I have a pressure cooker I want to use to generate steam for distillations and some maybe dumb questions.
I don't think I need it to have any pressure or very little, so could I just attach reinforced clear tubing to the outlet in the top? Or does it need
another hole to allow air in as well as the outlet?
Do I have to use copper line? I know regular pvc clear hose would get to soft from the heat, but would the reinforced stuff stand up to the heat? I
would like to avoid soldering if I could.
Thanks for any input. Magpie - 14-10-2012 at 20:28
No air inlet is needed - it would just allow steam to escape!
Tygon plastic tubing works fine. You can see my generator here:
I often place a steam trap in-line just before the end user of the steam, especially when doing a steam distillation. This collects the condensate
that forms in the line. I use a large separatory funnel as trap.watson.fawkes - 14-10-2012 at 21:09
Or does it need another hole to allow air in as well as the outlet?
You don't need such a hole when
generating steam, as Magpie said. But, you might want something like it, not for when you're generating steam, but right when you're done. As the
boiler cools off, the steam in the vessel condensed, forming a vacuum that will suck gas back through the steam line. For some uses, this causes no
problems. For others, it's undesirable. Another opening would have a bleed valve put on that can be opened when the boiler starts to cool off. Even
easier, though it's more of a specialty part, you can put a three-way valve on the steam outlet, with the three positions labelled closed, generate,
and bleed.Magpie - 15-10-2012 at 09:59
Or, you can just pull the Tygon tubing off the hose barb on the pressure cooker when finished. This will allow air to enter the cooker.watson.fawkes - 15-10-2012 at 14:04
Or, you can just pull the Tygon tubing off the hose barb on the pressure cooker when finished
It's true.
Though, I have to say, I've got a roll of silicone tubing (don't know exact composition), that I can't pull off anything quickly. It seems to contract
on a barb when I tug on it, holding it tighter. For that tubing, at least, I'd definitely use a valve instead of yanking ever-harder on a hot boiler.beastmaster - 15-10-2012 at 18:34
Thanks a lot you've both been very helpful. I was worried about it locking up(vapor locking)and not be able to put out steam with out a breather
inlet. You set my mind at ease.
