A water cooler or water dispenser is a device that cools and dispenses water. They are generally broken up in two categories: bottleless and bottled water coolers. Bottleless water coolers are connected to a water supply, while bottled water coolers require delivery (or self-pick-up) of water in large bottles from vendors. Pressure coolers are a subcategory of water coolers encompassing water fountains and direct-piping water dispensers (POUs).
Water cooler may also refer to a primitive device for keeping water cool.
Dispenser types
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Wall-mounted / recessed
The wall-mounted type is connected to the building's water supply for a continuous supply of water and electricity to run a refrigeration unit to cool the incoming water, and to the building's waste disposal system to dispose of unused water.
In the standard wall-mounted cooler, also commonly referred to as a water fountain or drinking fountain, a small tank in the machine holds chilled water so the user does not have to wait for chilled water. Water is delivered by turning or pressing a button on a spring-loaded valve located on the top of the unit, that turns off the water when released. Some devices also offer a large button on the front or side. Newer machines may not have a button at all; instead a sensor that detects when someone is near and activates the water. Water is delivered in a stream that arches up, allowing the user to drink directly from the top of the stream of water. These devices usually dispense water directly from the municipal water supply, without treatment or filtering.
Bottom-load water dispenser
The most common water dispensers are the ones that have the bottle on the top. The bottom-load water dispenser eliminates the need to lift the heavy water bottles. Instead the water bottle is placed at the bottom of the dispenser.
Tabletop water dispenser
There are also smaller versions of the water dispensers where the dispenser can be placed directly on top of a table.
Direct-piping water dispenser (POU)
Water dispensers can be directly connected to the in-house water source for continuous dispensing of hot and cold drinking water. This type is commonly referred to as POU (Point of Use) water dispensers. These are more hygienic than bottled water coolers .
Freestanding
A freestanding design generally involves bottles of water placed spout-down into the dispensing machine.
Tabletop or kitchen worktop versions are available which utilise readily available five-liter water bottles from supermarkets. These coolers use air pumps to push the water into the cooling chamber and Peltier devices to chill the water.
A new development within the water cooler market is the advent of countertop appliances which are connected to the mains and provide an instant supply of not only chilled water but also hot and boiling water.
Water source and purification
Bottle
To install the bottle, the bottle is tipped upside down and set onto the dispenser; a probe punctures the cap of the bottle and allows the water to flow into the machine's internal reservoir. These gravity-powered systems have a device to dispense water in a controlled manner.
These machines come in different sizes and vary from table units, intended for occasional use to floor-mounted units intended for heavier use. Bottled water normally is delivered to the household or business on a regular basis, where empty bottles are exchanged for full ones. The bottle size varies with the size of the unit, with the larger versions in the US using 5-US-gallon (19Â L) bottles. This is also the most common size elsewhere, labelled as 18.9 litres in countries that use the metric system. These units usually do not have a place to dump excess water, only offering a small basin to catch minor spills. On the front, a lever or pushbutton dispenses the water into a cup held beneath the spigot.
When the water container is empty, it is lifted off the top of the dispenser, and automatically seals to prevent any excess water still in the bottle from leaking.
Plumbed with purification
Plumbed water coolers use tap water and therefore do not need bottles due to their use of the main water supply. Usually some method of purification is used.
Filtration
Filtration methods include reverse osmosis, ion exchange and activated carbon.
Cooling and heating methods
Cooling
Most modern units offer a refrigeration function to chill the water, using Vapor compression refrigeration or Thermoelectric cooling. POU water coolers have two cooling mechanisms. In the reservoir version, a tank is filled with water which is then cooled, which results in variable water temperature. In the other version the water is passed through a coiled pipe, which resides in an ice block, leading to a more consistent temperature of dispensed water: there is no industry-standard term for this, but is frequently referred to either as 'Ice Bank' or 'Direct Chill'. The latter type of POU water cooler is considered more hygienic due to the lack of air exchange and no tank of water which may become stagnant.
Vapor compression refrigeration
Water coolers using vapor compression refrigeration are made up of the following components:
- Reservoir
- RR technology is a removable reservoir is an open-end tank with cooling coils that come into contact with the external tank surface. It operates on the basis of a modular system, allowing one to easily detach and refill water instead of keeping it in a closed system. One of the advantages in using a removable reservoir is the ease of sanitization. This allows end users to replace the reservoir completely rather than sending an entire water cooler back for servicing. A similar technology can be found in many modern water dispensers and coffee machines.
- Stainless Steel - open end tank with cooling coils that come into contact with the external tank surface
- Pressure cooling tank - A closed pressurized tank with external cooling coil that comes in contact with the tank surface
- Ice-bank - A pressurized water coil pipe that sits in a volume of pre-chilled water
Heating
Some versions also have a second dispenser that delivers room-temperature water or even heated water that can be used for tea, hot chocolate or other uses. The water in the alternate hot tap is generally heated with a heating element and stored in a hot tank (much like the traditional hot water heaters used in residential homes). Additionally, the hot tap is usually equipped with a push-in safety valve to prevent burns from an accidental or inadvertent pressing of the lever.
Water cooler effect
A water cooler effect is a phenomenon, occurring when employees at a workplace gather around the office water cooler and chat. It is a synonym for gathering and connecting people in a certain environment (e.g. the office). When a television program, like a soap-opera or series, is talked about among many people (mostly related to guessing what will happen in the next episode) it can be said that the program has a water cooler effect.
See also
- Drinking fountain
- Vending machine
- Coca-Cola Freestyle
References
