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Terpenation at Terpene Station

Chonkski

Member
You start runnning into recovery problems 4" and above. It would require applying some sort of heat to the column to fully recover. I have noticeably more loss when using 4" as opposed to 3" columns.



Why is this?

I have yet to run my 4"x36" column so column heat loses me..

When you dump, does the enriched butane just stay in the column somehow? Does the bottom freeze shut or something?
 

Permacultuure

Member
Veteran
It becomes really difficult to recover the butane at the center of the column. 4" vs 3" is very noticeable I can only imagine how difficult it would get on a 6" column. This is why people started recovering directly from the column.
 

Chonkski

Member
It becomes really difficult to recover the butane at the center of the column. 4" vs 3" is very noticeable I can only imagine how difficult it would get on a 6" column. This is why people started recovering directly from the column.

That still confuses me as well.. How do you set the pump up to the bottom of the column without being sure of getting oil laden butane into your recovery pump?

I have two of the 4"x36" columns, I didn't think I was going to run into that..
 

Gray Wolf

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That still confuses me as well.. How do you set the pump up to the bottom of the column without being sure of getting oil laden butane into your recovery pump?

I have two of the 4"x36" columns, I didn't think I was going to run into that..

You recover the columns to 0F along with the tank, before isolating the columns for separate recovery.

When you start vacuuming a column, the rapid evaporation drops the temperature into the -50C range, which lowers the boiling point and stops the boiling. Heat addresses the refrigeration and keeps the process going.
 

Chonkski

Member
You recover the columns to 0F along with the tank, before isolating the columns for separate recovery.

When you start vacuuming a column, the rapid evaporation drops the temperature into the -50C range, which lowers the boiling point and stops the boiling. Heat addresses the refrigeration and keeps the process going.

I'm confused.


I recover everything to 0°F? What in specific is 0°f, the outside of the column/tank?

Then I isolate the column which has liquid butane it it still, and turn on a Promax connected to the bottom of the column and begin a seperated recovery..?

Am I looking at this wrong because this seems illogical to me? I hate type and text for these questions, I feel as if I am being misunderstood.

How can we be sure of not getting any liquid into the recovery pump connected to the bottom of a column?
 
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HG23

Member
The way I understand it is the diaphragm pump is used to recover the entire system until around 0F because that's when the refrigeration process explained above will really slow recovery in the column. I haven't run an extractor but I would imagine the 0F is a rough estimate and you will learn with experience when the process has slowed significantly. That's the perfect time to add heat to the column to speed things back up, but you don't want to introduce heat into your product.

To solve this issue you isolate and remove the column from the pot, add the heat, then T both the column and collection pot to the diaphragm pump which empties into an interim storage tank. Your oil less HVAC pump controls the pressure in that tank by intermittently running and pumping into the primary storage tank. It should never see liquid.
 

Chonkski

Member
The way I understand it is the diaphragm pump is used to recover the entire system until around 0F because that's when the refrigeration process explained above will really slow recovery in the column. I haven't run an extractor but I would imagine the 0F is a rough estimate and you will learn with experience when the process has slowed significantly. That's the perfect time to add heat to the column to speed things back up, but you don't want to introduce heat into your product.

To solve this issue you isolate and remove the column from the pot, add the heat, then T both the column and collection pot to the diaphragm pump which empties into an interim storage tank. Your oil less HVAC pump controls the pressure in that tank by intermittently running and pumping into the primary storage tank. It should never see liquid.


Right, I understand the setup. I have been running it fine with 1-1/2" diameter tubes with no problem all the way up to 48" in length.. But when i step it up with a gast(if they ever become available again) I want to know what to expect..

In the meantime, I am going to just run an MKiv Phoenix with two promax' coming from the collection tank.. I didn't know it was going to be this big of a problem, considering time isn't a big issue for me..
 

Permacultuure

Member
Veteran
I believe GW meant 0 psi....The dump should evacuate most liquid from the column if you wait until 0 psi to isolate the column.

Running two promax off the recovery port works great. You'll just experience greater butane loss when running 4" columns as oppossed to one with a smaller diameter.

The gast has nothing to do with isolating the column or not, its just a tool to aid in recovery and prolong the life of our recovery pumps
 

Gray Wolf

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You should be confused, I certainly was. You're paying attention to what my fumble finger typed, instead of what I meant.

Replace the word 0F with 0 gauge or 0 Hg. Atmospheric pressure. When there is no pressure and no vacuum.

At that point, you begin recovery from the column, as the standing liquid is gone and you are boiling away the balance as vapor.

I'm confused.


I recover everything to 0°F? What in specific is 0°f, the outside of the column/tank?

Then I isolate the column which has liquid butane it it still, and turn on a Promax connected to the bottom of the column and begin a seperated recovery..?

Am I looking at this wrong because this seems illogical to me? I hate type and text for these questions, I feel as if I am being misunderstood.

How can we be sure of not getting any liquid into the recovery pump connected to the bottom of a column?
 

Chonkski

Member
Aha! I had a feeling... Thank you guys for clearing everything up for me! It makes sense now. Am i crazy for still being weary about liquid going into the promax even after 0psi/"HG?

Like I have mentioned before, I have OCD very badly with this equipment..

Also, I am ready to order my gast. Does anyone have a direction to point me in as far as stock and ship time? I can wait how ever long for the back order..

Thanks you guys for taking the time to help me..
 
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gw got a question ran 70gs critical hog and got back 14gs of almost pure white cotton candy shatter, after i scraped it off which was very hard to do it got a lttle darker and changed to more of a shatter hard taffy consistency is ther any way to keep it in the white cotton candy state ? it looks so cool! gonna run some g13 x sour diesel tomorrow for oral meds it will be my 1st time using any real amount of heat on the pot hoping for a more runny partly decarbed oil wish me luck and thanks in advance for answer
 

Gray Wolf

A Posse ad Esse. From Possibility to realization.
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Aha! I had a feeling... Thank you guys for clearing everything up for me! It makes sense now. Am i crazy for still being weary about liquid going into the promax even after 0psi/"HG?

Like I have mentioned before, I have OCD very badly with this equipment..

Also, I am ready to order my gast. Does anyone have a direction to point me in as far as stock and ship time? I can wait how ever long for the back order..

Thanks you guys for taking the time to help me..

We got ours from AOP Technologies. automation@aoptec.com
 

Gray Wolf

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The ones we tried like that didn't have an adjustable packing gland nut.
 

Chonkski

Member
As for the extra triclamp parts and ball valves I do not need, (2" encapsulated ball valve, 4" x 2" endcap reducers, 2" recovery manifold ect.)

You guys have any idea of a place I can sell these if I don't need them? They just lie around, when they are expensive pieces of equipment and should be used.
 

Permacultuure

Member
Veteran
As for the extra triclamp parts and ball valves I do not need, (2" encapsulated ball valve, 4" x 2" endcap reducers, 2" recovery manifold ect.)

You guys have any idea of a place I can sell these if I don't need them? They just lie around, when they are expensive pieces of equipment and should be used.

I'll take em for a fair price!!
 
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