In this article we will focus less on operational protocol and more on closed loop extraction safety, even though we will mention a thing or two about it. We want to emphasize proper closed loop hookup, and operational processes that lead to safe usage and proper understanding to prevent issues and how to identify issues.
Closed Loop Extraction Safety
Unless you can read and understand what we are talking about, it is highly advised that you do not operate a closed loop system.
Summit has been teaching people for years, before you leave, you will be a pro.
The basic components to a closed loop system are as follows:
The fluid will never exceed 2/3 of the vessel volume. This allows you in normal dumps to be less than half way full. This creates a vapor bubble, so your terpenes are generally left below the vapor bubble of the hydrocarbon.
We advise one to learn how to extract creating a TIME TEMP PRESSURE (TTP) table you can learn off of. This will allow you to gain a skill of selective extraction.
You can accomplish anything you want with pressures, temps, and time to achieve results that are identical or surpassed by post de-waxing chambers or post cryo filtering.
Filter drier/desiccant tubes:
The walls of the spool control how vapor enters the pump. If too much vapor pressure or turbulence exists, then the pump will slow down, which extends recovery times.
Natural moisture in our atmosphere should be kept away from desiccators. Moisture will feed water back to the pump, into the tank, and ruin your fluids.
These desiccant setups are needed to make your gas coming back to the tank, pure and unadulterated.
For one to two trs21 pumps, or one cmepol the size required is a 3×12 spool.
With proper desiccant setups you can create a high velocity recovery system with the added use of a super chiller coil.
If you are running passive or active, a modular high velocity filter drier is a must.
The first step is to run room temp liquid fuel through it, then vapor. Next place on floor and run nitrogen gas through it for proper drying (and at the end of each day during use, this includes pump and coils). At the end of the prep cycle you pull vac and lock it off for storage before next use. Without following proper setup, you may ruin your drier in minutes to hours.
Super chiller coils:
What allows a coil to perform is the lack of surface area between the inlet and output.
Inlet and output must start at a 1/4″ connection and pass a 1/4″ tube completely and come out of a 1/4″ connection. These inch sizes are very important as 3/8 inch coils do not function.
A coil should convert your hydrocarbon compressor to a vapor mover, reducing nearly 95% of the duty and sending the work to the chiller. The chiller is supposed to do the work, not the pump. The proper maintenance on a coil is subject to the first time it is used, and should be done as needed.
The first time use requires the user to put the coil unconnected in warm water, and fill the coil with clean-room grade alcohol. Allow coil to soak afterwards use room temp fuels to rinse the coil flush, immediately run nitrogen through the coil to dry it out and then connect the hoses up and pull vacuum to lock it off from atmosphere.
Only use low temp swagelok connections on the bypass on your chiller if needed. The amazing part of a chiller like we use, is it can be converted to a manifold setup with the use of a bypass.
Recovery pump:
Proper filter desiccators and super chiller coils will convert a pump from a compressor to a basic vapor mover.
Making sure the chiller does the work, and not the pump.
The basic setup and maintenance procedures should be followed.
Start off by running room temp liquid fuel through the pump off until it spits out the other side. Let it run for a few seconds after. Then lock off the valves outside the pump, and let it soak for a few seconds any manufacturing oils or grease/lubricant. Then open the valve and turn the pump on. Let clean fluid run the entire path for a few seconds, and flip your feed tank upside down. Let vapor push liquid through. Now take your pump and run nitrogen through it until it is clean and dry and pull vacuum at end of day.
The only pumps this is NOT to be practiced on is Appion, tr21, Caresaver, Diablo, and similar pumps.
As for a cmepol to a cmep6000 to a Haskel, this procedure should be followed
Hoses, connections, and valves need to be considered since your machine and accompanied hardware are the sole heart of the operation. Make sure your machine is equipped from every port with a npt fitting only. Use high quality adapters as gas rated tape, and install all your valves directly on a adapter and or adapter all end connections.
We believe in flare connections with ptfe braided hoses. From the vessel to filter to pump we use 3/8″ and is sufficient for rapid rates near 3lbs per minute with tandem pump operation. From the pump to chiller, back to tank, and from the tank to column we suggest 1/4″ because anything larger does not have velocity. Especially when running at 0psi and ultra low temperatures
We do not suggest ANY rubber hoses or hoses with low tension memory.
Always run ptfe, they last forever and are suitable for extreme duty cycles repeatedly.
Center sights on columns should be avoided, they get cold and hot repeatedly and burst.
Remember, if you are performing a skilled time temperature pressure extraction (TTP), then you are basing the extraction on your calculated efforts.
The fact is per material ran to fluid lbs ran to total the extraction will be done in one pass to get great results. Beyond the initial calculation you will experience over extraction, and more contamination and inactives will be present.
More details will be posted as topics are sent to me. Please feel free to send me stuff to elaborate on if I missed anything: info@summit-research.tech. Please let me know how I can help or add to the basic knowledge needed before attempting cls work. -JBV