What Is The Difference between A Water Distiller And An Alcohol Distiller?

In the world of distillation, the two major processes of distillation that impress the most are water distillation and alcohol distillation. Still, even though both methods are based on the same principle- the difference in boiling point, there are a lot of differences in the field of the aim of undertaking the process, the apparatus used for the distillation and the methods employed on each. A water distiller and an alcohol distiller are two terms that need to be mastered, no matter whether your interest is in clean, purified water or it is in the manufacture of alcoholic drinks. Let us go one step further in these two types of distillers and try to see each one, as well as the various categories of distillation equipment such as alcohol still and commercial distilling equipment. 

What is a Water Distiller? 

A distiller also termed a water distiller is constructed to enhance the quality of purified water through eliminating minerals, chemicals, and living organisms. The process is a simulation of the natural hydrological cycle of the planet where water is heated to steam and all the impurities are left behind and then later cooled back to water. Thus, comes out the distilled water that is intensely purified. 

How Does a Water Distiller Work? 

1.Boiling: Water is heated within the distiller’s boiling chamber till it is evaporated. 

2.Evaporation: Turning into steam, water carries away contaminants like metals, bacteria, and chemicals.

3.Condensation: The steam is passed through a cooling coil where the steam turns into water again.

4.Collection: The distilled water is placed into a different container, free from impurities.

Water Distillers are used within laboratory practices, home practices or industrial practices where pure water is necessary. Rather, water distillers are usually small in size and are fitted for personal or even household use although even larger industrial models are available.

What is an Alcohol Distiller?

By contrast, an alcohol distiller which is also called as alcohol still is meant for preparing alcoholic drinks like whiskey, rum, vodka among others. This is accomplished through alcohol distillation, whereby the alcohol is removed from the liquid wash, which has been fermented using the different boiling points of alcohol and water. In this case, there is no such thing as purification in the traditional sense that water distillation seeks, but rather that of ethyl alcohol concentration.

How Does an Alcohol Distiller Work?

1.Fermentation: It begins with fermentation which is the process preceding distilling whereby sugars in the mash or wash are broken down by yeast resulting in the production of ethanol.

2.Boiling: The liquid that has been fermented is heated within the still equipment which causes the ethanol that is contained within the liquid to evaporate first because of its lower boiling temperature than that of water (78.37oC against that of 100oC for water).

3.Distillation: The alcohol vapour rises to a condenser and is turned into a liquid form after cooling.

4.Collection and Refinement: The collected liquid produced usually contains different fractions of alcohol, head, hearts, and tail portions. The heads are often rejected or redistilled since they possess fewer ethanol contents while the hearts which are rich in ethanol are distributed as freebies.

Key Differences Between Water and Alcohol Distillers

1.Purpose

   ●Water Distiller: The main aim is to filter any impurities or dirt in the water by providing cleaned and distilled water that can be taken or be used in 

      places like hospitals or laboratories among others.

   ●Alcohol Distiller: The aim is more in the efficient extraction of ethanol from the fermented slurries in order to make beverages containing alcohol.

2.Equipment

   ●Water distillation apparatus: A common design of a water distiller includes a heating source, boiling pot, cooling tube and a vessel for collecting 

     the condensed water. It is a relatively uncomplicated arrangement aimed at only the production of distilled water. The apparatus is usually less 

     complex and also more compact in size in comparison to equipment used in alcohol distillation.

   ●Alcohol Distillation Equipment: Alcohol distillers are more complicated – they usually include pot stills, column stills or a combination of both. 

     A column still (or continuous still) is found in many commercial distilling equipment because it is highly productive in producing super high proof 

     concentrate. The apparatus includes tubes with higher praises and other additions, for instance siphoning out sulpfied using copper tubbing and 

     cuck cabled gauges, which is somewhat different from water distillation apparatus.

3.Complexity of Process

   ●Water Distillation: The procedure is simple and easy since all that is required is turning the water into vapor and then changing it back into liquid form. 

     There is no need to keep track of the different fractions of the distillate and so the processing is to a large extent passive.

   ●Alcohol Distillation: Unlike water distillation, alcohol distillation is detailed and attentive in every other case particularly when it comes to the fractionation 

     of alcohol. Distillation includes both dimmers and thermometers to avoid anything other than the alcohol vapour which means that temperature requires

     balancing so that alcohol vapourizes but without exceeding the level where other materials can also vaporize.

4.Output

   ●Water Distiller: Gathers distilled water.

   ●Alcohol Distiller: Gathers ethanol, which is any further distilled into spirits, and this is the reason why the end result varies depending on the specific drink

     to be produced.

Types of Distillers: Different Types of Alcohol Distillers

1.Pot Still

A pot still is the most basic way to vaporize alcohol and is commonly applied in the manufacture of small amounts of alcohol, such as vodka or rum. Whiskey, or rum is an example of a spirit that is usually produced in small quantities via a pot still. The procedure consists of a big pot or still which is used to boil the mash to evaporate the alcohol out of the wort solution. Since it allows for a minimal amount of flavor to escape from the wash, a pot still is used to make full-flavored spirits.

2.Column Still

Also termed “continuous still” is shipping majority of the technologies within one specific category – column still. That means it may contain several plates or fluff trays located vertically one over another which enables a constant distillation of beverages and the removewal of alcohol comprimised in the habitual water. For this reason, column stills are more productive in terms of the obtaining high percentage of alcohol as well as available for intensive or commercial alcohol distillation equipment utilizations. This kind of still is mostly used in the making of vodkas and gins which require releatively little flavoring.

Safety Considerations

Though the processes of water and alcohol distillers are related, the process of alcohol distillers has safety hazards. Alcohol vapors are also highly flammable and accidents may result oi explosive fires. Water distillers have very little safety hazards, if any, other than burns from hot surfaces.

Distilling Equipment for Commercial Use

In larger scale operations, the use of commercial distilling equipment becomes necessary. These possess high turnaround and are made from materials like stainless steel and copper which are very helpful in large scale production since they are where some spirits are produced. Water distillation equipment is less common in industries but when the pharmaceutical industry wants to step up its procedures and use pure water, it uses these types of equipment.

Most importantly, when choosing equipment for distillation especially for alcohol, one needs to specify the type that is most appropriate. From a pot still to a column still it does not matter, the fact is that knowing your equipment will lead to the best possible outcome.

Conclusion

To sum it up, the difference between a water distiller and an alcohol distiller is found in the purpose, design and sophistication of the equipment. A water distiller more targets at water purification by evacuating the non-water products, while an alcohol distiller targets concentrated ethanol for achieving alcohol beverages. Any apparatus used in alcohol distillation is often advanced in design and requires column stills and other specific accessories, whereas apparatus used in the distillation of water is basic. With this knowledge of the equipment, it will be possible to acquire the most appropriate distillation equipment irrespective of whether it is for the purification of water or production of alcohol.

If performed with the right equipment, there would be minimal or no risks at all when distilling hydrocarbons, water or even during the preparation of quality liquor.