The calculator draws the cross-section of a cooler according to the specifications of the number of inner pipes and the diameters and wall thicknesses of the pipes and calculates geometric data for them.
In addition to normal Liebig condensers, shotgun condensers with three, four or seven inner pipes are also possible. Other numbers are geometrically comparatively inefficient, since they require a comparatively large diameter of the outer pipe to accommodate a large cooling surface.
At least, if all inner pipes are to have the same diameter.
And more than seven inner pipes are probably not necessary in the hobby sector.
The data of the condenser can also be saved as a pdf and then printed out.
This pdf also contains two templates in original size, according to which you can saw or drill the end pieces of the shotgun condenser.
The printer must print the sheet original to 100%.
No additional margins may be preset.
To check the scale, a 1cm or 1inch grid is visible in the background.
The inner pipes are automatically placed in all construction forms in such a way that the constrictions between the pipes are the same everywhere.
So between the inner pipes is the same gap as between the inner pipes and the outer pipe.
This minimizes the risk of the pipes touching each other and reducing the performance of the condenser if the build is slightly inaccurate.
This calculator is probably not finished yet.
At some point, we will hopefully also be able to calculate length and heating capacity recommendations depending on the application (either combined condenser and cooler as in a Potstill, CM or VM, or reflux condenser or pure cooler as in an LM) of the condenser.
In general, of course, it is mainly the cooling surface that determines the possible cooling capacity.
But here are a few guidelines on what factors besides the cooling surface affect the performance of the condenser:
- The cooling area of a condenser is significantly more efficient the more vertical the condenser is.
A vertical condenser can thus reach a distillate temperature just above the cooling water inlet temperature with much less length.
However, a vertical condenser placed close to the still often has the disadvantage that the still must be placed on a platform and that the distillate vessel is close to the heating source.
- A small inner diameter of the various pipes means significantly more cooling capacity per surface area, at least in the cooling area and when the condenser is angled.
However, small inner diameters are dangerous because they clog more easily.
And the still runs turbulently when steam is passed through a thin pipe.
This can force one to reduce the heat input.
But pure coolers, those that don't need to condense steam, for example, product coolers of an LM, can be built of very thin pipes.
Reflux condensers made of many thin pipes flood at less heating power than those made of a few thick pipes.
- A high cooling water speed through the narrowest possible design, i.e. little distance between the pipes, results in higher efficiency in the condensation area, i.e. condensation of the steam with less length.
This is best achieved with a normal Liebig condenser, and worst with a shotgun condenser with three inner pipes.
The comparison of the cross-sectional areas of the product area and the water area calculated here has the purpose of assessing this.
The higher this number, the faster the cooling water flows and the more efficient the condenser.
This does not matter in the cooling section of a condenser and in a pure cooler as used in a LM.
Only in the condensing section and in a reflux condenser can it be important.
Typical metric pipe dimensions in mm
Here normally the labeled diameter means the outer diameter in mm.
But in some cases they are labeled for example "DN20".
Then 20 means the inner diameter. |
|
| Copper plumbing pipes |
| Labeled Diameter | Outer Diameter | Inner Diameter | Wall thickness |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 0.5 |
| 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| 6 | 6 | 5 | 0.5 |
| 8 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 10 | 10 | 8 | 1 |
| 12 | 12 | 10 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | 13 | 1 |
| 18 | 18 | 16 | 1 |
| 22 | 22 | 18 | 1 |
| 28 | 28 | 26 | 1 |
| 35 | 35 | 32.6 | 1.2 |
| 42 | 42 | 39.6 | 1.2 |
| 54 | 54 | 51 | 1.5 |
| 64 | 64 | 60 | 2 |
| 76 | 76 | 72 | 2 |
|
| Stainless Steel food grade pipe |
| Labeled Diameter | Outer Diameter | Inner Diameter | Wall thickness |
| 12 | 12 | 10 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | 13 | 1 |
| 18 | 18 | 16 | 1 |
| 22 | 22 | 19.6 | 1.2 |
| 28 | 28 | 25.6 | 1.2 |
| 35 | 35 | 32 | 1.5 |
| 42 | 42 | 39 | 1.5 |
| 54 | 54 | 51 | 1.5 |
| 76 | 76 | 72 | 2 |
|
| Copper rainwater downpipe
For example "DN50" means 50mm inner diameter.
But the walls are very thin and the tolerances are very high.
So there is no use to make a table for those pipes. |
Typical imperial pipe dimensions in inch
Here the labeled diameter often means neither the outer or the inner diameter.
An exception are brake lines made of copper pipe, where the labeled diameter is the outer diameter. |
|
| Copper plumbing pipe |
Labeled Diameter
and type | Outer Diameter | Inner Diameter | Wall thickness |
| ¼ K | 0.375 (9.5mm) | 0.305 (7.7mm) | 0.035 (0.9mm) |
| ¼ L | 0.375 (9.5mm) | 0.315 (8mm) | 0.03 (0.8mm) |
| ⅜ K | 0.5 (12.7mm) | 0.402 (10.2mm) | 0.05 (1.2mm) |
| ⅜ L | 0.5 (12.7mm) | 0.43 (10.9mm) | 0.035 (0.9mm) |
| ⅜ M | 0.5 (12.7mm) | 0.45 (11.4mm) | 0.025 (0.6mm) |
| ½ K | 0.625 (15.9mm) | 0.528 (13.4mm) | 0.05 (1.2mm) |
| ½ L | 0.625 (15.9mm) | 0.545 (13.8mm) | 0.04 (1mm) |
| ½ M | 0.625 (15.9mm) | 0.569 (14.5mm) | 0.03 (0.7mm) |
| ⅝ K | 0.75 (19.05mm) | 0.652 (16.6mm) | 0.05 (1.2mm) |
| ⅝ L | 0.75 (19.05mm) | 0.668 (17mm) | 0.04 (1mm) |
| ⅝ M | 0.75 (19.05mm) | 0.69 (17.5mm) | 0.03 (0.8mm) |
| ¾ K | 0.875 (22.2mm) | 0.745 (18.9mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| ¾ L | 0.875 (22.2mm) | 0.785 (19.9mm) | 0.045 (1.1mm) |
| ¾ M | 0.875 (22.2mm) | 0.811 (20.6mm) | 0.03 (0.8mm) |
| 1 K | 1.125 (28.6mm) | 0.995 (25.3mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| 1 L | 1.125 (28.6mm) | 1.025 (26mm) | 0.05 (1.3mm) |
| 1 M | 1.125 (28.6mm) | 1.055 (26.8mm) | 0.035 (0.9mm) |
| 1¼ K | 1.375 (34.9mm) | 1.245 (31.6mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| 1¼ L | 1.375 (34.9mm) | 1.265 (32.1mm) | 0.055 (1.4mm) |
| 1¼ M | 1.375 (34.9mm) | 1.291 (32.8mm) | 0.04 (1.1mm) |
| 1¼ DWV | 1.375 (34.9mm) | 1.295 (32.9mm) | 0.04 (1mm) |
| 1½ K | 1.625 (41.3mm) | 1.481 (37.6mm) | 0.07 (1.8mm) |
| 1½ L | 1.625 (41.3mm) | 1.505 (38.2mm) | 0.06 (1.5mm) |
| 1½ M | 1.625 (41.3mm) | 1.527 (38.8mm) | 0.05 (1.2mm) |
| 1½ DWV | 1.625 (41.3mm) | 1.541 (39.1mm) | 0.04 (1.1mm) |
| 2 K | 2.125 (54mm) | 1.959 (49.8mm) | 0.08 (2.1mm) |
| 2 L | 2.125 (54mm) | 1.985 (50.4mm) | 0.07 (1.8mm) |
| 2 M | 2.125 (54mm) | 2.009 (51mm) | 0.06 (1.5mm) |
| 2 DWV | 2.125 (54mm) | 2.041 (51.8mm) | 0.04 (1.1mm) |
| 2½ K | 2.625 (66.7mm) | 2.435 (61.8mm) | 0.095 (2.4mm) |
| 2½ L | 2.625 (66.7mm) | 2.465 (62.6mm) | 0.08 (2mm) |
| 2½ M | 2.625 (66.7mm) | 2.495 (63.3mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| 3 K | 3.125 (79.4mm) | 2.907 (73.8mm) | 0.11 (2.8mm) |
| 3 L | 3.125 (79.4mm) | 2.945 (74.8mm) | 0.09 (2.3mm) |
| 3 M | 3.125 (79.4mm) | 2.981 (75.7mm) | 0.07 (1.8mm) |
| 3 DWV | 3.125 (79.4mm) | 3.03 (77mm) | 0.05 (1.2mm) |
|
| Stainless Steel food grade pipe
Here the labeled diameter normally means the outer diameter.
This may be different for other stainless steel pipes, for example for sanitary applications. |
| Labeled Diameter | Outer Diameter | Inner Diameter | Wall thickness |
| ½ | 0.5 (12.7mm) | 0.435 (11mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| ¾ | 0.75 (19.05mm) | 0.685 (17.4mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| 1 | 1 (25.4mm) | 0.935 (23.7mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| 1½ | 1.5 (38.1mm) | 1.435 (36.4mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| 2 | 2 (50.8mm) | 1.935 (49.1mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| 2½ | 2.5 (63.5mm) | 2.435 (61.8mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |
| 3 | 3 (76.2mm) | 2.935 (74.5mm) | 0.065 (1.7mm) |