Steam generator

[Tammuz]

I put this in another thread but I believe it belongs here.

Steam injection has to be a personal choice. The cost of a few extra parts is minimal if your the type of person that had trouble paying attention. Lack of attention is costly in this hobby. My friend last weekend opened a valve right after he shut off power. 2 psi coming out of a 3/4" ball valve 8" away caused a serious blister on the inner forearm by his elbow. It has a prv and a vacuum relief valve, the fool was just in a hurry to do another wash. Last time I'll loan out my equipment.

[LWTCS]

Sometimes learning the hard way is the lesson that lasts a life time.
Have definitely cooked a body part or two not really knowing what I didn't know about things that get really hot.

[Bradster68]

I was recently gifted a thumper that I plan to use as a stripper for my rye mashes. I've been definitely reading up because of the dangers. I'm sure certain parts of my body will be twitching during my first run. These are the stories I hear that have made me very cautious.

[Bolverk]

I hope your friend is ok...

The phrase 'fuck around, and find out" always rattles around my brain, because if you do stuff without the knowledge or the attention it deserves, you will definitely find out.

[Born_Free]

I’ve spent a significant amount of time talking to people who had accidents distilling, several dozen. I spent 13 years in the middle east and there were a lot of examples, most of the root causes have been well documented on this site. I should probably post the stories someday as they are all useful.

Is it possible to show a pic of the configuration? I was literally plumbing my release valve today for my new steam generator and would be curious how he opened it into his arm.

[Dancing4dan]

One of the important things for me when distilling with steam is SLOW DOWN. Don’t get in a rush. Think things through.

Another is that using a water filled manometer gives a great visual of steam pressure while also acting as a PRV.

[zach]

My boiler has a steam release valve that I can operate safely at any point during a run. My SOP is to leave the valve open when warming up the boiler which gives me time to do other things. When I hear a whistle it's time close the valve and to monitor the thumper. I also open the valve immediately on flame out.

The key is to have the outlet of the steam release valve directed or piped to a safe location. If you are inside a building then maybe that's somewhere outside.

My PRV is also directed so a release will not cause an injury if it lifts.

[Yummyrum]

Thanks Tammuz for starting this discussion .

I’ve noticed that a lot of builds are incorporating PVRs and that has to be a good thing . But I have always wondered about the potential for burns when the steam is released .
I’ve had a few very minor burns from just opening the release on a stove top pressure cooker that have hurt like hell.
I can only imagine the force released from something that is running on 5-10kw .

I agree with Zach that thought should be given to safe relief space

[Bolverk]

I use a prv just I have a old can just sitting over top of it (loosely) just to catch the steam in case it pops

[LWTCS]

I use a prv just I have a old can just sitting over top of it (loosely) just to catch the steam in case it pops

It is typically more of a crack than a pop,, so to speak.
Notwithstanding an actual obstruction, with the amount of heat we use (even at the boutique commercial level) there is never an abrupt release. It is more of an intermittent hiss that is not really all that audible if there is a lot of background noise.
Steaming water particulates are not going to come shooting out or anything. It'll be more like a small huff of steam with barely a drip of water.

The can over the devise is plenty good enough.

[Rusty Ole Bucket]

I use a prv just I have a old can just sitting over top of it (loosely) just to catch the steam in case it pops

It is typically more of a crack than a pop,, so to speak.
Notwithstanding an actual obstruction, with the amount of heat we use (even at the boutique commercial level) there is never an abrupt release. It is more of an intermittent hiss that is not really all that audible if there is a lot of background noise.
Steaming water particulates are not going to come shooting out or anything. It'll be more like a small huff of steam with barely a drip of water.

The can over the devise is plenty good enough.

I have two of them planned as part of the upgrades I want to do for my setup. I was thinking about tying a Crown bag around them while I'm running, but the can is a good idea. They're 2" tri clamp PRV/VRV so I had figured I could tie them below the ferrule.

Rusty

[Bolverk]

It is typically more of a crack than a pop,, so to speak.
Notwithstanding an actual obstruction, with the amount of heat we use (even at the boutique commercial level) there is never an abrupt release. It is more of an intermittent hiss that is not really all that audible if there is a lot of background noise.
Steaming water particulates are not going to come shooting out or anything. It'll be more like a small huff of steam with barely a drip of water.

The can over the devise is plenty good enough.

Makes sense.

I think it was you I got the can idea from lol

[LWTCS]

It is typically more of a crack than a pop,, so to speak.
Notwithstanding an actual obstruction, with the amount of heat we use (even at the boutique commercial level) there is never an abrupt release. It is more of an intermittent hiss that is not really all that audible if there is a lot of background noise.
Steaming water particulates are not going to come shooting out or anything. It'll be more like a small huff of steam with barely a drip of water.

The can over the devise is plenty good enough.

Makes sense.

I think it was you I got the can idea from lol

Yessir.

[zach]

It is typically more of a crack than a pop,, so to speak.
Notwithstanding an actual obstruction, with the amount of heat we use (even at the boutique commercial level) there is never an abrupt release.

I was a little confused by this statement. I've had to change my underwear after being near a pressure safety valve (PSV) that lifted even though the outlet was piped out of the building.

A PSV is different than a PRV in that it opens abruptly and does not reseat until a lower blowdown pressure is reached. If you purchase a steam generator or a boiler, it will have a PSV which is a boiler and mechanical code requirement. The sizing of this valve is based on a blocked discharge on the boiler with full heat input. PSV's have a rated steam capacity and set point.

The PRV that I see many using here are designed to protect a tank like a fermenter and have unknown steam capacity. These valves will throttle as Larry described.

[LWTCS]

Thanks for clarifying that zach.