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[john54]

Does anybody know whether water from a dehumidifier would be suitable for a model steam plant?   I know people with steam models and it would be a shame to waste the water as I'm getting approximately 5 pints a day from it. I can't really get a straight answer from anyone and it would be a shame just to throw it down the drain!

[dreadnought72]

Interesting question.

Technically, the collected water had been "distilled", since it's been through a vapour state before being returned to liquid. But it's not reached the temperature of boiled water, or even tumble-drier water (which isn't at boiling point). So could there still be micro-organisms and other junk in it?

Andy #1963#

[Bunkerbarge]

I've been thinking about this and was basically going to say pretty much the same as Andy.  It is technically 'distilled' but being a vapour in the atmoshphere it will almost certainly contain dissolved impurities that it has taken from the air.  This may or may not be a problem depending on the quality of the air that the water is being recovered from.

I would suggest that you set up a pan, prefferably a large frying pan to give you a larger surface, and boil off a reasonable quantity of this water.  If you are left with a residue then that is what you are going to get deposited in the boilers.  If the pan remains clean then you should be OK.  I guess any bacteria remaining will be killed off in the boiler but the problem could be the developement of this bacteria in your feed system such as the feed tank, pumps, valves etc. where you may end up with a slime over time. 

I now use water recovered from a tumble drier which, although not as good as distilled, is a pretty good substitute.

[Martin (Admin)]

  I now use water recovered from a tumble drier which, although not as good as distilled, is a pretty good substitute. 

Do you have to do anything else to it before use?

[oldiron]

Does anybody know whether water from a dehumidifier would be suitable for a model steam plant?   I know people with steam models and it would be a shame to waste the water as I'm getting approximately 5 pints a day from it. I can't really get a straight answer from anyone and it would be a shame just to throw it down the drain!

  Myself and people in my live steam club have used dehumidifier water in our live steam locos for many years with no adverse affects. I agree it may contain some minor amounts of solids, however, a periodic application of TSP (trisodium phosphate) will be enough to keep that in suspension and allow its exit at blow down time.

John

[Stavros]

OK so tell me what is the difference in putting water in a steam engine from a road side fire hydrant to using tap /lake water in a scale model of a stem plant.I mean no offence in what i have just said and I don't want to sound ignorant but surly if it is good enough for a traction engine why not a model one??????



Stavros

[dave301bounty]

A traction engine has the inspection doors ,you go in and scale any muck,and brush it out ,,a model ,,and i should know what i am saying ,,has no way of doing just that ,so ,,you take All  the precaution's needer to stop any unclean water /and damaging too ,  I Sailed on a steamship ,got my steam endorsement ,part A   BOT ,,but i suppose i am open to be corrected as ,no doubt i will be ..

[Bunkerbarge]

A traction engine has the inspection doors ,you go in and scale any muck,and brush it out ,,a model ,,and i should know what i am saying ,,has no way of doing just that ,so ,,you take All  the precaution's needer to stop any unclean water /and damaging too ,  I Sailed on a steamship ,got my steam endorsement ,part A   BOT ,,but i suppose i am open to be corrected as ,no doubt i will be ..

Nope, spot on for me Dave.  If you get crud inside your model boiler there is no way of getting it out apart from chemically.  Large steam boilers have access doors for cleaning, although the cleaner the better as you prolong the cleaning requirements.  Also larger stuff will use boiler treatment chemicals, such as coagulants, which will hold impurities in suspension until such time as they can be blown out.

Interesting point though Stavros and worth mentioning here that very early low presure steamers used sea water as feed.  They had to scrape the salt out though every couple of days and the engineers went inside while the boiler was still hot to scrape the scale and salt out.

For me prolonging the life of my boiler is a major concern and using the best quality water is the easiest way for me, without of course using de-ioninsed water, which will rot the thing from the inside!

[Stavros]

Ah ha now me enlightened I was just curious why ,but I now see why if you know what I mean.Cheers for the explanation



Stavros

[Bernhard]

Hey.......Malcolm,,,,use the water from the lake,,,he sai...in http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13172.0       There is no water tank - water is drawn from the pond, river, lake etc. Pure water is no good as it's electrical resistance is too high, and the level control system can't distinguish between steam and the water.

i will try to do the same...Malcolm have don it for years with no problem..
i like the ide,,and my launch is to small for a water tank,,,,,,,

regards Bernhard

[Proteus]

I take it you never sail in salt water then ?

Proteus,

[Bernhard]

hi,,,,,,,,,,ohh yes better stay in the lake,,,thats true

Regards Bernhard