Continuous steam generator

[bluc]

So I have a project in the works and this is part of it, this bit is a "continuous steam generator."
Idea is small amount of water for fast boil up times and being able to display I'll grain slurry without scorching. Most likely will make a steam wand for mashing also.
Here's a pic, video.

IMG_20250529_080505.jpg

https://youtu.be/BbnZsd0X9pU?si=2VDTMSqQgdaNHbZ2
https://youtube.com/shorts/ANWHYTIkfrU? ... n_9Y-B7551

3600w element.

Holds 8l water. 8mins to rolling boil 14mins to full steam. I plan to ad a educter to load a small amount of back pressure about 3psi. At moment it's running at atmospheric pressure.

[bluc]

@bryan any advice for safety as far as sizing the actuator goes? I have a 15psi prv and a pressure gauge will be here any day. I have been told around 3psi is good for our needs how can I calculate open area on a steam wand nozzle for specific tasks?
I will add a 5psi manometer before I add Pressure to the equation..

[bluc]

Ok so done some calculations and I want to run at about 3psi. I am told 5mm steam orifice is what I'm after.
I came up with my steam injection point for my still will be as follows. The brass will be replaced by stainless steel.

PXL_20250604_055225367.jpg

PXL_20250604_055345265.MP.jpg

[bluc]

Scrap the small orifice and runing it with pressure idea. Instead it will be atmospheric pressure. I will use a dual slant plate over a 1/2" pipe as steam wand at base of still.

[bluc]

Quick video of auto float valve working
https://youtube.com/shorts/3CoVUkg7Eo4? ... RXBrz8dqPQ

[Mr.Roughnutz]

i like it i was thinking of sumthing in this vain a wile back. was going to copy this guy.

https://youtu.be/I7g8KeUfxOs?si=XeLXYVFxbf19MpjU

[bluc]

Quick update steam generator plumbed into still more details on that soon.

https://youtu.be/-t49q6cPNlM?si=acOcSgsWyOeVUzpT

[The Stig]

I keep looking north for the mushroom cloud :laughing-rolling:

[bluc]

Keep an eye out :scared-eek: 8-} :teasing-neener:

[RuddyCrazy]

Bluc how about drawing up a schematic of the setup so can see how you have done it then we can look at the best way to go about it mate. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Honestly a flash boiler is the way to go as it is a ondemand setup and can be stopped in an instant if something goes wrong :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Cheers Bryan

[bluc]

Geez I'm shit at drawing it really is off the shelf tri clover fittings and a Cornelius keg. There is 8l water to 3/4 fill the sight glass that is level inside keg. The valve is an eBay off the shelf automatic water level valve. Like a carbie needle seat which just so happened is designed to work within spec of a boiler. There have been a few built a couple inside a tri clover spool like a 5star packed section. That bloke in particular has been a big help to me to get mine working, the balancing act of continuous feed of as needed water without killing the boil and steam was a challenge. I was just going to just copy his build but decided on slight variation and used a Corney keg. I can post up his build if you want. It's on hd. It's a work of art he has ton of vids on it as his build progressed.
This works. It will be used for mashing also.

[bluc]

I thought I would post the link it's got loads good info for anyone wanting to steam distill or mash. And he's a friendly bloke happy to help out.
https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=92012

[bluc]

Oh it uses a 3600w element. On two leads, the element is a twin,bar style element. Gives me 1800w a circuit one goes through a voltage controller.

[bluc]

Ruddy I tried a flash boiler through a rims tube with a very small amount of water constantly going to waste but I couldn't balance it and had heaps of issues.
This setup just works it has a safety prv at 7.5.psi and a gauge 0-15psi.
I am told mashing in a 44gal drum will result in about 3psi pressure max. About 2m water height. Currently researching steam mashing wand setups.

[hjubm2]

Would love to see how this could be scaled up. Been trying to work out how to heat my 1000L mashtun without spending thousands on a commercial steam generator... good work Bluc, always good to have someone giving the rest of us new ideas/inspiration on how to spend our money :laughing-rolling:

[bluc]

How much power input? I have 3600w in 8l water. The bloke that gave me the inspiration runs 4800w in 4-6l inside a 500mm 4" tri clover spool.
But you def run into trouble if your boiler is too small with burnt elements and replacing boiled off water volume without stopping steam. You need a little padding but not a great deal. A standard 50l keg once plumbed would hold about 25l water that's a lot of buffer you could put a lot of power 4x the amount at a rough guess, I have no idea if they scale linear. Depth of mash tun will dictate operating temp. Been told to expect about 3psi with full blue drum. Which is not a lot.

[bluc]

.... good work Bluc, always good to have someone giving the rest of us new ideas/inspiration on how to spend our money :laughing-rolling:

All I wanted was a few litres rum in a barrel to sip from. I will end up a master distiller and steam engineer at this rate....

[bluc]

Thos is the source of my information. Lots good info here.
https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=92012

[bluc]

I have remodeled my steam gen to be more like bolverks to fit it into my space. Build still in progress ignore the mess and un finished bits.
https://youtube.com/shorts/3j0_mL4tW_U? ... xFyf8zqJvO

Build has progressed wont be much longer till a write up and demo vid.

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