6
Fault finding
In the event of operating difficulties with your Merit Still, please consult the following notes.
If these fail to identify and remedy the fault, then you are advised to seek the help of your
supplier or the Service Department of Cole-Parmer.
Note – Fault finding should only be carried out by suitably qualified people.
Symptom Cause Remedy
1. Water level in boiler is too a) Supply of feed/cooling water a) Increase flowrate of water to
LOW. e.g. – heater exposed. is insufficient. approx. 60 litres/hour.
b) Stopcock on boiler inadvertently b) Close stopcock.
left open.
2. Water level in boiler is too a) Supply of feed/cooling water a) Reduce flowrate of water to
HIGH. e.g. – boiling water is excessive. approx. 60 litres/hour.
surging into condenser. b) Flow of drainage water b) Ensure drainage tubing falls
is constricted. freely.
3. Water in boiler is “pumped” a) Tubing from condenser distillate a) Ensure tubing falls freely to
out of boiler to drain. outlet to reservoir is constricted. reservoir without kinks or bends.
b) Vent on condenser distillate b) Remove obstruction.
outlet is blocked.
c) Supply of feed/cooling water c) Increase flowrate of water to
is insufficient. approx. 60 litres/hour.
4. Distillate temperature is Flow of cooling water is insufficient. Increase flowrate of water to
high, e.g. – above 50°C. approx. 60 litres/hour.
5. Distillate rate less than 4 litres/hour. Mains voltage low –
Excessive cooling water flow. Reduce to 60 litres/hour.
6. Distillate quality poor*. Boiler heavily scaled. Clean boiler.
7. Heater not working. a) Burnt-out heater. a) Replace heater.
b) Mains electricity fuse blown. b) Replace fuse.
c) Thermostat operated. c) Reset.
8. Persistent tripping of the RCD The integrity of the heater Replace the RCD
* Distillate quality when determined by pH or electrical conductivity is greatly affected by temperature and the presence of absorbed carbon
dioxide.
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