Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Other discussions for folks new to the wonderful craft of home distilling.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
WaterisDry
Novice
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2026 2:16 pm

Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by WaterisDry »

I have a water boiler with a 1000-watt heating element and
want to condense all of the water vapour it produces using an Crossflow PC- Watercooler
(no ad but a quick search got me this example Alphacool X-Flow Copper Condenser)

I'm not sure what size would be appropriate, or what fan power is needed.
Any advice on the lightest condenser that would be sufficient for this task?

Something like a condenser that is 10% overpowered,
to condense 1100 watts of water vapour.

(I know how to solder copper piping and connect it all up this is only about finding a suited crossflow radiator.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 12550
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by shadylane »

Instead of using a pump, radiator and fan to supply cooling water to a condenser. Just use an aircooled condenser.
WaterisDry
Novice
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2026 2:16 pm

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by WaterisDry »

shadylane wrote: Sat Jul 25, 2026 4:15 pm Instead of using a pump, radiator and fan to supply cooling water to a condenser. Just use an aircooled condenser.
I actually want to use the PC Radiator as the condenser , the steam will enter the PC condenser, i dont use this to cool my condenser...
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 12550
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by shadylane »

My bad, I was confused as normal. :lol:
The radiator is going to be used as an aircooled condenser.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 12550
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by shadylane »

A radiator could be used to condense water vapor but it would be the wrong tool for the job.
It works best for a liquid to air heat exchanger, the small tubes have limited surface area for condensation.
What's needed for a condenser is large tubes such as these.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
SW_Shiner
Distiller
Posts: 1002
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2024 3:46 pm
Location: South Waikato, New Zealand

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by SW_Shiner »

Anything meant for a PC probably wont work. Unless you get something server sized, you probably wont find anything that can handle that many watts. Not only that, most manufactures list a max temp of 60°c, and its probably not very food safe either.
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Global moderator
Posts: 11449
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by Saltbush Bill »

If what you are suggesting worked well it would have already have been done here years a go.
If experienced older members say it's not a good idea, then there is good reason for that.
WaterisDry
Novice
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2026 2:16 pm

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by WaterisDry »

shadylane wrote: Sat Jul 25, 2026 8:10 pm A radiator could be used to condense water vapor but it would be the wrong tool for the job.
It works best for a liquid to air heat exchanger, the small tubes have limited surface area for condensation.
What's needed for a condenser is large tubes such as these.

if I want to use such a heat exchanger how much length and pipe diameter would I need to condense 1kw of water vapour?

since I need the lowest weight most compact condenser.
User avatar
BigSwede
Trainee
Posts: 858
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:36 am

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by BigSwede »

WaterisDry wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:33 am
if I want to use such a heat exchanger how much length and pipe diameter would I need to condense 1kw of water vapour?

since I need the lowest weight most compact condenser.
Shady is correct, wider piping is a requirement to condense vapor to liquid and have it flow without huffing, spitting, or system back pressure.

Guys here have for decades worked with every imaginable form of condenser, seeking efficiency and yes, a compact size. It's going to be hard to beat something like a 5 or 7 tube shotgun or similar. For an air-cooled system, it's going to be significantly larger than one water cooled, with the probable need of a fan as well.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 12550
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by shadylane »

WaterisDry wrote: Mon Jul 27, 2026 9:33 am
if I want to use such a heat exchanger how much length and pipe diameter would I need to condense 1kw of water vapour?

since I need the lowest weight most compact condenser.
For condensing steam, 500w per foot for 3/4" finned tubing with a big fan blowing on it.

viewtopic.php?t=56652
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 12550
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Condensing Water Vapour from a 1000W Water Distiller with PC Radiator ?

Post by shadylane »

Here's a build by Mason jar

viewtopic.php?f=87&t=54596
Post Reply