Mash steamer #2

[Cookiebaggs]

It really is simple and once you start using it, you'll wonder why you ever messed around with infusions. I still pull a decoct from time to time just for fun and when I think it will benifit style-wise.

The only drawback with the cooler is that I can't make 10 gallons of a big beer. No big deal really. I just make 5 instead.

Most of my beers are 1.05-1.06 O.G. Plenty of space for a 10 gallon grain bill with a reasonable H20 to grain ratio.

 

[WortMonger]

Yeah, I am building this primarily for temperature control of single infusion, but I want to build something that can do it all very well. Steam is the only thing that does everything I need it to. It also comes in very handy for raining to mash-out, which I highly recommend for efficiency. I am getting into lager and that is really what I want to start using decoction and step mashes for.

 

[Shay]

I added a T and a ball valve to the lid on my pressure cooker. It was easy because the lid was already tapped with 1/8th inch NPT.

Cookiebaggs, who made your pressure cooker?

 

[Hopleaf]

tag, have the cooker just need to get building..

 

[Cookiebaggs]

Cookiebaggs, who made your pressure cooker?

That pressure cooker was bought at a rummage sale years ago by my parents to can salmon and it was old then.

It is a "Co-Op". National Cooperatives Inc.

The threads on the pressure gauge were 1/8" NPT. That made it easy to just go to the hardware store and find the nipples, tee and ball valve to convert the lid.

 

[Shay]

That pressure cooker was bought at a rummage sale years ago by my parents to can salmon and it was old then.

It is a "Co-Op". National Cooperatives Inc.

The threads on the pressure gauge were 1/8" NPT. That made it easy to just go to the hardware store and find the nipples, tee and ball valve to convert the lid.

That is nice about the 1/8" tap. Does any of the pressure cookers today have the 1/8" tap?

 

[Cookiebaggs]

That is nice about the 1/8" tap. Does any of the pressure cookers today have the 1/8" tap?

That I could not tell you.

 

[FlyGuy]

That is nice about the 1/8" tap. Does any of the pressure cookers today have the 1/8" tap?

Yes, I spotted them on some of the larger units. But don't ask me to remember which brands (sorry).

 

[Joe Camel]

All-American pressure cookers have two 1/8" NPT. One has the pressure gauge and the other has a filler plug that can be swapped out.

 

[ThaDutchMasta]

I actually wish all cookers came with their own heat supply on the bottom, built in like an electric skillet so no one would have to worry about that particular warning anymore.

Although expensive you can get professional electric steroclaves

heres the smallest one...http://www.enasco.com/product/Z02779N
it has a 1050watt heating element
you can find ones that have a 1650 watt heating element and can run off 120 or 240v

 

[dudasaj]

A rough estimate for water to steam volume is that steam takes up 1000 times as much space as water at 212F. Increases in temperature above 212F have little affect on volume. Therefore a 22qt pressure cooker can produce enough steam to fill 735 cubic feet (9ft x 9ft x 9ft) volume, also 20.8 cubic meters (2.75m x 2.75m x 2.75m). Granted not all water will be usable but this should be sufficient for stepping up temperatures. Raising the temperature/pressure at saturation will result in a faster stepping(and higher rates) for volumes used.

 

[Joe Camel]

The last batch I did, I put 12L of water in my 25L canner, brought it up to 20psi and used the steam to bring my mash to mashout, 150F to 165F in 5 min. ~15lb of grain and 20qts of water in the mash. The pressure went from 20 psi to about 5 in that time. instead of a ball valve, I put a needle valve inline with the steam as I thought I could meter the steam feed better, but it seems the needle valve leaks out the side unless it's fully open or fully closed.

Right now, my heat source is a 10 000 btu propane campstove, which works quite well. I did use the steam once to step from protein rest to sacc but I had to stop in the middle and generate more steam, so the 120F to 153F step took about 30min, 1F/min. I can improve this a bit as I was using 1lb propane bottles (chubbs) and they tend to get cold and put out less gas as time goes on. I plan on switching these out for a standard 20lb tank the next time.

 

[Jaybird]

just book marking!