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wood chip
Stranger

Registered: 02/22/09
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Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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pasteurization times, techinques, and efficency using drums
#18780147 - 08/31/13 02:23 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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When comparing the methods of atmospheric steam sterilization, What are the benefit to using a boiler to add steam to a drum verses directly heating the water in the drum with the bags suspended on racks above the water?
Cooks times would be nearly identical. (6 to 10 hours full)
Water consumption is slightly more using a boiler.
I would think the boiler would cost a little more in terms of energy because your making steam and then moving it further thus loosing heat.
I know RR does this, but besides the ease of loading and unloading, I cannot figure out why one would use a boiler which is a separate cost and is no more efficient in term of energy or water consumption.
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loggrower
Log Cultivator


Registered: 08/02/13
Posts: 273
Loc: Oregon - Coast Range
Last seen: 6 years, 5 months
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Re: pasteurization times, techinques, and efficency using drums [Re: wood chip]
#18780212 - 08/31/13 02:50 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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A big boiler can supply the steam to multiple different barrels and you can switch them out and keep rolling without a cooldown.
Some commercial operations pipe steam to multiple large plastic containers full of hay. If your just doing small batches... Go for the barrel + propane burner/heating element. However, I have a hunch some boilers are a lot more energy efficient than burners. A high efficiency boiler probably wouldn't be practical/cost effective on this scale though...
Edited by loggrower (08/31/13 03:50 AM)
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wood chip
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Re: pasteurization times, techinques, and efficency using drums [Re: loggrower]
#18781291 - 08/31/13 12:59 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I am only talking about DIY boilers that generate very little steam pressure and that use the same type of propane burners.
The only advantage seems to being able to run multiple barrels at once.
From an energy efficiency point of view, it seems like multiple runs (which could be done one after another) would be a little cheaper.
Does it cost more in propane to use a boiler connected to two barrels, or to make two runs using a single barrel without a boiler?
Are the sterilization times equal when comparing both methods?
Edited by wood chip (08/31/13 01:02 PM)
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loggrower
Log Cultivator


Registered: 08/02/13
Posts: 273
Loc: Oregon - Coast Range
Last seen: 6 years, 5 months
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Re: pasteurization times, techinques, and efficency using drums [Re: wood chip]
#18781560 - 08/31/13 02:38 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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That would depend upon how many BTUs your pushing. If your burner is overpowered and locked on high it would be better to supply two barrels, however... I think that is rather unlikely, so one barrel is more efficient. The steam flow is just going to be slower with two barrels and take a lot longer. With good insulation you won't get much heat loss on a DIY boiler either.
You should take a low temp oven thermometer and stick it in the center of one bag of substrate on top to figure out how long you need to steam. I have a electronic one with a heat/water safe probe and wire that goes from 0F to 500F that I use for different things.
Edited by loggrower (08/31/13 02:44 PM)
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drake89
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Registered: 06/26/11
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Loc: TN
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Re: pasteurization times, techinques, and efficency using drums [Re: loggrower]
#18782834 - 08/31/13 08:17 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I have had a 100 gal sterilizer with a 55 gal boiler up and running for the last week. I think the ease is in loading/unloading for starters, I put most of my bags on perforated sheet trays and slide them in. There's only two shelves to deal with, think about all of the brackets you would have to mount, and shelves to fabricate. Also, my boiler is 90 percent wrapped in R-19 insulation which is far from the thickest, and it says HOT all of the time. Even when it has been off for 14 hours, it is really hot! Plus, my boiler has a pressure switch and gauge on top, so it would be a pain in the butt if you had wiring to fool with every time you took the lid off.
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