After spending well over $175k for a FFE, I’m not super happy.
The end product still is 50% (at a minimum) ethanol. The manufacturer seems to think that’s perfect.
Am I nuts? Should I expect to still need a roto vap? Or should my end product be ready for decarb and the wiped film?
Sounds like you need to slow down the input feed rate, or get a bigger heater (and probably chiller)
Should have gave me the 150 K 
What size are your steel parts ?
Pumps ? Vacuum ?
How much heat input ?
What where the specs given
What are the specs for real ?
My ffe does about 90-96%, I use a 20L roto to get it wiper ready.
Youll definitly still need a roto with a FFE, but 50% is not good, slow your feed. Im getting mine setup and shooting for getting a ratio of 2:1 ethanol:resin before hitting the roto, which for me would be about 15% of the total ethanol remaining
? But 2:1 ethanol is more ethanol than 50%. Isn’t he actually getting more thorough evaporation than you?
50% is a good day…
Brand? Evap temp? Condenser temp? Vacuum fed or pump fed? Winter ratio?
Maybe a bigger heater. We got a 10 ton chiller for a cool $40k.
Will slow down the input rate first.
40k for a 10 ton chiller? You got taxed
Looking up the particulars, but this is our machine. I think we picked up the very first one.
Ya that’s why. You Wana pay 5x what you should have for something get a precision.
Like getting a capna.
They build a name for themselves and then begin up charging a billion times for something that is not worth the money.
PEOPLE BEFORE SPENDING 6 FIGURES ON A MACHINE PAY A CONSULTANT 500$ TO TELL YOU
“Ya no that machines gonna suck…”
OR
“That machine I could get for 1/3 the cost and probably better still”
I inherited this machine. It’s what I got. Hoping I can make it really perform better.
I’d go With the beaker and wrench team if I were doing it all.
Eh then ya can’t really complain I feels you
I’m on the wrong side of the industry. . 175k for a FFE lawd i could of designed/found an evaporator way more spicier. I’m in the middle of consulting a full lab buildout at 120k on equipment with hydrocarbon extraction and distillation. I still have haven’t ran up that budget.
your stuck with a nice hunk of metal that probably has a similar design as current ones in the market for our industry. yours is just bigger. So your not SOL you just need to dial down your parameters. Than maybe sell the SOP to precision for 50k 
You won’t be able to decarb continual how your thinking. Don’t have your goal as recovering 100% of the solvent focus on 90%. You risk loosing product the higher the percentage.
Other than what @Roguelab asked.
What kind of chiller your using?
If you’re having trouble reaching higher temps. Get some insulation on that tubing my dude. You need better process control inside. This will help.
Can we at least see this bad boy?
No don’t go with a single manufacturing company getting your equipment. You might as well get the lube ready. They don’t have one overall golden company on small-medium scale. Large scale i know of one that is tip toe close.
This is where as a good consultant comes in and finds the best equipment for your budget through production goals and product. This is just a few examples of what a consultant can do. This is what you should be shopping for from this point on. Build a relationship with one. Shit ain’t going right for a day you got a go to guy that can find the info you need if he doesn’t know.
I thought he meant hes only pulling off 50% of the total ethanol. If theres 50% alcohol and 50% resin, then thats probably perfect for transfering to a roto
50% resin
50% ethanol
I was thinking it’s too high. Sounds like it may be about right.
Most FFE should leave 5-15% of solvent
So things need to change 
What temperature is the solution when it feeds into the system?