Contents
When obtaining a favorite drink, the moonshiner is faced with high temperature, high pressure and a flammable liquid – alcohol. The process itself takes place in a closed system, which can fail at any time. Just one mistake in technology is fraught with injury, burns, explosion or fire. Compliance with safety regulations during distillation or rectification minimizes the risk of emergency situations. Many of these rules are “written in blood”, that is, they appeared after accidents.
General tips:
- When choosing a moonshine, pay attention to the quality of the internal seams of the distillation cube, the seams must be even, and the connecting elements must be able to withstand high steam temperature and pressure.
- When using the moonshine for the first time, check the serviceability by distilling water. Thanks to this procedure, not only the entire system is tested, but the equipment is also washed well.
- The playing braga cannot be hermetically sealed. Use a water seal to vent gas. Otherwise, under the pressure of carbon dioxide, the container may burst, injuring with fragments.
- When cleaning moonshine by chemical methods, remember that potassium permanganate powder causes burns if it gets into the eyes, and caustic soda burns any wet area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe skin.
- When working with glass equipment (due to fragility, the most unsafe, although chemically inert), carefully connect the elements so as not to damage the docking points. Heating glass flasks on an open fire is possible only through flame dividers and a sand (salt) cushion.
Preliminary preparation
one). Drive moonshine only when sober. Alcohol slows down the reaction. In case of emergency situations, it is more difficult for a drunk person to quickly and adequately respond to a threat, the feeling of fear is dulled. Often it is the neglect of this rule that leads to serious consequences.
2). The room must be spacious enough. Things, furniture, household appliances should not block the exit from the premises and access to the turned on moonshine still. Everything unnecessary for home brewing (even small items) is better to take out to another room. To avoid the accumulation of alcohol vapors, it is better to use household ventilation or organize ventilation through a window.
3). Install a fire extinguisher near the place of distillation (rectification). As a last resort, a bucket of water and a felt mat (fire-fighting fiber) with an area of 3 square meters. meter, which can be covered with an ignition source to prevent oxygen from reaching the flame.
4). Change into closed clothing made from natural fabrics to protect your body from thermal burns. Hands can be protected with fabric gloves (necessarily dry, wet ones will not save you from high temperatures), and put on rubber boots on your feet.
5). The house should have a first aid kit containing, in addition to the standard set, anti-burn drugs in order to provide first aid to the victim if necessary. The moonshiner must know how to use these tools.
6). Provide quick access to the emergency shutdown of the device (gas, water, electricity supply systems). In the event of an emergency, the systems should take a few seconds to shut down.
7). Visually inspect the equipment for proper operation, paying special attention to the cooling system. It is advisable to equip the distillation cube with a blast valve and a thermometer.
eight). Protect the access of strangers to the room in which distillation (rectification) is carried out. Children and pets are the biggest threat.
9). It is advisable not to heat the cube on an open fire (open fire is prohibited in rectification), so as not to burn through the pipes and hoses. Electric stoves or induction equivalents reduce the risk of fire. In extreme cases, a gas stove with properly working burners will do, but not a fire flame.
Safety in the distillation process
one). Fill the alembic to a maximum of 1% of the volume. After heating, the liquid expands, moreover, there must be room for steam, otherwise excess pressure can lead to rupture of the apparatus.
2). Do not distill liquids containing more than 20% alcohol. Before the second distillation, be sure to dilute the moonshine with water up to 18-20%. At high concentrations, the probability of an explosion with the release of steam and boiling water increases several times.
3). There should be no large pieces in the distillation cube (berries, nuts, zest), filter the mash (especially thick grain) before filling the container. Solid parts can clog the steam pipes and cause an explosion hazard.
4). From the moment you turn it on, do not leave the equipment unattended, even if the device is operating in automatic mode, it is advisable not to leave the room.
5). Maintain the temperature in the cube. Immediately after boiling, moonshine does not go, this requires some time, depending on the design. It is impossible to sharply increase the intensity of heating, trying to increase the output speed.
6). Control the flow and temperature of water in the cooling system (refrigerator) of the machine.
7). Control the process of filling the container with the finished product. If moonshine spills, a fire may occur. The container and all hoses (tubes) must be kept away from sources of open flame.
eight). Do not open a hot still. Even some time after the distillation is completed, the cube remains hot and under pressure. When opening the lid, severe burns from high temperature steam can occur. For the same reason, you can not add mash to a hot cube.
9). It is forbidden to block the outlet openings of the moonshine still, for example, to check the tightness. This leads to overpressure in the system.
10). If you find any defects in the device, quickly turn off the heat. Start troubleshooting only after the system has cooled down to room temperature.
eleven). Do not touch the metal parts of the hot machine with your hands.
Safety precautions for rectification
one). It is forbidden to use open fire. Violation of this rule is fraught with an explosion or fire hazard.
2). Before starting, be sure to check the tightness of all modules of the rectification system.
3). Do not block the tube connecting the column to the atmosphere, otherwise uncooled vapors will accumulate in the rectifier.
4). Do not check rectified alcohol for smell, this is fraught with burns of the mucous membranes.
PS Perhaps this material does not contain all the important recommendations, so leave your additions, comments and descriptions of case studies in the comments. Let’s improve the safety rules together.