How to build a home CO2 carbonation system (the nozzle part) (was: How to biuld a home CO2 carbonation system (the nozzle part))
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From: Elmo on 3 Apr 2010 21:02 > I've built a home CO2 carbonation system but I have a question about carbon > dioxide flow (see pictures below). > Q: How do I get the tire chuck to work since it won't flow w/o the stem? > Q: Even if I attach the hollow tire valve directly to the CO2 hose, how can > more than the headspace of the bottle FLOW into the bottle? I forgot to list the URL which said the C02 has to flow: "Carbonating at Home with Improvised Equipment and Soda Fountains" (http://www.truetex.com/carbonation.htm) If I leave the inside of the tire valve in (see white cap in the pictures at http://yfrog.com/13homec02system5jx), the CO2 carbonization does not get to the 50psi you'd like that is in the bottle headspace; but at least the tire valve attached to the hose is operated by the center stem in the tire valve attached to the soda bottle cap. Yet, if I remove the center stem from the tire valve (see the red cap in the pictures at http://yfrog.com/13homec02system5jx), I can't get the air chuck to operate (since it depends on the center valve to open up). I'm thinking of just attaching the red cap open tire valve stem directly to the carbonization hose but even then, I can't, for the life of me, understand the article's wording that says the CO2 needs to "flow". (Specifically it says leaving the valve stem on the valve "does not work because the process requires a continuous flow of CO2 into the bottle via an open connection".) What I don't understand is where is the continuous flow into an "open connection"? If I clamp the red bottle cap onto the yellow hose (thereby eliminating the air chuck), it's still a closed system, isn't it? Where does the "flow" of C02 occur (except momentarily until the headspace of the bottle is filled to 50psi or so)? I'm sure I'm missing something simple ... I just do not understand what I'm missing and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.
From: Jeff Liebermann on 4 Apr 2010 00:22
On Sun, 4 Apr 2010 01:02:24 +0000 (UTC), Elmo <dcdraftworks(a)Use-Author-Supplied-Address.invalid> wrote: >I forgot to list the URL which said the C02 has to flow: >"Carbonating at Home with Improvised Equipment and Soda Fountains" >(http://www.truetex.com/carbonation.htm) I built a carbonator once and made several huge mistakes, some of which I see in the article. One mistake resulted in 2 liters of sticky sugar water sprayed all over the kitchen. The carbonation bottle, as shown, is upside down. You need to bubble the CO2 gas THROUGH the liquid, not on top of it. A seltzer bottle does with with a "siphon tube". That will work allowing right side up carbonation. <http://www.seltzersisters.com/graphics/bottles/plastic.jpg> You need a way to bleed off the pressure after carbonating the liquid or you will have the equivalent of a bottle rocket. The shutoff valve shown is only part of the puzzle. There needs to be a bleeder valve between the valve and the seltzer bottle. With a siphon tube, you'll need to make sure that you don't suck liquid back into the regulator. Think about a ball-spring type of one-way valve in the filler hose, near the bottle end. The tire valve stem and air chuck are a lousy idea but do solve an important problem. You need to maintain pressure in the bottle after removing the filler hose. Lots of ways to do that, but the bicycle valve is probably the least effective. Like a selzer bottle, you need seperate paths to fill the bottle and to empty the bottle. If vent the bottle (especially when warm) the gas will simply come out of solution into the air, leaving you with a flat tasting drink. Chill or cool the liquid BEFORE filling. It will hold more CO2 and taste better. 50 PSI is the recommended maximum pressure for the average bottle rocket. Some maniacs have gone to 100 PSI and up by reinforcing the bottle with duct tape, but methinks 50 PSI is a good safe limit. If you want more pressure, get a heavy wall glass bottle (i.e. seltzer bottle) or aluminum container: <http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=49572011> Note that the tiny CO2 cartridges used in commercial siphon bottle chargers are filled to about 850 PSI. Commercial bottled seltzer water is delivered at 135 PSI. Gourmet Syrup <http://www.1883.com> -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl(a)cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |