Graham condenser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Graham condenser or coiled condenser is a piece of laboratory glassware. It consists of a large glass tube containing a hollow glass coil running its entire length. The ends of the large glass tube form one circuit, the ends of the glass coil form another. The ends are usually fitted with ground glass joints which allow apparatus to be set up quickly and easily.
Like other condensers, it is used for cooling hot vapors to condense them into liquids. During use, the coolant (usually tap water or ice water) is typically run through one of the circuits. condense vapors are fed into the other circuit, and the liquid product is collected at the other end.
[edit] Configurations
There are two possible configurations for a Graham condenser. In the first, the spiral contains the coolant, and the condensation takes place on the outside of the spiral. This configuration maximizes flow capacity since vapors can flow over and around the spiral.
In the second configuration, the jacket tube contains the coolant, and the condensation takes place inside the spiral. This configuration maximizes collected condensate, since all the vapors must flow through the entire length of the spiral, thus having prolonged contact with the coolant.
Compared with the Liebig condenser, either configuration has a greater surface area available for the coolant and the rising vapors to come into thermal contact.
