Well. I just had a brain storm or brain fart one. You be the judge. I had the problem of my thumper puking on me for being overfilled a few runs back, and i just came up with this. Basically, it's an overflow for the thumper, allowing the thumper to drain into another container without allowing vapor to escape. The water in the second container above the height of the drain tube prevents vapor escape. Cold water could be used well to this effect. After the run was completed, this water could be added back to the boiler for alcohol recovery if necessary. 
ATTACHMENTSthumpoverflow.GIF (3.38 KiB) Viewed 1755 times
I just realized that my life is a very complicated drinking game...

evilpsych Posts: 200Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:05 pmLocation: Central KYEquipment type: 15.5g Electric Keg boiler. 7.75g pony keg thumper - Simple potstill head with pinto-troller.

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Re: Thumper Overflow
by vb » Sat May 30, 2009 12:01 am
Hmm, that looks like a really good idea, a resivoir to retain the low wines from your thumper.
myself I found that a 6 litre thumper and 50 litre boiler, the thumper finished the run with less liquid than it started with, but never run dry yet.
I've been thinking of constructing a dual thumper system, I think I could make use of a slightly larger primary thumper than my current one, maybe doube the capacity?


posted this pic elswhere, but it looks like they've done the same thing as you're describing.

Give strong drink to him who is perishing, 
And wine to those who are bitter of heart. 
Let him drink and forget his poverty, 
And remember his misery no more.

vb Posts: 3750Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:38 pmLocation: True North Strong and FreeEquipment type: yes, and lots of it


Re: Thumper Overflow
by evilpsych » Sat May 30, 2009 2:32 pm
I know i've seen that picture a dozen times before, but this is the first time i've noticed the plumbing detail on those colored tanks. I'm pretty sure those upper connections to the top-sides of the thumper act as vents for the drains in the lower portions of the thumpers to retain those fractions after a distillation for blending later. As an overflow like i'm describing, i dont think they work quite in that way.
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I just realized that my life is a very complicated drinking game...

evilpsych Posts: 200Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:05 pmLocation: Central KYEquipment type: 15.5g Electric Keg boiler. 7.75g pony keg thumper - Simple potstill head with pinto-troller.

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Re: Thumper Overflow
by Harry » Sat May 30, 2009 6:36 pm
I think the correct thing to do is to size your thumpers and their initial charges to accomodate the entire run. Shouldn't be any overflow doing that. That's what the still in the pic shows.

But of course that won't stop a puke over. In that case you have no option but to stop the run, clean out & recharge your thumper, then start again. And tell yourself you won't make that mistake again (anti-foam, lower heat, you know the drill). 
Slainte!
regards Harry
http://distillers.tastylime.net/

Winning the hearts & minds; one post at a time.
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Harry Posts: 2070Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:11 pmLocation: Paradise aka Cairns Qld AustraliaEquipment type: 25 Lt 1500W elec. boiler, 2" x 40" packed column VM, x-flow O/head HX, crimp-path Liebig HX, VM proportioning valve, all in copper.
Various experimental gear.

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Re: Thumper Overflow
by Hawke » Sat May 30, 2009 7:13 pm
Here is my take on it.
The overflow would need to have the inlet submerged to keep vapor from choosing that path. 
Once it gets to the max level, it will syphon back down to the minimum level.

Valved Reflux (retired)
3" Boka 'mini' (semi retired)
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The Blockhead w/worm on 15.5 gal. keg.
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Hawke Posts: 145Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:05 pmLocation: NW USA]