Currently reading: Water Still Installation by ProSciTech Pty Ltd

Water Still Installation

Water still installation; Setup information to get start with water distilling. Most water stills use mains water for single distillation and for cooling to condense the water vapour.

Most water stills use mains water for single distillation and for cooling to condense the water vapour. Some of our stills allow for feeding in pre‐treated or tank water for distillation; water for cooling is also required.

Our two basic still designs are: the CASCADE, which produces 3L/h of single distilled water; the DELTA which produces 3 or 6L/h single distilled water or 3L/h double distilled water. The output is user selectable at any time by changing around some of the tubing.

The CASCADE requires a standard 10 amp power outlet.
The DELTA requires a 20 amp power outlet.

All water still models require a mains water tap with a ¾ inch garden hose type screw connection, to which a supplied filter connection is attached. This is for the cooling water on all models. On standard water stills this cooling water then passes into the boiler for distillation. The water supply must be available at mains pressure. A built‐in water flow regulator adjusts the water flowing into the still to the rate required for correct operation. The still has a valve to stop water flow. Hoses and fittings must be able to reliably withstand full mains pressure.

Water still setup diagramThe Dual Feed models require a second water supply, fitted with a tap to regulate the flow to the still. The still is connected to this water supply using 10mm ID braided tubing, which is supplied. Water for dual feed systems is pre‐treated or has other desirable properties; it is trickle fed into the still to obtain very high purity water.

All models must have a drain or sink situated close to, and below, the water still. Unless the room containing the still is a 'wet room' with a floor drain, in which collecting vessels (carboys) can be on the floor, the still should be shelf‐ or wall‐mounted. The most common arrangement is to mount a strong shelf to hold the carboy above a sink, and the distillation unit needs to be a little higher than the top of the carboys. There are key holes in the rear of the distillation unit to allow hanging on the wall if required.

A reinforced water hose needs to be run to the two inlets, which are positioned near the bottom left of the still, using a Y or T piece to connect to both inlets. This would produce single distilled water only. Refer to instructions if the system is to be used to produce double distilled water or when using a dual feed system.

The waste water tubing from the stills must never be submerged in water in the sink or drain. Water flow to waste, and also water flow to the collecting vessels, must always be lower than the still. Any non‐pressurised tubing must be installed on a decline, if the tubing is level or runs uphill, back‐pressure will cause boilers and/or condensers to overflow.

It is convenient if the cooling (and treated feed) water supply valve is within reach, but not far from the still's inlets. Any container may be used as a reservoir to collect the distilled water. The most common are 2 large (50L carboys) plastic drums with a tap on the bottom. The stills are supplied with Reservoir Monitor Tubes, which must be placed through a hole in the top of the container to be used as a reservoir. The depth must be sufficient to allow the bottom of the Reservoir Monitor Tube to be located 150mm below the level at which the water in the reservoir is to stop rising. The top of the reservoir must also have a hole drilled for the distillate delivery tube, which is supplied, to pass through the top to allow distilled water to flow into the container. Another hole must be drilled to allow the container to breathe so that it is not airtight, otherwise the distilled water will not flow into the container. This hole should be loosely plugged with gauze or cotton wool to exclude dirt but still allow gaseous exchange.

The water stills have water supply monitors which, in the event of water supply failure, turn off the heating elements. The reservoir is monitored and when full, the stills are turned off, along with the water supply. If water is used from the reservoir, the still automatically restarts to maintain a full reservoir.

Thermal cut‐out devices are fitted to the boilers, which turn off the water supply and heating elements in the event of an over temperature situation being detected in the boilers.

Was this article helpful?
Yes
No
1 out of 1 found this helpful
comments powered by Disqus