Fault Finding - Cole-Parmer Stuart Merit W4000 Manuel D'utilisation

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
1. Water level in boiler is too
LOW. e.g. – heater exposed.
2. Water level in boiler is too
HIGH. e.g. – boiling water
surging into condenser.
3. Water in boiler is "pumped"
out of boiler to drain.
4. Distillate temperature is
high, e.g. – above 50°C.
5. Distillate rate less than 4 litres/hour.
6. Distillate quality poor*.
7. Heater not working.
8. Persistent tripping of the RCD
* Distillate quality when determined by pH or electrical conductivity is greatly affected by temperature and the presence of absorbed carbon
dioxide.
6
Cause
a) Supply of feed/cooling water is
insufficient.
b) Stopcock on boiler inadvertently
left open.
a) Supply of feed/cooling water
is excessive.
b) Flow of drainage water
is constricted.
a) Tubing from condenser distillate
outlet to reservoir is constricted.
b) Vent on condenser distillate
outlet is blocked.
c) Supply of feed/cooling water
is insufficient.
Flow of cooling water is insufficient.
Mains voltage low Excessive
cooling water flow.
Boiler heavily scaled.
a) Burnt-out heater.
b) Mains electricity fuse blown.
c) Thermostat operated.
The integrity of the heater
Remedy
a) Increase flowrate of water to
approx. 60 litres/hour.
b) Close stopcock.
a) Reduce flowrate of water to
approx. 60 litres/hour.
b) Ensure drainage tubing falls
freely.
a) Ensure tubing falls freely to
reservoir without kinks or bends.
b) Remove obstruction.
c) Increase flowrate of water to
approx. 60 litres/hour.
Increase flowrate of water to
approx. 60 litres/hour.
–
Reduce to 60 litres/hour.
Clean boiler.
a) Replace heater.
b) Replace fuse.
c) Reset.
Replace the RCD