General > General Technical Chat
How to boil water faster
thm_w:
--- Quote from: soldar on January 08, 2024, 02:21:36 pm ---To give just one example, say I have an electric hot plate that produces 250 W. It is possible that a 1 L pot will boil in X minutes but a 10 L pot will never boil because it reaches a temperature where it loses more than 250 W through the sides and top.
--- End quote ---
Its an example but not really a realistic one. You can get a 2000W induction hot plate for about $50, or a 2200W kettle for less.
No one should be using a 250W heater unless its just to keep food warm.
soldar:
--- Quote from: thm_w on January 08, 2024, 10:06:21 pm ---Its an example but not really a realistic one. You can get a 2000W induction hot plate for about $50, or a 2200W kettle for less.
No one should be using a 250W heater unless its just to keep food warm.
--- End quote ---
It's called "proof of concept". And the price of hot plates don't enter into it.
BTW, I wonder how much spherical cows are going for these days.
thm_w:
--- Quote from: soldar on January 08, 2024, 10:11:49 pm ---It's called "proof of concept". And the price of hot plates don't enter into it.
BTW, I wonder how much spherical cows are going for these days.
--- End quote ---
Correct term was "thought experiment" as per your original post, proof of concept would mean you are actually testing a product out.
The price and wattage is relevant because you didn't specify anything other than "of the same wattage" in the original post. A typical burner on an electric or gas stove is going to be 1,200-2,200W, so that is what one would expect to use when determining an answer. I think IanB put far more effort into this thought experiment, maybe consider that direction in the future.
SiliconWizard:
But can water boil faster than the speed of light?
PlainName:
--- Quote from: coppice on January 08, 2024, 06:22:15 pm ---
--- Quote from: Zero999 on January 08, 2024, 06:19:34 pm ---I use an electric kettle and water from the hot tap, if available. Some people say don't drink water from the hot tap, because it's from a tank and has being sitting there for a long time, but it should already be hot enough to kill bacteria and even if it isn't, you're going to boil it anyway,.
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Most UK homes no longer have an open header tank. In those homes there is no reason not to drink the hot water, even if it hasn't been heated enough to sterilise it.
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Warm water from the hot tank contains contaminants (hot water + metal = corrision). Hot water systems fur up where cold water doesn't - worth thinking about.
As for legionnaires disease, the water needs to be at least 55C to kill the bacteria, but that's too hot if you're going to put your hand in it. At 51C it will take 3 mins to scald your hand, at 56C 15secs. There is reliance on the system losing enough temperature at the tap that the tank can be hot enough to kill off stuff, yet you don't scald yourself accidentally. On the plus side, most outlets in a house get used often, so water isn't likely to be sitting in a dead spot while being warm.
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