Is it possible to convert a kettle from steam jacketed to something I can use with a burner? My brother has 4 he pulled from a job site. I'd love to have one of them, but I'm not going to waste my time if I can't use them.
Is it possible to convert a kettle from steam jacketed to something I can use with a burner?
As for equipping the kettle with a burner, forget it. Low pressure steam is at most 250°F (121°C). There is no way a jacket built for steam will hold up under a gas flame.
You could use them with a steam source for boil kettle, mash, and HLT. You need a properly sized steam boiler, either gas, electric, propane, or oil fired, depending on what's cheapest and most reliable to operate in your area. Plus condensate pumps and lots of plumbing. The manufacturer of the kettles should have specs on the kind of system needed to power them.
I don't believe such a system should be jerry-rigged. There are a lot of safety considerations. You should have a competent contractor design a system and build it.
Find the section of this page with heading Steam Source Needed for a Small Jacketed Kettle for some good basic info.
I would say no. In that article, the question about direct firing is addressed, and the writer said it isn't feasible:
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