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Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:45 am
by shadylane
copperlover1 wrote:When the water solenoid functions it kills the steam because it let's it in directly to the tank. So I timed it. 25 seconds steam. Water solenoid cycles. Steam dies for about 5-8 seconds. Than full steam again
Maybe have an electric valve to vent the boiler, when the water valve is open
That might fix the problem caused by the "5-8 seconds" of vacuum

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 1:48 am
by Yummyrum
copperlover1 wrote:Tastes like a lot of vinegar.
That's a big shame CL1 , :thumbdown:

Maybe some of the bath toys weren't clean . .....seriously though , You are a braver man than me fermenting with nothing to stop the critters and fly's getting in

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 2:11 pm
by copperlover1
That's just overflow from the air lock sitting on the lid.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 3:19 pm
by shadylane
copperlover1 wrote:Tastes like a lot of vinegar.
That don't sound good :oops:
Real sour would sound better

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:10 pm
by copperlover1
I had to dump it all. What a mess. I loaded it all up in my Dr power wagon. Made it half way through the field. Hit a bump and.the dumper tripped and blam-o. I wish I had a video. Everything is on hold now. My youngest son is graduating high school so the focus is on his party. He will be leaving for marine boot camp early August.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 12:36 am
by Yummyrum
copperlover1 wrote:That's just overflow from the air lock sitting on the lid.
Yes I see now :oops: ...what a mess .

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:20 am
by copperlover1
Ok everyone I finally got the check valve. Where is the best location for it?

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:59 am
by Brutal
Hey CL did ya cook anything with it yet?

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Tue May 15, 2018 2:06 pm
by copperlover1
Nobody wants to help me locate the check valve?

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Wed May 16, 2018 4:40 am
by copperlover1
Going to start with it at the bottom.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 5:18 pm
by copperlover1
Ball valve to control the water in. Hopefully I can keep the boil when the solenoid valve let's in water. Planning a test run Saturday.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 5:32 pm
by StillerBoy
Thanks for the update..

Mars

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 6:01 pm
by acfixer69
copperlover1 wrote:Ball valve to control the water in. Hopefully I can keep the boil when the solenoid valve let's in water. Planning a test run Saturday.
regulating make up water is never a good idea IMHO.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 7:03 pm
by Yummyrum
Copper , the check valve will stop the mash sucking back for sure ..... but if a vacuum is being created , you need to let something in or your boiler may implode . Do you have a second check valve to prevent this ?

And by the way , hope you have better luck this run

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Fri May 18, 2018 2:46 am
by copperlover1
I have a vacuum pressure gauge and a breaker Valve on the top of the steam wand.
I don't want to buy a regulator just to test my theroy of controlling the in water to maintain the boil. If it works I will buy one so no one can accidentally close the supply off.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Fri May 18, 2018 2:48 am
by copperlover1
Great questions guys. Made me put out answer's I have in my head but forget to put on paper so others can see them.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat May 19, 2018 2:57 pm
by copperlover1
Success. I think the check valve would be enough but I ordered a water regulator valve to replace the ball valve. I have unlimited hot water at home so I was able to start with 100°f water. 100 lbs of corn ground to corn meal. Took it to 190°f in 1-1/2 hours.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat May 19, 2018 3:09 pm
by acfixer69
That is awesome. Regulating valve will make it even better to dial in the feed rate. Nice job :thumbup:

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat May 19, 2018 5:27 pm
by copperlover1
Thanks. I should have a sg in the morning. The mash is really grain heavy but I wanted to see how it went with maximum weight on the steam wand.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat May 19, 2018 6:00 pm
by shadylane
:thumbup: looking good, Ya got 100# of corn cooked :clap:
Tell us more about your process

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sun May 20, 2018 5:45 am
by copperlover1
SG this morning was 1.073 potential 11.99 %. I bit high so I will scoop some out into another drum and water it down.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sun May 20, 2018 6:11 am
by MichiganCornhusker
No stir, no muscle, no scorch. Very nice. :thumbup:

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Mon May 21, 2018 5:01 pm
by copperlover1
Yes steam is the way to cook grains. Now I need to work on building a thumper.
My process for this batch was very basic. I barely follow and real protocol.
It's a 40 gallon food grade barrel. So I filled it half way with hot tap water. Put my SEBstar HTL in. Which I calculated wrong. I did it for 50 lbs. And than I turned on the steam. I adjusted the ball valve so the water in would only slow the boil down. It was like a 1-2 second pause. But with the check valve it always had pressure in the line.
I started adding my 100 lbs of corn. That's my enzyme calculation mistake. Got the paddle mixer in there and mixed it all up.
The pressure gauge held at 3 PSI the whole time. And it took 1-1/2 hours to get to 190°.
I shut it down and opened the bypass valve to vent the system. Pulled the steam wand out and covered the barrel. I made sure I cleaned it good and flushed the check valve good.
I left it 2 hours. Added cold water to get to 150° and added the SENamyl. Again I used the wrong amount. I figured 50 lbs. Than I left it until the morning.
The SG was 1.073 which was a bit much so I took some out and watered them down. Pitched my bread yeast and she was bubbling in 30 minutes.
So I only used half the amount of enzymes I was supposed to use and it still did great. You can't go wrong with them.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 3:33 pm
by hellbilly007
I'm glad to see that worked out for ya copperlover. This gives me something to keep an eye out for.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 8:18 am
by copperlover1
Regulator came in. I have I set up for garden hose fittings.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 3:07 pm
by copperlover1
Regulator in place. RV water hose . Gauge says about 8 psi. The boil stops but only for a second or two. Ran it today. Three batches. 75 lbs corn and 30 gallons water each batch. 2 hours to get to 190° F. It was a beautiful thing to watch.

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 3:09 pm
by copperlover1
In action

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 3:56 pm
by shadylane
I'm jealous
Your steam cooker is prettier than mine

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2018 6:35 pm
by WIski
Copper, any idea how much water you added to the mash while cooking for the 2 hours?

Re: Steam generator test

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 4:56 am
by copperlover1
Sandylane don't be jealous of me. It's not mine anymore. It's was actually a experimental build for a friend who started a small distillery. When I started the post he wasn't licensed. That was part of the very long pause in the post. Waiting for him. He has a small working space and a very limited budget.
Wiski: I'm not exactly sure how much water. I tried to watch it rise and measure the barrel. Less than five and more than two. Next time I will mark the barrel. Than scoop out when I'm done to take down to the mark. I'll post exactly how much.