.8 0.8
(Water equals 1)
Vapor density 1.6 3-4
(Air equals 1)
Boiling point 172 F 100-400 F
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Alcohol vapor is explosive when
mixed with air in amounts ranging from 3-19 percent by volume, at
room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Gasoline vapor is explosive
when mixed with air in the range of from 1.4-7.6 percent by volume
for the same temperature and pressure conditions. Both alcohol and
gasoline vapors are heavier than air, which may add to their accumulation
in enclosed areas or in low-lying ground depressions around or down
stream from the vapor source.
What you should keep in mind,
if you would like to
avoid a fire...
- Make sure that there
is no way you can build up pressure inside your still - say by blocking
the outlet piping (accidentally crimping it ?).
- Make sure your equipment
is in good condition when you use it, that its clean (don't want the
packing material clogging up & blocking), and that there are no
leaks.
- Don't bury the outlet
tube under the surface of the liquid level in the collection jar,
rather have it dripping into it openly.
- If using gas, keep
the collection jar quite away from it. Don't set up your collection
jars so that they are easily knocked over, and cap them when not in
use.
- Keep your area well
ventilated, and never leave the still unattended. At all times keep
a fire extinguisher close!!
Source:
"Home distillation of alcohol" by Tony Ackland (www.homedistiller.org)
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