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Puma
surfing when I can



Registered: 10/08/09
Posts: 319
Loc: BC
Last seen: 2 months, 6 days
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Size of boiler / steam generator to pasturize contents of shipping container?
#19229867 - 12/05/13 02:17 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Rather than pasturizing substrates and then moving them into the grow room, I've been toying with the idea of hooking up a steam boiler directly to a fruiting room, with substrates already laid out on trays, for efficiency. For the sake of simplicity, lets say the fruiting room is the size of a 20-foot shipping container and is fairly well-insulated. Theoretically, I could then inject steam continuously into the room (and vent it out the far end, for full coverage) for a long enough period to pasturize whatever substrates are laid out on trays in the room.
My question is this: what size boiler or steam generator will I be looking at? I'm guessing it'll take more than a home-steamroom spa type steam generator (although maybe I'm wrong?) and something a bit more industrial in scale. Ideally, I'd like to use a wood-fired boiler as I have lots of firewood around. I also happen to have over a hundred feet of 3/4" copper tube, so perhaps something as simple as a rocket stove with a copper coil packed inside the chimney would work to generate steam.
Obviously, before building this I'd want to know that it was appropriate to the job, or whether there is a much simpler option.
If there are any steam-generator experts out there who understand the steam output requirements for pasturizing a whole room (~20 x 8 x 8 feet) all at once, I would value your input. Thank you.
*** Edit (Some thoughts on rate of steam production):
Commercial boilers are often rated in kg/hr.
Given that one kg of water converted to steam at atmospheric pressure occupies about 60 square feet of volume, a shipping container can hold about 21 kg of steam.
So, if I had a steam generator rated to produce, say, 40 kg/hr of steam, it would take about half an hour to fill the container -- assuming that none of that water condensed and trickled out the bottom in that time. Which it would have.
I'm assuming that what's needed is "massive overkill". But where should the balance lie, for fuel efficiency? Could I get away with, say, a 50 kg/hr generator and have that be overkill enough? Any ideas?
Edited by Puma (12/05/13 02:39 AM)
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
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Re: Size of boiler / steam generator to pasturize contents of shipping container? [Re: Puma]
#19229888 - 12/05/13 02:39 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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A simpler and less expensive option is to use a construction-type salamander heater. Cut a hole in the wall so the heater can stick through it but have the air intake and propane tank sitting outdoors. If your trays are hydrated and covered, they'll keep their moisture while you heat the room to 170F or so overnight. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Puma
surfing when I can



Registered: 10/08/09
Posts: 319
Loc: BC
Last seen: 2 months, 6 days
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Re: Size of boiler / steam generator to pasturize contents of shipping container? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#19229889 - 12/05/13 02:41 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thank you, RR. I'll look into it! Great idea.
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
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Re: Size of boiler / steam generator to pasturize contents of shipping container? [Re: Puma]
#19235392 - 12/06/13 07:18 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Puma said: Thank you, RR. I'll look into it! Great idea.
well it seems that a lot of the asian growers in the gourmet section do just what you're talking about. one even does it under a tarp, no container! so maybe take a look with the search function.
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deluded
Stranger
Registered: 10/03/13
Posts: 1
Last seen: 9 years, 8 months
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Re: Size of boiler / steam generator to pasturize contents of shipping container? [Re: drake89]
#19237627 - 12/06/13 05:36 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Also, remember that the ambient outside winter temperature has the potential to sink heat quickly from a steel-walled container unless it is well insulated (walls and ceiling especially). Heater capacity will have to factor in for that, and moist air transfers heat to the walls of a container faster than dry heat, as well. I like the scale with which you think.
Great way to cook a moist turkey, too
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