How does a water distiller work?
Tap water is safe to drink. But only after additional cleaning. After all, when you look at the scale in the kettle, you become a little scared from the realization of how many impurities enter the body along with untreated water. Yes, it can be passed through filters: in this way the water will get rid of some foreign substances. But if you want to use H2O without impurities, then it makes sense to get a distiller.
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What is a water distiller and why is it needed?
The most effective way to get rid of foreign impurities turned out to be the sequential conversion of a substance into vapor and back into liquid. A distiller is essentially a distillation cube: in one of the containers, under the influence of high temperatures, water is heated and evaporated, then the steam passes through the cooling system and the distillate ends up in a container for collecting condensate.
Water prepared in this way is odorless and tasteless, ideal for preparing various dishes or simply for drinking in its pure form. It can be safely poured into household appliances with built-in steam generators, since scale will not damage the heating elements. This water will not harm the radiator or windshield washers of the car.
Distiller device
The basic package of a simple household distiller includes:
- distillation cube;
- cooling system;
- water collector
But single distillation is not highly efficient. All foreign impurities remain in the device, and water flows into the bowl, which can safely be called clean, but such a system consumes an unreasonably large amount of energy. Electric models on average consume 1 kW of electricity to produce 1 liter of distillate.
ATTENTION! Multi-column devices are used to prepare highly purified water.
They are also installed on the territory of distillate-producing enterprises, since they ensure the purification of large volumes of water with minimal energy consumption.
Principle of operation
Based on this feature, distillers can be divided into two types:
- steam;
- electric.
How do both types of devices work? The first needs a heat source, which can be a gas or electric stove. The steam device is capable of producing large volumes of purified water with minimal energy consumption, but due to its bulkiness and difficulty in maintenance, it has not gained much popularity. Other disadvantages include:
- The need for constant monitoring, since the system does not operate automatically.
- Low level of protection, which, in the absence of skills in handling such devices, can lead to burns or equipment failure.
The electric distiller has its own heat source, is compact and does not require any handling skills. Its operation is automated: liquid level control sensors turn off the device if necessary. The body of the device prevents accidental burns. Caring for such equipment usually comes down to systematic descaling.
IMPORTANT! When purchasing an electric distiller, you should pay attention to the presence of protection against overheating and voltage surges. Without it, the device is dangerous.
The disadvantages include high energy consumption and low performance. On average, the device consumes about 1 kW/hour, preparing 750–1000 ml of distillate during this time. But for the needs of the family this is quite enough and with active use of the device, it pays for itself in about a year.
Performance characteristics
Before purchasing a water purification device, it is advisable to assess your needs for distillate. If it is used only for drinking and servicing devices with steam generators, then a modest distiller with a capacity of 1–2 liters will do. In a situation where you plan to cook using purified water, it is better to opt for a device with a capacity of 4 liters. The purchase of larger devices for household needs is unjustified.
If the boiling container is not made of food-grade stainless steel, then it is better to refuse to purchase the device - not only will it not be able to fully purify the water, but it will also saturate it with harmful substances.
The housing can be made of metal or heat-resistant plastic. The only difference is durability - steel lasts longer. To protect the user from burns, manufacturers add a plastic handle to the distiller.
The container for finished water is usually made of stainless steel or glass. The first option is more durable, the second requires careful handling. If the device is equipped with a plastic bowl (this significantly reduces its cost), you should make sure that the container is made of food-grade heat-resistant material.Otherwise, the water may acquire an unpleasant taste, indicating its saturation with harmful substances.
