This laboratory distiller produces distilled water in laboratory conditions. It is used in the natural science classrooms of general secondary education institutions for conducting experiments and for the work that goes with them — preparing solutions, rinsing laboratory glassware and any other task that needs clean water free of mineral impurities. The distiller is a desktop electric device with a sealed stainless steel tank and a cooling system in the upper lid; it is operated by the teacher or the laboratory assistant, students do not work with the hot parts on their own, and the recommended age of learners is from 10 years, that is pupils of grade 5 and above.
The supply voltage is 220 or 110 V at a current frequency of 50 or 60 Hz and the power consumption is 750 W. The tank holds 4 litres and is made of stainless steel, the output is 1 litre of distilled water per hour and the overheating protection switches the device off at 160 °C. The cooling system with a fan is built into the upper lid, the collection vessel is built in, and an activated carbon filter gives the distilled water additional purification and is replaced every 2 to 3 months depending on the quality of the water. Starting and restarting are done with the Start/Reset button system, a light-emitting diode indicates operation, and a drain cap allows the distilled water to be taken out safely. The device is installed on a table near a water source so that the tank is convenient to fill, it is supplied assembled and needs no preliminary adjustment. Operating conditions are the premises of an educational institution at an air temperature from +5 to +40 °C and relative humidity from 40 to 60 % without condensate. Marking and operating documentation are in Ukrainian, the marking carries the trade mark, the model and a place for the inventory number, and the documentation comprises the passport with the warranty coupon and the operating instructions. The service life is 5 years and the warranty period is 12 months.
The set includes the distiller — 1 pc; a collection vessel for distilled water — 1 pc; a drain cap — 1 pc; a lid for the vessel — 1 pc; an activated carbon filter — 1 pc; a mains cord — 1 pc; the passport with the warranty coupon — 1 pc; and individual transport packaging — 1 pc, an individual corrugated cardboard box with the contents fixed inside. The cleaning agent for descaling, citric acid or white vinegar, is obtained by the user separately, and the device needs no assembly before the first use.
The distiller is placed on a stable, level, horizontal surface free of vibration, best of all near a sink, with enough space around it for air circulation and for free use of the upper lid. Clean water is poured into the inner tank to the maximum level mark through the dedicated opening, not onto the body, and hot water is avoided because it disturbs the operation of the thermal protection. The upper lid is put in place with the silicone seal seated correctly around the perimeter, the power lead of the upper lid is connected to the body and the mains cord is plugged into a socket of the required rating. After the cord is plugged in the fan starts and the Start/Reset button launches the distillation cycle; the indicator confirms operation and after about 30 minutes distilled water begins to drip from the tap into the collection vessel. A cycle of 4 litres takes about 4 hours and the device switches off automatically when it is finished. The water of the very first vessel is not drunk and not used for critical experiments, because the device spends that cycle on self-cleaning: it is poured out, the vessel is rinsed with clean water and a normal cycle is run. The water is taken out through the drain cap on the collection vessel or with a pipette.
During operation the water in the tank reaches about 160 °C, so the hot parts are handled carefully to avoid burns: the device is left to cool for 10 minutes after the end of the cycle before the lid or the collection vessel are removed, and the hot vessel is held with a pot holder. The upper lid is never removed while the device works or while it is still hot, liquids other than water — alcohol, acid and alkali solutions, salty or mineralised water — are never distilled in it, and the device is not left switched on unattended or without control of the water level in the tank. No part of the device is immersed in water and the body is not washed under running water; the mains cord is connected only to a socket matching the rating plate and is unplugged when work is finished and before any servicing. Every day after the cycle the body is wiped with a soft dry cloth, the inner tank is rinsed with clean water and the collection vessel is emptied and dried. Every two weeks the scale and mineral deposit on the bottom of the tank are removed: hot water is poured in to cover the scale, 1 to 4 teaspoons of citric acid or white vinegar are added, a cycle is run with the Start/Reset button without the upper lid for 30 minutes, and the tank is then emptied and rinsed several times, the procedure being repeated if any scale remains. The activated carbon filter is changed every 2 to 3 months by turning the upper lid over and pulling the filter down and out.
