Abstract: A distillation apparatus for distilling a fluid comprising a boiling chamber for creating at least some vapour from the fluid, having at least one outlet (3, 3a) and a heat adding means (14), at least one condensing chamber (2) associated with the boiling chamber, the at least one condensing chamber (2) having at least one heat removal means (9, 9a, 18, 19, CL) wherein the at least one heat removal means (9, 9a, 18, 19, CL) in the at least one condensing chamber (2) is operable in two conditions, a first condition in which the at least one heat removal means (9, 9a, 18, 19, CL) is removing heat from the system and a second condition in which the at least one heat removal means (9, 9a, 18, 19, CL) is not removing heat from the system, at least one inlet (12) and at least one outlet (3, 3a) associated with the at least one condensing chamber, (2) and at least one pump means (FW, RW) for lowering the pressure to create a low-pressure or partial vacuum environment in the system and also to move the fluid around t