The objective is to describe the construction of a multipurpose vessel that can act as both a reaction vessel - with cooling and heating capabilities and which can also act as a distillation setup with simple, vacuum and fractional arrangements.
Below is a graphic illustrating the
draft idea.
![](https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000314844-file_aonc.gif)
For the main vessel a large 55 gallon stainless steal drum. The inside to be sanded and polished with an orbital polisher and compound. The top to be cut off and in its place a washer-like ring of stainless steel welded into place that has an internal diameter equal to that of the drum, and an external, several inches greater allowing for a ledge to which a top could be bolted into place. Holes drilled in for bolts.
For the top, a disk of stainless steal equal to the external diameter of the ledge, holes drilled to match the ledge. Two access holes are cut respectively allowing for over head stirring and the larger hole for a condenser or column depending on the setup. Additional bolt-holes drilled around these access holes. Appropriate gaskets to be put in place where necessary.
The condenser, column, connecting joints all to be fabricated from stainless steal parts and some tricky welding.
For cooling and heating of the vessel; An acetylene torch is passed across copper piping to white hot. After piping has cooled it is annealed (temper removed) to allow for forming. Piping is formed half-round and to be welded to the exterior and under part of the vessel in a coil network that would allow for adjusting. Adjustments would allow for where and how high along the outside of the vessel heat is applied (as heat is only needed to the height of the material being heated in the vessel for distillation). Glass insulation is provided around the coiling when heating. The coils are arranged into sections that intersect at in and out line manifolds. Circulating the heating and cooling fluids is a jet pump.
For cooling purposes a large tank of salted ice water could be arranged. Alternately for heating purposes, a 15 gallon stainless steal tank could be constructed to heat cooking oil by propane flame. A thermostat and flame controller could be coupled to the tank from a restaurant style gas powered deep fryer.
Questions:
Is the circulating oil heating scheme viable? Using the coils for circulating cooling fluid
is highly desirable. If a sole direct flame heating is desirable - could the heated oil be circulated and additionally - direct flame could be applied under the vessel under the bottom coils? Its the purpose of oil heating to allow for smooth, even heating.
For the over head stirring motor, it is desirable to be able to stir during a vacuumated distillation -
does anyone know of a device that would allow for throughput shaft into a highly vacuumated system? This sealed device should also be used when refluxing flammable liquids.